How to Pick the Right Electrician Training School near Woodbridge New Jersey
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Woodbridge NJ. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are a number of points to consider. For instance, some prospective students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have identified some that are within commuting range, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though location and cost are important, they are not the sole qualifications that should be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.
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Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options
There are three general options to obtain electrician training in a trade or technical school near Woodbridge NJ. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most typical programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by New Jersey technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards students who wish to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require two years to finish and are offered by New Jersey junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some New Jersey colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Woodbridge NJ can carry out a vast array of duties, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be earned in several specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 3 levels of proficiency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying organizations include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you select not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Schools Online
An alternative that you might have looked at is selecting an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning can be a more convenient choice for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Commuting expenses from Woodbridge NJ are also reduced and some of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. Each of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
When you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Woodbridge NJ area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are additional variables that need to be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research before enrolling in an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Woodbridge NJ school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you get an excellent education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate could signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It might also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Woodbridge NJ students obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Woodbridge NJ area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Woodbridge NJ electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Woodbridge home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak to some of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Woodbridge NJ, confirm that the programs you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.
Electrician Training Woodbridge New Jersey
Choosing the ideal electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Training and wanting more information on the topic Electrical License Classes. But as we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a must that any electrician training program that you are considering includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Each program offers unique options for certification as well. Perhaps the best means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you choose is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Woodbridge NJ.
More Electric Locations in New Jersey
Woodbridge Township, New Jersey
Woodbridge Township is a township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a total population of 99,585,[8][9][10] reflecting an increase of 2,382 (+2.5%) from the 97,203 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 4,117 (+4.4%) from the 93,086 counted in the 1990 Census.[26] Woodbridge was the sixth-most-populous municipality in New Jersey in 2000 and 2010.[27] Woodbridge hosts the intersection of the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway, the two busiest highways in the state, and also serves as the headquarters for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.[28]
According to Joshua Coffin, the early settlers included "Captain John Pike, the ancestor of General Zebulon Montgomery Pike, who was killed at the battle of Queenstown in 1813; Thomas Bloomfield, the ancestor of Joseph Bloomfield, some years governor of New Jersey, for whom the township of Bloomfield, New Jersey is named; John Bishop, senior and junior; Jonathan Haynes; Henry Jaques; George March; Stephen Kent; Abraham Toppan, junior; Elisha Ilsley; Hugh March; John Bloomfield; Samuel Moore; Nathaniel Webster; John Ilsley; and others."[29] Woodbridge was the site of the first gristmill in New Jersey.[30][31] The mill was built by Jonathan Singletary Dunham (married to Mary Bloomfield, relative of Joseph Bloomfield).[32][33]
The Township of Woodbridge is the oldest original township in New Jersey and was granted a royal charter on June 1, 1669, by King Charles II of England.[34] It was reincorporated on October 31, 1693. Woodbridge Township was incorporated by the Township Act of 1798 of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as part of the initial group of 104 townships incorporated in the state under the Township Act. Portions of the township were taken to form Rahway (April 19, 1858), Raritan Township (March 17, 1870, now Edison Township) and Roosevelt (April 11, 1906, now Carteret).[35][36] The township is named after Reverend John W. Woodbridge (1613–1696) of Newbury, Massachusetts, who settled in the future township in 1664.[34][37]
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