How to Select the Best Electrician Trade School near Athens Pennsylvania
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Athens PA. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are so many points to evaluate. For instance, many prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have found some that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. While location and cost are important, they are not the sole qualifications that need to be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when choosing 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 Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs
There are multiple options to get electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Athens PA. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are brief explanations of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards those who want to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take two years to finish and are provided by Pennsylvania community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some Pennsylvania institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed before licensing. Therefore, most students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in Athens PA can undertake a wide range of functions, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be obtained in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases involves three levels of competency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you select not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes
A possibility that you might have considered is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning might be a more convenient choice for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Driving costs from Athens PA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be accessed on line also. Each of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Once you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Athens PA area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are additional variables that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Athens PA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you acquire an excellent education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, a number of states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate could suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It may also mean that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s also essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Athens PA graduates acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician vocational programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Athens PA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Athens PA electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Athens residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger 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 students and teachers. Talk with a few of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs 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 Athens PA, confirm that the programs you are considering provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Online Electrician Certificate Programs Athens Pennsylvania
Choosing the right electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Online Electrician Certificate Programs and wanting more information on the topic What Do I Need To Do To Become An Electrician. But as we have discussed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical training program that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides unique options for certification as well. Perhaps the best approach to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you select is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Athens PA.
More Electric Locations in Pennsylvania
Athens, Pennsylvania
Athens is a borough in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, United States, located 2 miles (3 km) south of the New York state line on the Susquehanna and Chemung rivers. The population was 3,749 in 1900 and 3,796 in 1910. The population was 3,367 at the 2010 census.[4] Athens is in a small area locally known as "The Valley", a group of four contiguous communities in Pennsylvania and New York: Waverly, New York; South Waverly, Pennsylvania; Sayre, Pennsylvania; and Athens. The Valley has a population near 30,000.
In September 2011, Athens was heavily damaged by river flooding from Tropical Storm Lee. Much of Athens was under water, with the most damage in the downtown area along the river. Damage in nearby Tioga County, New York, was estimated at $100 million.[5]
Athens is located in northern Bradford County at 41°57′50″N 76°31′21″W / 41.96389°N 76.52250°W / 41.96389; -76.52250 (41.963809, -76.522608).[7] It lies on land between the Susquehanna River to the east and the Chemung River to the west, extending southward to their confluence at Tioga Point. The borough of Sayre borders Athens to the north, and Athens Township borders the remainder of the borough, to the east, west, and south.
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