How to Choose the Right Electrician Tech School near Atlasburg Pennsylvania
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Atlasburg PA. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are a number of variables to evaluate. For example, many students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have located a few that are within commuting range, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are significant, they are not the only factors that need to be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are available.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options
There are several approaches to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Atlasburg PA. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Often 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 become certified. Bellow are short explanations of the 3 most prevalent programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve two years to finish and are provided by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain Pennsylvania colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out before licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in Atlasburg PA can carry out a multitude of tasks, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around four to five years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be earned in various specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you select not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online
An alternative that you may have considered is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning might be a more accommodating option for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Driving expenses from Atlasburg PA are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online as well. All of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
When you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Atlasburg PA area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are other variables that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to selecting an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Atlasburg PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you receive an excellent education, it may assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate may indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It may also signify that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which can result in more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Atlasburg PA students obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Atlasburg PA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school 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 currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Atlasburg PA electrical company if they can provide some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Atlasburg residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with some of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with some of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Atlasburg PA, check that the schools you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.
Electrical Apprenticeship School Atlasburg 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 Electrical Apprenticeship School and wanting more information on the topic Vocational Training Electrician. But as we have addressed in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical training that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Every training program offers unique options for certification as well. Perhaps the best way to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you pick is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Atlasburg PA.
More Electric Locations in Pennsylvania
Washington County, Pennsylvania
Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 207,820.[1] Its county seat is Washington.[2] The county was created on March 28, 1781, from part of Westmoreland County. The city and county were both named after American Revolutionary War leader George Washington, who eventually became the first President of the United States.
As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 202,897 people, 81,130 households, and 56,060 families residing in the county. The population density was 237 people per square mile (91/km²). There were 87,267 housing units at an average density of 102 per square mile (39/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.27% White, 3.26% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.3% were of German, 17.2% Italian, 10.6% Irish, 8.6% English, 7.9% Polish and 6.2% American ancestry.
There were 81,130 households out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.20% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.96.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 54
1 Reviews 
2 Reviews 1 Reviews 
6 Reviews 
3 Reviews 5 Reviews 
4 Reviews 1 Reviews 1 Reviews 
15 Reviews 