How to Enroll in the Right Electrician Technical School near Blandon Pennsylvania
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Blandon PA. But with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially because there are so many factors to evaluate. For example, some prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their home. Once they have identified some that are within driving distance, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are important, they are not the sole qualifications that should be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are available.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs
There are three general options to get electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Blandon PA. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are short summaries of the three most common programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Pennsylvania vocational and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to finish and are provided by Pennsylvania community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Pennsylvania colleges, but are less preferred at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be performed before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines
Electricians in Blandon PA can perform a wide range of services, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about four to five years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be acquired in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves three levels of competency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying organizations include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you select not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Schools Online
An alternative that you might have contemplated is choosing an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools have become more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning might be a more convenient choice for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Driving expenses from Blandon PA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be accessed on line as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Once you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Blandon PA area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The initial 2 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 even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are other factors that need to be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Blandon PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you acquire a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states mandate that the electrician training program 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 finish the course. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It might also signify that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Blandon PA graduates acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Blandon PA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain 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 presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Blandon PA electrical company if they can provide some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Blandon residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with several of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Blandon PA, verify that the programs you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.
Electrician Education And Training Requirements Blandon Pennsylvania
Selecting the ideal electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Education And Training Requirements and wanting more information on the topic Accredited Electrical Certification Schools. But as we have discussed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrician training program that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be current and conform 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. Each training program offers unique possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you select is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Blandon PA.
More Electric Locations in Pennsylvania
Blandon, Pennsylvania
Blandon is a census-designated place[2] in Maidencreek Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located at the junction of Pennsylvania Route 73 and Park Road. As of the 2010 census, the population was 7,152 residents.[3] Third Rail bar and restaurant is located in Blandon.[4]
A post office called Blandon has been in operation since 1862.[5] Sources differ whether the community was named for H. Willis Bland,[6] a county judge, or for Robert Bland,[7] an original owner of the town site.
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