How to Pick the Right Electrician Technical School near Freeport Pennsylvania
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Freeport PA. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are a number of factors to evaluate. For example, some students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their home. Once they have identified a few that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though location and cost are important, they are not the sole qualifications that must be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your final judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are offered.
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Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs
There are three general ways to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Freeport PA. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are short explanations of the three most common programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Pennsylvania vocational and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards those who wish to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve two years to finish and are offered by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Pennsylvania institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed before licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Freeport PA can undertake a multitude of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually about four to five years of prior experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be earned in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails three levels of proficiency:
- 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 important that the electrician vocational school that you pick not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs
A possibility that you might have considered is selecting an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs have become more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning can be a more convenient choice for students that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Travelling costs from Freeport PA are also reduced and some of the study materials can be available online as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Now that you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Freeport PA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are other variables that need to be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze before enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have attained 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, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Freeport PA program and school 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 guarantee that you obtain an excellent education, it can help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Also, many states mandate 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate could signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It might also indicate that the teachers were not competent 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 alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Freeport PA graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician trade programs are taught along 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 electrician businesses or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Freeport PA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Freeport PA electrical contracting company if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Freeport residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk to a few of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Freeport PA, check that the schools you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.
Become Electrician Freeport Pennsylvania
Picking the right electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Become Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Certification Training. But as we have covered in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrician training program that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Each program provides unique options for certification also. Probably the best way to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you select is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Freeport PA.
More Electric Locations in Pennsylvania
Freeport, Pennsylvania
Freeport is a borough in Armstrong County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania; it is situated along the Allegheny River in the southwest corner of the county. The population was 1,813 at the 2010 Census.[3]
Freeport is located at 40°40′28″N 79°41′11″W / 40.67444°N 79.68639°W / 40.67444; -79.68639 (40.674337, -79.686320).[4] According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2), of which 1.3 square miles (3.3 km2) is land and 0.039 square miles (0.1 km2), or 2.20%, is water.[3]
As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 1,962 people, 878 households, and 532 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,697.9 people per square mile (653.0/km²). There were 944 housing units at an average density of 816.9 per square mile (314.2/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.42% White, 0.25% African American, 0.25% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.46% of the population.
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