How to Choose the Best Electrician Tech School near Hyde Park Pennsylvania
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Hyde Park PA. But with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are a number of factors to consider. For instance, many potential students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have identified some that are within commuting range, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are significant, they are not the only factors that need to be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your final decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are available.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs
There are three general options to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Hyde Park PA. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are brief explanations of the 3 most prevalent programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require two years to complete and are offered by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Pennsylvania colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out before licensing. Because of that, many students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Hyde Park PA can carry out a wide range of duties, such as 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 required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically test general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be earned in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes
A possibility that you might have considered is choosing an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning can be a more convenient option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Travelling expenses from Hyde Park PA are also lessened and some of the study materials can be accessed on line also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
When you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Hyde Park PA region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional factors that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs 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 an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Hyde Park PA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get a quality education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate might suggest that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It may also signify that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which may result in 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 trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Hyde Park PA graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician trade programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Hyde Park PA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Hyde Park PA electrical company if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Hyde Park residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to several of the students and get their feedback relating to 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 reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Hyde Park PA, verify that the programs you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.
I Want To Become An Electrician Hyde Park Pennsylvania
Picking the best electrical training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in I Want To Become An Electrician and wanting more information on the topic How Do I Become An Electrician. But as we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrical training that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Each program offers unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you select is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Hyde Park PA.
More Electric Locations in Pennsylvania
Hyde Park, Pennsylvania
Located between the borough of Hyde Park and the borough of Leechburg, the footbridge, locally known as "The Walking Bridge" is a suspension bridge that stretches 600 feet across the Kiskiminetas River. It is one of the longest pedestrian suspension footbridges in the United States, and one of the only pedestrian bridges to connect two counties, in this case, Westmoreland and Armstrong counties. The official name of the bridge is the Armstrong County Bridge #13.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2), of which, 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (20.69%) is water.
Hyde Park has only one land border with Allegheny Township to the south. Across the Kiskiminetas River in Armstrong County, Hyde Park runs adjacent with Parks Township to the east, Gilpin Township to the north and Leechburg to the west.
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