How to Find the Right Electrician Tech School near Loretto Pennsylvania
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Loretto PA. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are a number of variables to consider. For instance, some potential students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their home. When they have identified several that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the lowest tuition. Even though cost and location are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that should be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your final decision when choosing an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are available.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options
There are several options to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Loretto PA. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Bellow are brief summaries of the 3 most common programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards those who wish to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take two years to finish and are offered by Pennsylvania community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Pennsylvania institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Loretto PA can undertake a vast array of services, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about 4 to 5 years of experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in various specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes 3 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 imperative that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Programs
A possibility that you may have considered is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more convenient option for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Commuting expenses from Loretto PA are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Once you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Because there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Loretto PA area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional factors that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Loretto PA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you acquire a superior education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Also, some states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate may indicate that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It could also mean that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, 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 field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Loretto PA grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Loretto PA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Loretto PA electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Loretto residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with a few of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to some of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise 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 attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Loretto PA, check that the programs you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.
Vocational School Electrician Loretto Pennsylvania
Choosing the ideal electrical training program 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 Vocational School Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Training Courses For Electricians. But as we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrical training that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides different options for certification as well. Perhaps the best way to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you select is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Loretto PA.
More Electric Locations in Pennsylvania
Loretto, Pennsylvania
Loretto is a borough in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 1,302.[3] Like the rest of Cambria County, it is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. Loretto is the home of Saint Francis University.
Loretto is located in east-central Cambria County at 40°30′23″N 78°38′10″W / 40.50639°N 78.63611°W / 40.50639; -78.63611 (40.506355, -78.636066).[4] It is 6 miles (10 km) east of Ebensburg, the Cambria County seat, and 17 miles (27 km) west of Altoona. Johnstown is 25 miles (40 km) to the southwest.
Loretto was founded in 1799 by Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin as the first English-speaking Catholic settlement west of the Allegheny Front. He named it after the town of Loreto, Italy,[6] site of a Catholic place of pilgrimage. Loretto was built adjoining the original settlement founded by Captain Michael McGuire, a Revolutionary War veteran, in 1788.[7] In his will, Captain McGuire donated land to the Catholic Church on which Prince Gallitzin built St. Michael's Church in 1799.
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