How to Choose the Right Electrician Vocational School near Mercersburg Pennsylvania
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Mercersburg PA. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are a number of variables to examine. For example, some students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have located several that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the only qualifications that should be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional choices that are available.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options
There are several ways to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Mercersburg PA. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are brief summaries of the 3 most typical programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who want to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require two years to complete and are offered by Pennsylvania community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Pennsylvania colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be performed before licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Mercersburg PA can perform a multitude of duties, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically around four to five years of experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be earned in various specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails three levels of proficiency:
- 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 crucial that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Programs
A possibility that you might have considered is choosing an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning might be a more practical choice for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Travelling costs from Mercersburg PA are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Now that you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Because there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Mercersburg PA area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are other variables that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Mercersburg PA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get an excellent education, it may assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, some states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it 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 percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate could indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It may also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which may result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Mercersburg PA students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician training programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Mercersburg PA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Mercersburg PA electrical contractor if they can provide some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Mercersburg residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak to some of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Mercersburg PA, confirm that the programs you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.
Residential Electrical Training Mercersburg Pennsylvania
Selecting the right electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Residential Electrical Training and wanting more information on the topic Electrician College. But as we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training program that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Each training program offers unique options for certification as well. Perhaps the best means to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you pick is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Mercersburg PA.
More Electric Locations in Pennsylvania
Mercersburg, Pennsylvania
Mercersburg is a borough in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is 72 miles (116 km) southwest of Harrisburg, the state capital. Originally called "Black Town", it was incorporated in 1831. In 1900, 956 people lived here, and in 1910, 1,410 people lived here. The population was 1,561 at the 2010 census.[3]
Mercersburg is located in southwestern Franklin County at 39°49′46″N 77°54′7″W / 39.82944°N 77.90194°W / 39.82944; -77.90194 (39.829388, -77.901952).[8] According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.89 square miles (2.3 km2), all of it land.[3]
Mercersburg is located at the eastern foot of Cove Mountain on the west side of the Great Appalachian Valley. The borough is 7.5 miles (12.1 km) north of the Mason–Dixon line, which serves as the state border with Maryland. Whitetail Ski Resort and golf course are located 7 miles (11 km) south of the town.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 35
16 Reviews 
1 Reviews 1 Reviews 
3 Reviews 1 Reviews 
3 Reviews 
1 Reviews 1 Reviews 
3 Reviews 
11 Reviews 