How to Choose the Right Electrician Technical School near Nova Pennsylvania
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Nova PA. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are a number of points to examine. For example, some prospective students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their home. After they have found a few that are within driving distance, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole factors that should be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are available.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options
There are multiple ways to receive electrician training in a trade or technical school near Nova PA. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are short descriptions of the three most typical programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who want to get into an apprenticeship more quickly 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 provide a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Pennsylvania institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be completed before licensing. For that reason, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Nova PA can perform a multitude of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is called for before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving 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 may be acquired in several specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure 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 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 exams that you might need to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools
A possibility that you might have contemplated is selecting an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, distance learning might be a more accommodating option for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Travelling costs from Nova PA are also minimized and some of the study materials may be accessed on line as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Training Schools
When you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Nova PA region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Nova PA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it 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 suggest that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It may also mean that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also imperative 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 utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Nova PA grads secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational 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 within their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with Nova PA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Nova PA electrical contracting company if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Nova home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with some of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications 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 are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Nova PA, confirm that the programs you are reviewing offer those choices. 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.
Education For Electrician Nova Pennsylvania
Selecting the best electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Education For Electrician and wanting more information on the topic I Want To Become An Electrician. But as we have addressed in this article, there are many things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world context, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Each program offers unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you pick is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Nova PA.
More Electric Locations in Pennsylvania
Nova Chemicals
NOVA Chemicals Corporation is a plastics and chemical company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, with Executive Offices in the Pittsburgh suburb of Moon Township, Pennsylvania and Lambton County, Ontario. NOVA Chemicals' products are used in a wide variety of applications, including food and electronics packaging, industrial materials, appliances and a variety of consumer goods. The company operates two business units and holds a 50% interest in a major joint venture with INEOS, called INEOS NOVA.
NOVA Chemicals was founded in 1954 as Alberta Gas Trunk Lines by the Alberta government. In the 1970s, NOVA Chemicals expanded into the chemicals industry.[3] The company was privatized in 1961 and was renamed NOVA Corporation in 1980.[4][5][6] In 1998 it merged with TransCanada Pipelines Limited [7][8] and also became a publicly traded company for the first time that year.[5] NOVA Chemicals was long headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, until then-CEO Jeffrey Lipton moved the executive offices to Pittsburgh, PA in the late 1990s. While this move was made in order to be closer to US customers, the benefits of the move never materialized. It was also seen as a snub to the province of Alberta, as Premier Ed Stelmach refused to grant NOVA Chemicals a bailout in 2009 due to the financial meltdown and recession, as well as the company's heavy debt load.[5]
On July 6, 2009, the International Petroleum Investment Company (since 2016 IPIC merged with Mudabala), which is wholly owned by the government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, completed the 100% purchase of NOVA Chemicals, and transferred its place of incorporation to the Province of New Brunswick.[9][10]
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