How to Choose the Best Electrician Technical School near Palmyra Pennsylvania
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Palmyra PA. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are so many factors to consider. For instance, many potential students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their home. After they have found some that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the lowest tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the only qualifications that should be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are available.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs
There are three general approaches to get electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Palmyra PA. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are short summaries of the three most common programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards those who want to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require 2 years to finish and are provided by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while supplying 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 popular at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed prior to licensing. For that reason, many students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Palmyra PA can undertake a multitude of duties, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be acquired in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes
An alternative that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs have become more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning might be a more practical option for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Driving costs from Palmyra PA are also reduced and some of the study materials may be available on line also. All of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Now that you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Palmyra PA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. 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 critical when making your decision, there are other factors that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to enrolling in an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Palmyra PA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it may assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate may suggest that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It could also mean that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to utilize 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 trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Palmyra PA students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Palmyra PA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Palmyra PA electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Palmyra home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with some of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Palmyra PA, check that the schools you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.
How To Become Electrical Technician Palmyra Pennsylvania
Choosing the right electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in How To Become Electrical Technician and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Certification Schools. But as we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world context, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each program provides different options for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you pick is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Palmyra PA.
More Electric Locations in Pennsylvania
Palmyra, Pennsylvania
Palmyra is located in the Lebanon Valley between Annville and Hershey. Situated on the western edge of Lebanon County, the borough is 10 mi (16 km) west of Lebanon, and 17 mi (27 km) east of Harrisburg. The village of Campbelltown is only 2 mi (3.2 km) south of Palmyra, and carries a Palmyra mailing address.
Geologist William E. Kochanov wrote an extensive report on the geology of the Palmyra area as part of the 1995 publication, Karst Geohazards. In his article, Kochanov discusses how the geology of the region contributes to the high number of sinkholes found in the area.[5]
Palmyra lies in the eastern section of the Great Valley, locally known as the Lebanon Valley. The specific formation beneath Palmyra is an Ordovician Epler Formation, characterized by a high number of surface depressions and sinkholes. These features serve as natural drains, allowing any water on the surface to permeate the soil and run underground into water tables or into local springs or creeks.
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