How to Pick the Best Electrician Trade School near Parker Pennsylvania
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Parker PA. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are a number of points to examine. For example, many potential students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their home. When they have identified some that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the only things that should be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should influence your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are available.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options
There are several approaches to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Parker PA. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Frequently these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are short descriptions of the 3 most typical programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take 2 years to complete and are provided by Pennsylvania community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Pennsylvania institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Parker PA can perform a vast array of services, such as installing, replacing and testing 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 be licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about four to five years of experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly test electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be earned 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 organizations include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs
An alternative that you may have looked at is choosing an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning may be a more accommodating choice for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Commuting costs from Parker PA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Now that you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Because there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Parker PA area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we discussed 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 chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other factors that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Parker PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you acquire an excellent education, it may help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, some 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 percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate might suggest that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It may also mean that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Parker PA graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical 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. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Parker PA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local 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 working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Parker PA electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Parker residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with several of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Parker 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 permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.
Learn To Become An Electrician Parker Pennsylvania
Choosing the best electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Learn To Become An Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Degrees Online. But as we have discussed in this article, there are many things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical training that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides different 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 faculty. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Parker PA.
More Electric Locations in Pennsylvania
Parker, Pennsylvania
Parker is a city located in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is in the extreme northwestern portion of the county. The population was 840 at the 2010 census. The city was named for Judge John Parker, a lead surveyor of Lawrenceburg and founder/owner of Parker's Landing, the two villages combined to create Parker.
Parker is sometimes referred to as the "Smallest City in the USA." Parker was incorporated as a city on March 1, 1873, by special state legislation in the midst of the northwestern Pennsylvania oil boom. The new municipality was called "Parker" and made up the earlier villages of Parker's Landing (on the Allegheny River) and Lawrenceburg (on the bluff above the river). Residents assumed that Parker would quickly become a major population center, and at the height of the oil boom, the population of Parker grew to over 20,000. The boom quickly went bust, however, and by the 1880s the "city" returned to its historic small village size -- a population of approximately 1,000.
Parker received national attention again in 2014 when a massive ice jam along the Allegheny River formed and started some minor flooding. The jam was so massive that it attracted tourists to the area, and a local bar even named a drink after the ice jam. The ice jam was severe enough that the National Weather Service issued a flood warning for the area in case the ice started melting.[3][4]
Business Results 1 - 10 of 15
1 Reviews 
4 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
3 Reviews 1 Reviews 