How to Choose the Right Electrician Vocational School near Stroudsburg Pennsylvania
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Stroudsburg PA. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are so many points to examine. For instance, some prospective students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have identified several that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though location and cost are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that must be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your final decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are accessible.
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Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options
There are three general ways to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Stroudsburg PA. You can 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. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are short summaries of the 3 most common programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require two years to finish and are offered by Pennsylvania community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Pennsylvania colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed before licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Stroudsburg PA can perform a wide range of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically test general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be earned in numerous specialties, 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes
An option that you may have contemplated is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more practical option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Commuting costs from Stroudsburg PA are also minimized and some of the study materials may be available on line as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Once you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Stroudsburg PA region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other factors that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Stroudsburg PA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Also, many states require 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 considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate may indicate that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It may also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which may result in 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 trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Stroudsburg PA students acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Stroudsburg PA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Stroudsburg PA electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Stroudsburg residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to some of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Stroudsburg PA, check that the programs you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Residential Electrical Training Stroudsburg Pennsylvania
Picking the right electrical trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new trade. 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 covered in this article, there are several factors that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training that you are considering includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every program provides different possibilities for certification as well. Probably The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Take the time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you select is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Stroudsburg PA.
More Electric Locations in Pennsylvania
Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Stroudsburg is a borough in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is in the state's Poconos region, approximately five miles (8 km) from the Delaware Water Gap, at the confluence of the Brodhead, McMichaels and Pocono Creeks. It is in northeastern Pennsylvania. It is also the county seat of Monroe County. Stroudsburg is part of the East Stroudsburg, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which in turn is part of the New York combined statistical area. The population was 5,567 at the 2010 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2).1.8 square miles (4.6 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2) of it (1.67%) is water.
Stroudsburg is located in the heart of the Pocono Mountains, and serves as the Monroe County seat. The Pocono region remains Pennsylvania’s biggest tourist attraction and has nearly $1 billion in economic impact with over 8 million visitors annually.
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