How to Pick the Best Electrician Technical School near Venango Pennsylvania
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Venango PA. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are a number of points to evaluate. For example, some prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their residence. When they have identified some that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though location and cost are important, they are not the only factors that should be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your final decision when choosing an electrician school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are available.
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Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs
There are multiple approaches to obtain electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Venango PA. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you want to earn certification. Bellow are short descriptions of the three most prevalent programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Pennsylvania vocational and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take two years to finish and are provided by Pennsylvania community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Pennsylvania colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed before licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Venango PA can carry out a wide range of services, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about four to five years of experience is called for before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be obtained in several specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails three levels of competency:
- 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 important that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online
An alternative that you might have looked at is selecting an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools have become more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning may be a more accommodating option for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Travelling costs from Venango PA are also reduced and some of the study materials can be available on line as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Now that you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Because there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Venango PA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we talked about 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 additional variables that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Venango PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive an excellent education, it can assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Also, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order 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 percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It may also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Venango PA graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Venango PA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Venango PA electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Venango residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk to some of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with some of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Venango PA, verify that the programs you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.
Become A Licensed Electrician Venango Pennsylvania
Choosing the best electrician 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 Become A Licensed Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrical Technician Program. 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 reviewing. It’s a must that any electrician training program that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world context, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each training program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you select is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Venango PA.
More Electric Locations in Pennsylvania
Venango County, Pennsylvania
Venango County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 54,984.[1] Its county seat is Franklin.[2] The county was created in 1800 and later organized in 1805.[3]
Venango County was created on March 12, 1800 from parts of Allegheny and Lycoming Counties. The name "Venango" comes from the Native American name of the region, Onenge, meaning Otter. This was corrupted in English as the Venango River.[4] The settlement at its mouth was likewise called Venango, and is the site of present-day South Side of Oil City, Pennsylvania.
George Bissell, a Yale University Chemistry professor, and Edwin L. Drake, a former railroad conductor, made the first successful use of a drilling rig on August 28, 1859 near Titusville, Pennsylvania. (Although Titusville is in Crawford County, the first oil well was drilled outside of town, less than a mile inside of the Venango County boundary.) This single well soon exceeded the entire cumulative oil output of Europe since the 1650s. Within weeks oil derricks were erected all over the area. Other oil boom towns located in Venango County included Franklin, Oil City, and the now defunct Pithole City. The principal product of the oil was kerosene.
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