How to Select the Right Electrician Vocational School near Warrendale Pennsylvania
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Warrendale PA. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are so many variables to examine. For instance, many prospective students will start by looking for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have identified a few that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the only qualifications that need to be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your final decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are accessible.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options
There are three general options to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Warrendale PA. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Frequently these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are short descriptions of the three most typical programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to complete and are provided by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Pennsylvania colleges, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed before licensing. For that reason, many students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in Warrendale PA can undertake a wide range of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically test general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be acquired in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you pick not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Training Classes
A possibility that you may have considered is choosing an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning can be a more convenient alternative for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Travelling costs from Warrendale PA are also reduced and some of the study materials can be available on line as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Once you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Warrendale PA area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional variables that need to be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Warrendale PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you receive a superior education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved 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 program. A low completion rate may indicate that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It may also mean that the instructors 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 more extensive directory of alumni, which can produce 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 additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Warrendale PA graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Warrendale PA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained 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, consult with the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Warrendale PA electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Warrendale home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with a few of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, 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. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Warrendale PA, confirm that the schools you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.
Electrical Online Courses Warrendale Pennsylvania
Selecting the ideal electrician trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrical Online Courses and wanting more information on the topic Electricians Training Courses. 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 training that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Each training program provides different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you select is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Warrendale PA.
More Electric Locations in Pennsylvania
Warrendale, Pennsylvania
Warrendale is a northern suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in the northwestern corner of Allegheny County. It is the home to the corporate headquarters of rue21, Joy Mining Machinery, Printing Industries of America and SAE International, as well as the United States Postal Service Pittsburgh Network Distribution Center, one of 21 such mail delivery hubs in the country. It is also the home to one of American Eagle Outfitters' four North American distribution centers.
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