How to Enroll in the Right Electrician Tech School near Morris Plains New Jersey
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Morris Plains NJ. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are a number of points to evaluate. For example, many prospective students will start by searching for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have identified some that are within driving distance, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. Even though location and cost are of importance, they are not the only things that should be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are available.
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Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs
There are multiple approaches to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Morris Plains NJ. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you intend to become certified. Bellow are short summaries of the three most prevalent programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by New Jersey technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who wish to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to complete and are offered by New Jersey community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain New Jersey institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be performed prior to licensing. For that reason, most students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Morris Plains NJ can carry out a multitude of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around four to five years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be acquired in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases involves 3 levels of competency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying agencies 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 vocational school that you select not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online
An option that you may have considered is selecting an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs have become more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, internet learning may be a more practical alternative for students that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Driving expenses from Morris Plains NJ are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be accessed online also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Once you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Morris Plains NJ area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are other variables that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze before enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Morris Plains NJ program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it may help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some states require 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 percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate may signify that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It may also mean that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Morris Plains NJ graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Morris Plains NJ area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Morris Plains NJ electrical company if they can provide some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Morris Plains residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get 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 see how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with several of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Morris Plains NJ, confirm that the schools you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.
Electrician Courses Online Morris Plains New Jersey
Picking the ideal electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Courses Online and wanting more information on the topic Learn Electrician. But as we have discussed in this article, there are many things that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every program offers different options for certification also. Perhaps the best means to research your short list of schools is to visit 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 school you select is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Morris Plains NJ.
More Electric Locations in New Jersey
Morris Plains, New Jersey
Morris Plains is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 5,532,[7][8][9] reflecting an increase of 296 (+5.7%) from the 5,236 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 17 (+0.3%) from the 5,219 counted in the 1990 Census.[18]
Morris Plains was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 15, 1926, from portions of Hanover Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 15, 1926.[19][20] The borough's name comes from Lewis Morris, colonial governor of New Jersey.[21][22]
Morris Plains serves as a bedroom community, with many residents traveling to work in New York City. The Morristown Line of NJ Transit provides commuters with direct access to New York Penn Station and to Hoboken Terminal.
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