How to Select the Right Electrician Trade School near Newfield New Jersey
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Newfield NJ. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are so many factors to consider. For instance, some prospective students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their home. Once they have identified a few that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though location and cost are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that need to be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your final judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are accessible.
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Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options
There are several ways to get electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Newfield NJ. 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 prevalent as the other three options. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Bellow are short descriptions of the three most common programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by New Jersey trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards students who want to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take two years to complete and are provided by New Jersey community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain New Jersey institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Newfield NJ can undertake a multitude of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally around four to five years of practical experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be acquired in many specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 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 important that the electrician tech school that you pick not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes
An alternative that you might have looked at is choosing an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs have become more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Just about 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, distance learning may be a more practical alternative for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Driving expenses from Newfield NJ are also minimized and some of the study materials may be available on line also. All of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Newfield NJ area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are other factors that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research before selecting an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Newfield NJ program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you acquire an excellent education, it can help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate could signify that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It might also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to train 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 graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Newfield NJ grads secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Newfield NJ area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Newfield NJ electrical company if they can give you some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Newfield home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk to some of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Newfield NJ, confirm that the programs you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.
Online Electrician Degree Newfield New Jersey
Choosing the right electrician trade school 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 Online Electrician Degree and wanting more information on the topic What Degree Do You Need To Be An Electrician. But as we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world context, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Each training program offers different options for certification as well. Perhaps the best way to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you decide on is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Newfield NJ.
More Electric Locations in New Jersey
Newfield, New Jersey
Newfield is a borough in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 1,553,[8][9][10] reflecting a decline of 63 (-3.9%) from the 1,616 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 24 (+1.5%) from the 1,592 counted in the 1990 Census.[19]
Newfield was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 8, 1924, from portions of Franklin Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 1, 1924.[20] In the weeks before the legislature approved the formation of the borough, a group of 240 residents traveled to Trenton by train to lobby on behalf of the creation of an independent municipality.[21] The borough's name derives from its status as a new-field development.[22]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.706 square miles (4.418 km2), including 1.703 square miles (4.410 km2) of land and 0.003 square miles (0.008 km2) of water (0.18%).[1][2]
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