How to Select the Right Electrician Vocational School near Riverdale New Jersey
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Riverdale NJ. But with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are a number of variables to consider. For instance, many potential students will start by searching for schools that are close to their residence. When they have found several that are within driving range, they will select the one with the lowest tuition. Even though location and cost are important, they are not the sole factors that should be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your final judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are offered.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options
There are several options to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Riverdale NJ. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Frequently these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you want to earn certification. Bellow are short summaries of the 3 most typical programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by New Jersey vocational and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards students who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require two years to finish and are provided by New Jersey community colleges, usually 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 previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some New Jersey colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be carried out before licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Riverdale NJ can undertake a vast array of tasks, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly around four to five years of prior experience is called for before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be obtained in various specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails 3 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools
An alternative that you might have contemplated is choosing an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning can be a more practical option for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Commuting costs from Riverdale NJ are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be accessed online also. All of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Once you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Riverdale NJ region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school 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 a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional variables that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Riverdale NJ school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some states mandate that the electrician training program 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 percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate could signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It could also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have high 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 use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Riverdale NJ graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Riverdale NJ area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Riverdale NJ electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Riverdale home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be higher 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 larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk to several of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Riverdale NJ, confirm that the schools you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.
How Many Years To Become An Electrician Riverdale New Jersey
Picking the right electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in How Many Years To Become An Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Top Electrician Trade Schools. But as we have discussed in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Each training program offers unique possibilities for certification also. Probably The ideal means 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 some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you choose is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Riverdale NJ.
More Electric Locations in New Jersey
Riverdale, New Jersey
Riverdale is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 3,559,[8][9][10] reflecting an increase of 1,061 (+42.5%) from the 2,498 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 128 (+5.4%) from the 2,370 counted in the 1990 Census.[19]
Riverdale was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 12, 1923, from portions of Pequannock Township, subject to the results of a referendum passed on April 17, 1923.[20][21]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.087 square miles (5.403 km2), including 2.015 square miles (5.218 km2) of land and 0.072 square miles (0.185 km2) of water (3.43%).[1][2]
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