How to Choose the Best Electrician Technical School near Salem New Jersey
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Salem NJ. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are a number of variables to evaluate. For instance, many potential students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have located a few that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole factors that must be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your final decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are accessible.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs
There are several options to get electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Salem NJ. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three options. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are brief descriptions of the three most common programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by New Jersey technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards those who would like to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve 2 years to complete and are provided by New Jersey junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while supplying 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 favored at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements
Electricians in Salem NJ can perform a vast array of duties, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally around four to five years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be obtained in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online
An alternative that you might have looked at is choosing an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs have become more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning can be a more practical option for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Driving costs from Salem NJ are also minimized and some of the study materials may be accessed online also. All of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Once you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Salem NJ region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional variables that must be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. A large number of 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 relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Salem NJ program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you acquire a quality education, it can assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, many states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate could signify that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It may also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Salem NJ grads obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician training programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Salem NJ area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form 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 in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Salem NJ electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Salem 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 fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be difficult in larger 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 students and instructors. Talk with a few of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the instructors 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 assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Salem NJ, confirm that the schools you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.
Online Electrician Training Courses Salem New Jersey
Selecting the right electrician training program 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 Online Electrician Training Courses and wanting more information on the topic Accredited Electrician Online Programs. But as we have addressed in this article, there are several things that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrical tech school that you are considering includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the type of credential provided, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Each program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you choose is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Salem NJ.
More Electric Locations in New Jersey
Salem, New Jersey
Salem is a city in Salem County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 5,146,[8][9][10] reflecting a decrease of 711 (−12.1%) from the 5,857 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 1,026 (−14.9%) from the 6,883 counted in the 1990 Census, an overall drop of more than 25% over the two decades.[19] It is the county seat of Salem County,[20] the state's most rural county.[21] The name "Salem", in both the city and county, is derived from the Hebrew word shalom, meaning "peace".[22][23]
The town and colony of Salem was laid out in 1675 by John Fenwick and the community was given permission to choose officers in October 1693. It was incorporated on February 21, 1798, as part of the initial group of 104 townships established by the New Jersey Legislature. On February 25, 1858, it was reincorporated as Salem City.[24]
Salem was founded by John Fenwick, a Quaker. Fenwick had been involved in a financial dispute with an Edward Byllynge, another Quaker, who had received the undivided portion of New Jersey territory that James Stuart, Duke of York had granted to Lord John Berkeley in 1664. Berkeley had sold his share to Byllynge in 1675 for 1,000 pounds, but Byllynge had become bankrupt and so had the property turned over to Fenwick to hold for Byllynge and his assigns in trust. Byllynge and Fenwick came to disagree over the property.
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