How to Choose the Best Electrician Technical School near Secaucus New Jersey
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Secaucus NJ. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are a number of variables to evaluate. For instance, many students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their home. After they have located some that are within commuting range, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though cost and location are of importance, they are not the only factors that must be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are available.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options
There are several ways to get electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Secaucus NJ. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three options. In many cases these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Bellow are short explanations of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by New Jersey vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards those who want to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take 2 years to finish and are offered by New Jersey community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain New Jersey colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be completed before licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Secaucus NJ can perform a vast array of functions, such as installing, replacing and testing 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 most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally about four to five years of practical experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be earned in various 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online
A possibility that you may have considered is selecting an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning can be a more practical alternative for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Travelling expenses from Secaucus NJ are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Once you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Secaucus NJ region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional factors that need to be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research before selecting an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Secaucus 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. In addition to helping guarantee that you receive an excellent education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, 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 considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate could indicate that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It could also signify that the teachers were not competent 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 list of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Secaucus NJ grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician training programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Secaucus NJ area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Secaucus NJ electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Secaucus home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk to some of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Secaucus NJ, check that the programs you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.
Study To Be An Electrician Secaucus New Jersey
Picking the right electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Study To Be An Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Trade Schools. But as we have covered in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Every program provides different possibilities for certification also. Probably the best means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you select is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Secaucus NJ.
More Electric Locations in New Jersey
Secaucus, New Jersey
Secaucus (/ˈsiːkɔːkəs/ SEE-kaw-kəs)[22][23] is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town's population was 16,264,[11][12][13] reflecting an increase of 333 (+2.1%) from the 15,931 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 1,870 (+13.3%) from the 14,061 counted in the 1990 Census.[24]
Located within the New Jersey Meadowlands, it is the most suburban of the county's municipalities, though large parts of the town are dedicated to light manufacturing, retail, and transportation uses, as well as protected areas.[25]
Sikakes, once an island, was part of the territory purchased by Director-General of New Netherland, Peter Stuyvesant in 1658.[29] The territory was part of what is considered to be the oldest municipality in the state of New Jersey which was first chartered in 1660 as Bergen[30] in the province of New Netherland and, in 1683, became Bergen Township.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 709
22 Reviews 
21 Reviews 
15 Reviews 
12 Reviews 
7 Reviews 
10 Reviews 
8 Reviews 
11 Reviews 
37 Reviews 
19 Reviews 