How to Choose the Right Electrician Tech School near Bergen New York
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Bergen NY. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are so many factors to examine. For example, many students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their residence. When they have found some that are within driving range, they will select the one with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole factors that must be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your ultimate decision when picking an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are available.
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Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs
There are three general options to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Bergen NY. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. In many cases these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the 3 most common programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by New York vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards those who wish to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to complete and are provided by New York junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain New York institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Bergen NY can perform a multitude of duties, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly test general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be obtained in several specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases involves three levels of proficiency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you pick 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.
Attending Electrician Online Programs
An option that you might have contemplated is selecting an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools have become more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning may be a more practical alternative for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Travelling costs from Bergen NY are also lessened and some of the study materials can be available online also. All of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Bergen NY area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The first two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. 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 important when making your determination, there are other variables that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Bergen NY school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you acquire a superior education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved 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 program. A low completion rate might signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It might also mean that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, which may produce more contacts for the school to employ 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 additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Bergen NY grads secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician vocational 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 electrician companies or labor unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Bergen NY area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Bergen NY electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Bergen home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with several of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Bergen NY, confirm that the schools you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.
How To Become Electrician Bergen New York
Choosing the ideal electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in How To Become Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrician College Courses. But as we have covered in this article, there are many factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical training that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Every training program provides different options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to go to 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 certain that you are confident that the training program you select is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Bergen NY.
More Electric Locations in New York
Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of New Jersey.[4] As of the 2017 Census estimate, the county's population was 948,406, an increase of 4.8% from the 2010 United States Census,[3][6][7] which in turn represented an increase of 20,998 (2.4%) from the 884,118 counted in the 2000 Census.[8] Located in the northeastern corner of New Jersey and its Gateway Region, Bergen County is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area and is directly across the Hudson River from Manhattan, to which it is connected by the George Washington Bridge.
Bergen County is divided into 70 municipalities, but has no large cities. Its most populous place, with 43,010 residents at the time of the 2010 census, is Hackensack,[9] which is also its county seat.[2]Mahwah covered the largest area of any municipality, at 26.19 square miles (67.8 km2).[9]
In 2015, the county had a per capita personal income of $75,849, the fourth-highest in New Jersey and ranked 45th of 3,113 counties in the United States.[10][11] Bergen County is one of the wealthiest counties in the United States, with a median household income of $81,708 per the 2010 Census, increasing to an estimated $84,677 in 2014, which was almost 18% higher than the $71,919 median statewide.[12] The county hosts an extensive park system totaling nearly 9,000 acres (3,600 ha).[13]
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