How to Pick the Best Electrician Training School near Catasauqua Pennsylvania
The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Catasauqua PA. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are so many variables to consider. For example, many prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their home. When they have found several that are within commuting range, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. Even though location and cost are important, they are not the only things that should be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.
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Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs
There are several options to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Catasauqua PA. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Frequently these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Bellow are short summaries of the three most common programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and take about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards those who wish to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take two years to finish and are provided by Pennsylvania community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Pennsylvania institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Catasauqua PA can undertake a vast array of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is called for before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in various specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves three levels of competency:
- 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 important that the electrician vocational school that you pick not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Programs
A possibility that you may have looked at is selecting an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case 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 attended online, internet learning may be a more practical choice for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Driving expenses from Catasauqua PA are also lessened and some of the study materials may be accessed online also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Now that you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Because there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Catasauqua PA area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional factors that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research before choosing an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician technical schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Catasauqua PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you obtain an excellent education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states require 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate could indicate that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It may also signify that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly 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 mean 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 trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Catasauqua PA students secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician training programs are taught together 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 businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Catasauqua PA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools 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, consult with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Catasauqua PA electrical contracting company if they can give you some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Catasauqua residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be increased tuition fees 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 some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with a few of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Catasauqua PA, verify that the schools you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, 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 because of work, illness or family issues.
Accredited Electrician Certification Schools Catasauqua Pennsylvania
Selecting the ideal electrician trade school 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 Accredited Electrician Certification Schools and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Night School. But as we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical training program that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world perspective, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every training program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Take the time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Catasauqua PA.
More Electric Locations in Pennsylvania
Catasauqua, Pennsylvania
Catasauqua is a borough in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, settled in 1805 and chartered as a borough in 1853. Catasauqua is a suburb of Allentown, Pennsylvania in the Lehigh Valley region of the state. Catasauqua is included in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the New York City-Newark, New Jersey, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area.
Historically, manufacturing was Catasauqua's principal industry, and, in 1839, it was the location of the first manufactured anthracite iron in the nation. Catasauqua's population in 1910 was 5,250. The population was 6,588 at the 2000 census. The word Catasauqua is shortened to "Catty" in local dialect when speaking of the place.
Catasauqua is located at 40°39′11″N 75°28′3″W / 40.65306°N 75.46750°W / 40.65306; -75.46750 (40.652995, -75.467627).[3] Nearby large communities include Allentown three miles (5 km) to the south and Bethlehem seven miles (11 km) to the east.
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