How to Select the Best Electrician Tech School near Centre Pennsylvania
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Centre PA. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are so many points to evaluate. For example, many prospective students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have located some that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole qualifications that need to be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your final decision when picking an electrician school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, 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 Programs
There are three general approaches to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Centre PA. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you want to earn certification. Following are brief explanations of the 3 most prevalent programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who would like to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require two years to complete and are provided by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Pennsylvania colleges, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed before licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in Centre PA can undertake a wide range of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be obtained in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases includes 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 crucial that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes
An alternative that you might have considered is selecting an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, distance learning may be a more convenient option for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Driving costs from Centre PA are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be available online as well. Each of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Once you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Centre PA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are other variables that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Centre PA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you get a superior education, it may assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify 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 low completion rate might suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It could also signify that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Centre PA grads obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician vocational programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Centre PA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school 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 currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Centre PA electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Centre home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with several of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience 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 fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Centre PA, verify that the schools you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.
Accredited Electrician Degree Programs Centre Pennsylvania
Picking the ideal electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Accredited Electrician Degree Programs and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Certificate Programs. But as we have discussed in this article, there are many things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrician training program that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Every program provides different possibilities for certification also. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you pick is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Centre PA.
More Electric Locations in Pennsylvania
Centre County, Pennsylvania
Centre County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 153,990.[2] Its county seat is Bellefonte.[3] Centre County comprises the State College, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The lands of the future Centre County were first recorded by James Potter in 1764. Potter, having reached the top of Nittany Mountain, and "....seeing the prairies and noble forest beneath him, cried out to his attendant, 'By heavens, Thompson, I have discovered an empire!'" [4] After the American Revolutionary War, Centre County was created on February 13, 1800, from parts of Huntingdon, Lycoming, Mifflin, and Northumberland counties; it was named for its central location in the state.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,113 square miles (2,880 km2), of which 1,110 square miles (2,900 km2) is land and 3.0 square miles (7.8 km2) (0.3%) is water.[5] It is the fifth-largest county in Pennsylvania by area.
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