How to Select the Best Electrician Vocational School near Curtisville Pennsylvania
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Curtisville PA. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are so many points to examine. For example, some potential students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their residence. When they have located several that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are significant, they are not the only qualifications that need to be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your final judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are available.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options
There are multiple approaches to obtain electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Curtisville PA. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or receive 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 made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you want to earn certification. Bellow are brief descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who want to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take two years to finish and are offered by Pennsylvania community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Pennsylvania institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Curtisville PA can perform a multitude of tasks, including 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 required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically around four to five years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically assess general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be acquired in many specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves 3 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might need to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online
A possibility that you may have contemplated is choosing an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning might be a more practical option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Driving costs from Curtisville PA are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be available on line as well. All of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Once you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Since there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Curtisville PA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional factors that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research before enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician technical programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Curtisville PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you get an excellent education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, a number of 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 reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate could indicate that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It may also suggest 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 graduates, which may mean more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Curtisville PA students secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Curtisville PA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Curtisville PA electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Curtisville home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one 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 teachers and students. Speak to several of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Curtisville PA, check that the schools you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Electrician Education And Training Curtisville Pennsylvania
Picking the right electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Education And Training and wanting more information on the topic Education Needed To Become An Electrician. But as we have addressed in this article, there are many things that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Every training program offers different options for certification also. Perhaps The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you pick is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Curtisville PA.
More Electric Locations in Pennsylvania
Curtisville, Pennsylvania
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 1,173 people, 498 households, and 330 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 822.5 people per square mile (316.7/km²). There were 528 housing units at an average density of 370.2/sq mi (142.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.81% White, 0.09% African American, 0.09% Asian, 0.26% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.11% of the population.
There were 498 households, out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 23.0% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 81
6 Reviews 
6 Reviews 
5 Reviews 1 Reviews 
15 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
2 Reviews 1 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
3 Reviews 