How to Choose the Right Electrician Technical School near Du Bois Pennsylvania
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Du Bois PA. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are so many points to evaluate. For example, some prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their home. When they have found some that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the sole factors that need to be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are accessible.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options
There are three general ways to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Du Bois PA. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three options. In many cases these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most typical programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to finish and are provided by Pennsylvania community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Pennsylvania colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed before licensing. For that reason, many students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines
Electricians in Du Bois PA can carry out a wide range of duties, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about four to five years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be acquired in many specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Schools Online
A possibility that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning can be a more convenient alternative for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Commuting expenses from Du Bois PA are also reduced and some of the study materials may be accessed on line as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Training Schools
When you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Du Bois PA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The initial two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to enrolling in an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Du Bois PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Also, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate may indicate that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It may also signify that the instructors 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 broader list of alumni, which can result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Du Bois PA graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician training programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Du Bois PA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Du Bois PA electrical contracting company if they can provide some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Du Bois residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized 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 see how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Du Bois PA, verify that the schools you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.
Online Electrician Training Courses Du Bois Pennsylvania
Choosing the best electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Online Electrician Training Courses and wanting more information on the topic Accredited Electrician Online Programs. But as we have covered in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrician training that you are examining includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each program offers different options for certification as well. Perhaps the best way to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you select is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Du Bois PA.
More Electric Locations in Pennsylvania
DuBois, Pennsylvania
DuBois (/ˈduːbɔɪz/ DOO-boyss) is a city and the most populous community in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States. DuBois is located about 100 miles (160 km) northeast of Pittsburgh. The population was 7,794 at the 2010 census.[3] It is the principal city in the DuBois, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area. DuBois is also one of two principal cities, the other being State College, that make up the larger State College-DuBois, PA Combined Statistical Area.
The town was founded by John Rumbarger, for whom the town was originally named. The Rumbarger Cemetery is all that survives of this original settlement. The town was later renamed for local lumber magnate John DuBois,[4] who came from a longstanding American family of French Huguenot descent. In 1938, his nephew, John E. DuBois, donated the family mansion and estate as a permanent home for the DuBois Campus of Penn State University.[5] While DuBois was founded as a lumber town, the mining of bituminous coal quickly became the chief industry in DuBois.
Over the years there have been numerous unsuccessful attempts to combine the city with the surrounding Sandy Township. Combined, the population of DuBois and Sandy Township is approximately 18,000 people.
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