How to Choose the Best Electrician Training School near Harford Pennsylvania
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Harford PA. But with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are a number of factors to consider. For instance, many prospective students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their home. After they have located some that are within driving distance, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole factors that should be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are offered.
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Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs
There are several options to receive electrician training in a trade or technical school near Harford PA. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three options. In many cases these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the three most typical programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards students who want to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to finish and are offered by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Pennsylvania institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed prior to licensing. For that reason, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Harford PA can carry out a vast array of services, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally about four to five years of prior experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be obtained in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician vocational school that you pick not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools
A possibility that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, distance learning might be a more accommodating alternative for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Commuting costs from Harford PA are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be available on line as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Now that you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Harford PA region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other factors that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Harford PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you obtain a quality education, it can help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools 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 course. A low completion rate may suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It might also signify that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative 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 use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Harford PA grads acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Harford PA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on 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 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 tech you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Harford PA electrical contracting company if they can provide some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Harford home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to some of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Harford PA, check that the schools you are looking at provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.
Best School For Electrician Harford Pennsylvania
Selecting the best electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Best School For Electrician and wanting more information on the topic College Courses For Electricians. But as we have addressed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training program that you are examining includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you select is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Harford PA.
More Electric Locations in Pennsylvania
Harford County, Maryland
Harford County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2010 census, the population was 244,826.[1] Its county seat is Bel Air.[2] Harford County is included in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA Combined Statistical Area.
In 1608 the area was settled by Massawomecks and Susquehannocks.[3]:16–17 The first European to see the area was John Smith in 1608 when he traveled up the Chesapeake Bay from Jamestown.[3]:14–15 In 1652 the English and Susquehannocks signed a treaty at what is now Annapolis for the area now called Harford County.[3]:24
Harford County was formed on March 22, 1774 from the eastern part of Baltimore County with a population of 13,000 people.[3]:13,60 On March 22, 1775 Harford County hosted the signers of the Bush Declaration, a precursor document to the American Revolution.[3]:102 On January 22, 1782 Bel Air became the county seat.[3]:67
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