How to Choose the Best Electrician Tech School near Ligonier Pennsylvania
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Ligonier PA. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are a number of points to consider. For example, many potential students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their home. After they have found some that are within commuting range, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the only qualifications that must be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in greater 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 Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs
There are several options to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Ligonier PA. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are brief explanations of the 3 most typical programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to complete and are offered by Pennsylvania community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Pennsylvania institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be carried out before licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Ligonier PA can perform a vast array of functions, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring 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 period of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally about four to five years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be obtained in various specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes 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 imperative that the electrician trade school that you pick not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools
A possibility that you may have considered is selecting an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools are becoming more popular 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 partial attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, internet learning might be a more convenient option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Driving expenses from Ligonier PA are also lessened and some of the study materials can be accessed online as well. Each of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Now that you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Ligonier PA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are other factors that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research before enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Ligonier PA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order 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 percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate could suggest that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It might also indicate 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 more extensive directory of graduates, which may result in more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Ligonier PA students secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical companies or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Ligonier PA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional 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 working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Ligonier PA electrical company if they can give you some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Ligonier residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with some of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with some of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Ligonier PA, check that the programs you are considering provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.
Industrial Electrician Training Online Ligonier Pennsylvania
Selecting the best electrician trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Industrial Electrician Training Online and wanting more information on the topic 6 Month Electrician Course. But as we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrician training that you are considering includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world perspective, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses vary 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. Every program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you decide on is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Ligonier PA.
More Electric Locations in Pennsylvania
Ligonier, Pennsylvania
Ligonier is a borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,573 at the 2010 census.[3] Ligonier was settled in the 1760s. The borough is well known for nearby Idlewild Park, one of the oldest amusement parks in the country; and nearby Seven Springs Mountain Resort. Another tourist attraction is Fort Ligonier Days, a parade and craft market that takes place every fall over the course of three days, and the Ligonier Country Market in the summer months. Ligonier is part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area.[4]
Ligonier is the site of a reconstruction of Fort Ligonier, an example of a frontier fort of the French and Indian War. Ligonier is also known for its downtown square, the Diamond, which has a bandstand in the middle.
In 1758, when British forces launched a major campaign to remove French forces from the forks of the Ohio, now Pittsburgh, this spot on Loyalhanna Creek was the site of their westernmost camp before reaching the Ohio. The British maintained a large army, a virtual moving city of 6,000 people, that temporarily made this the most populated spot in Pennsylvania, second only to Philadelphia. The fort was named Fort Ligonier after John Ligonier,[5] a British noble of French origin who held the rank of Field Marshal in the British Army. Eventually, the name of the settlement that grew up around the fort was shortened to Ligonier.
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