How to Choose the Best Electrician Vocational School near New Oxford Pennsylvania
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near New Oxford PA. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are so many factors to consider. For instance, some potential students will start by looking for schools that are close to their home. Once they have located several that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the sole factors that need to be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your final decision when picking an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are offered.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options
There are three general ways to receive electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near New Oxford PA. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Frequently these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you want to earn certification. Bellow are short descriptions of the 3 most common programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to complete and are provided by Pennsylvania community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Pennsylvania institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines
Electricians in New Oxford PA can perform a wide range of services, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about four to five years of prior experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly test general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be obtained in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails 3 levels of proficiency:
- 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 tech school that you pick not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might be required to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Programs
A possibility that you might have considered is choosing an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning can be a more practical alternative for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Travelling costs from New Oxford PA are also lessened and some of the study materials can be accessed on line also. Each of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Once you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Because there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the New Oxford PA area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before selecting an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Many electrician technical programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the New Oxford PA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you get a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate may indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It might also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which can result in 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 an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist New Oxford PA grads secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with New Oxford PA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local New Oxford PA electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your New Oxford home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with a few of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near New Oxford PA, verify that the schools you are reviewing offer 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, illness or family issues.
Electrician Online School New Oxford Pennsylvania
Picking the best electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Online School and wanting more information on the topic Electrical Certification Schools. But as we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are considering includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every program offers different possibilities for certification also. Probably the best approach to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in New Oxford PA.
More Electric Locations in Pennsylvania
New Oxford, Pennsylvania
New Oxford was originally platted in 1792 for Henry Kuhn by James Bolton and identified as "Oxford town" due to the presence of a nearby stream ford and a local establishment named "Dutch Frederick's stand" with the head of an ox on the front of the building.[4] This was changed again in 1822 by the town's first postmaster, Dr. Pfeiffer to "New Oxford".[5] New Oxford was incorporated as borough in August 20, 1874, and Joseph S. Gitt was elected as its first president and then served as secretary through 1891.[6][7] In 1886, the population was 209, with 67 horses,40 cattle, 65 "pleasure carriages", and 14 gold watches.[4]
As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 1,696 people, 678 households, and 448 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,700.7 people per square mile (1,039.4/km²). There were 725 housing units at an average density of 1,154.5 per square mile (444.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 92.45% White, 1.36% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 4.42% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.96% of the population.
There were 678 households, out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.05.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 97
9 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
3 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 1 Reviews 
11 Reviews 
2 Reviews 1 Reviews 
15 Reviews 