How to Pick the Right Electrician Technical School near North Washington Pennsylvania
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near North Washington PA. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are a number of points to consider. For instance, some potential students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have found several that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are significant, they are not the only things that must be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your final decision when choosing an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional choices that are accessible.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs
There are several options to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near North Washington PA. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Often these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you would like to become certified. Bellow are short descriptions of the 3 most common programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who want to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve 2 years to finish and are offered by Pennsylvania community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Pennsylvania colleges, but are less popular at four 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 performed prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Requirements
Electricians in North Washington PA can undertake a vast array of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally about four to five years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly test electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be obtained in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases involves three levels of competency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying organizations include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you select not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Schools
An alternative that you may have contemplated is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, internet learning might be a more accommodating alternative for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Driving costs from North Washington PA are also reduced and some of the study materials may be available on line as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Once you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the North Washington PA region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are additional variables that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess before selecting an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the North Washington PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, many states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to qualify 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 complete the program. A lower completion rate could signify that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It may also signify that the teachers were not competent 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 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 will not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help North Washington PA students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician technical programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with North Washington PA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local North Washington PA electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your North Washington home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased 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 bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to several of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near North Washington PA, verify that the programs 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. Additionally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.
How Long To Become Electrician North Washington Pennsylvania
Selecting the ideal electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in How Long To Become Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Private Electrician Courses. But as we have discussed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrical training program that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every program offers unique possibilities for certification also. Probably the best means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you decide on is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in North Washington PA.
More Electric Locations in Pennsylvania
Washington County, Pennsylvania
Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 207,820.[1] Its county seat is Washington.[2] The county was created on March 28, 1781, from part of Westmoreland County. The city and county were both named after American Revolutionary War leader George Washington, who eventually became the first President of the United States.
As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 202,897 people, 81,130 households, and 56,060 families residing in the county. The population density was 237 people per square mile (91/km²). There were 87,267 housing units at an average density of 102 per square mile (39/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.27% White, 3.26% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.3% were of German, 17.2% Italian, 10.6% Irish, 8.6% English, 7.9% Polish and 6.2% American ancestry.
There were 81,130 households out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.20% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.96.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 20
6 Reviews 1 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
5 Reviews 
3 Reviews 
2 Reviews 1 Reviews 1 Reviews 
2 Reviews 