How to Find the Best Electrician Trade School near Robertsdale Pennsylvania
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Robertsdale PA. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are so many factors to consider. For instance, some prospective students will start by looking for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have located a few that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole factors that should be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are offered.
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Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options
There are three general options to obtain electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Robertsdale PA. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Bellow are brief explanations of the 3 most typical programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who want to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take 2 years to complete and are provided by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Pennsylvania institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Robertsdale PA can undertake a multitude of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly test electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be earned in many 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you pick not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs
An alternative that you may have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs have become more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning may be a more convenient option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Commuting expenses from Robertsdale PA are also reduced and some of the study materials may be available on line as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Once you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Because there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Robertsdale PA region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program 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 needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are additional variables that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Robertsdale PA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you receive a superior education, it can help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, many 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 reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate might signify that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It may also mean that the teachers 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 broader directory of graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Robertsdale PA students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician technical programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Robertsdale PA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Robertsdale PA electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Robertsdale home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk to a few of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Robertsdale PA, check that the schools you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Electrical Trade Schools Robertsdale Pennsylvania
Choosing the best electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrical Trade Schools and wanting more information on the topic Vocational School Electrician. But as we have discussed in this article, there are several things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical training that you are examining includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world context, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every program offers unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you select is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Robertsdale PA.
More Electric Locations in Pennsylvania
Robertsdale Historic District
Robertsdale Historic District is a national historic district located at Robertsdale in Wood Township, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. The district includes 102 contributing buildings and 1 contributing site. The buildings primarily date between about 1873 and the 1920s and are associated with the development of the company town by the Rockhill Iron and Coal Company. They include the company office, store, and railway depot, along with workers' housing. Notable buildings include the company store (1873-1874), Rockhill Iron and Coal Company office building (1914), Robertsdale Post Office (c. 1915), East Broad Top Railroad depot (1914), Robertsdale Hotel (c. 1912), Reality Theatre (1948), McClain Store (1911-1923), superintendent's house (1896), Methodist Parsonage (1922), Wood Township Elementary School (1934), and the Methodist Episcopal Church (1890s).[2]
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