How to Find the Right Electrician Technical School near Scranton Pennsylvania
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Scranton PA. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many variables to consider. For example, some students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have located a few that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the only factors that should be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should influence your final judgment when picking an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are available.
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Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs
There are three general options to get electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Scranton PA. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated 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 prevalent programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards students who would like to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve two years to complete and are offered by Pennsylvania community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Pennsylvania colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 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 educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in Scranton PA can perform a wide range of services, such as testing, installing and replacing 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 become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually 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 differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be acquired in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves 3 levels of proficiency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying organizations 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 trade school that you choose not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Programs Online
A possibility that you may have contemplated is choosing an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning can be a more practical option for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Commuting costs from Scranton PA are also reduced and some of the study materials may be available online also. All of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Once you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Scranton PA region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional variables that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before selecting an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Scranton PA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate could signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It may also mean that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Scranton PA grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Scranton PA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Scranton PA electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Scranton home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one 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 big they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk to a few of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Scranton PA, check that the schools you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.
Online Electrician Certificate Programs Scranton Pennsylvania
Selecting the best electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Online Electrician Certificate Programs and wanting more information on the topic What Do I Need To Do To Become An Electrician. But as we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical tech school that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Every program offers unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you select is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Scranton PA.
More Electric Locations in Pennsylvania
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton is the sixth-largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat and largest city of Lackawanna County in Northeastern Pennsylvania's Wyoming Valley and hosts a federal court building for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. With a population of 77,291, it is the largest city in the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre–Hazleton, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of about 570,000.[4]
Scranton is the geographic and cultural center of the Lackawanna River valley, and the largest of the former anthracite coal mining communities in a contiguous quilt-work that also includes Wilkes-Barre, Nanticoke, Pittston, and Carbondale. Scranton was incorporated on February 14, 1856, as a borough in Luzerne County and as a city on April 23, 1866. It became a major industrial city, a center of mining and railroads, and attracted thousands of new immigrants. It was the site of the Scranton General Strike in 1877.
People in northern Luzerne County sought a new county in 1839 but the Wilkes-Barre area resisted losing its assets. Lackawanna County did not gain independent status until 1878. Under legislation allowing the issue to be voted by residents of the proposed territory, voters favored the new county by a proportion of 6 to 1, with Scranton residents providing the major support. The city was designated as the county seat when Lackawanna County was established in 1878, and a judicial district was authorized in 1879.
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