Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Northridge CA 91324

How to Become an Electrician in Northridge California

Northridge CA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Northridge CA. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are a number of factors to examine. For instance, some potential students will start by searching for schools that are close to their home. When they have identified some that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are important, they are not the sole things that need to be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should influence your final judgment when choosing an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are available.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Northridge CA

Northridge CA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several ways to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near Northridge CA. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are short descriptions of the three most prevalent programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by California technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who would like to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require two years to complete and are offered by California junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some California institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements

Northridge CA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Northridge CA can perform a wide range of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly around 4 to 5 years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be earned in numerous specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases includes 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you select not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools in Northridge CA

attending electrician school online in Northridge CA An alternative that you may have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning might be a more convenient choice for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus many online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Driving costs from Northridge CA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be accessed on line also. All of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Northridge CA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Northridge CA region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The first 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are other variables that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research before selecting an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Northridge CA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain an excellent education, it may help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, a number of states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate might indicate that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It may also signify that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, 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 validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Northridge CA students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs 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 relationships with Northridge CA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already 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 Northridge CA electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Northridge home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with a few of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Northridge CA, confirm that the schools you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Northridge CA?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Northridge CA area.

Northridge, Los Angeles

Originally named Zelzah, the community was renamed North Los Angeles in 1929 to emphasize its closeness to the booming city. This created confusion with Los Angeles and North Hollywood. At the suggestion of a civic leader, the community was renamed Northridge in 1938.[1] Northridge can trace its history back to the Gabrielino (or Tongva) people and to Spanish explorers. Its territory was later sold by the Mexican governor to Eulogio de Celis, whose heirs divided it for sale.

The 2000 U.S. census counted 57,561 residents in the 9.47-square-mile (24.5 km2) Northridge neighborhood—or 6,080 people per square mile (2,350/km2), among the lowest population densities for the city. In 2008, the city estimated that the population had increased to 61,993. In 2000 the median age for residents was 32, about average for city and county neighborhoods; the percentage of residents aged 19 to 34 was among the county's highest. [2]

The neighborhood was considered "highly diverse" ethnically within Los Angeles, with a high percentage of Asian people. The breakdown was whites, 49.5%; Latinos, 26.1%; Asians, 14.5%; blacks, 5.4%; and others, 4.6%. Mexico (24.7%) and the Philippines (9.8%) were the most common places of birth for the 31.8% of the residents who were born abroad—an average figure for Los Angeles.[2]

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Find the Right Electrical Vocational School near Northridge CA

Selecting the ideal electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are many things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrician tech school that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every program offers unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you decide on is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Northridge CA.