Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Somerville NJ 08876

How to Become an Electrician in Somerville New Jersey

Somerville NJ electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Somerville NJ. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are a number of variables to evaluate. For instance, many potential students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their residence. After they have found several that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though location and cost are of importance, they are not the only factors that must be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are available.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Somerville NJ

Somerville NJ electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general approaches to obtain electrician training in a trade or technical school near Somerville NJ. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Bellow are brief descriptions of the three most common programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by New Jersey trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs take two years to finish and are provided by New Jersey junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain New Jersey institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out before licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites

Somerville NJ electricians working on power lines Electricians in Somerville NJ can perform a vast array of duties, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly test general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be obtained in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails three 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Somerville NJ

attending electrician school online in Somerville NJ A possibility that you may have contemplated is selecting an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs have become more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning may be a more accommodating option for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Driving expenses from Somerville NJ are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line also. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Somerville NJ electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Somerville NJ area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Somerville NJ school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it may assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some states require that the electrician training program 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate could suggest that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It might also signify that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which may produce more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Somerville NJ graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician technical programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Somerville NJ area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Somerville NJ electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Somerville residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with several of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with a few of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

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 go to classes at night or on weekends near Somerville NJ, check that the programs you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Somerville NJ?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Somerville NJ area.

Somerville, New Jersey

Somerville is a borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 12,098,[8][9][10] reflecting a decline of 325 (-2.6%) from the 12,423 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 791 (+6.8%) from the 11,632 counted in the 1990 Census.[19] It is the county seat of Somerset County.[20]

Somerville was originally formed as a town on March 25, 1863, within a portion of Bridgewater Township. Somerville was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 16, 1909, based on the results of a referendum held on May 4, 1909, at which point it was fully set off from Bridgewater Township.[21][22]

Somerville was settled in colonial times primarily by the Dutch who purchased land from the English proprietors of the colony. The Dutch established their church near what is today Somerville and a Dutch Reformed minister or Domine lived at the Old Dutch Parsonage from about 1754. The early village grew up around a church, courthouse and a tavern built at a crossroads shortly after the American Revolution. The name "Somerville" was taken from four brothers of the Somerville family, William, Edward, John and James from Drishane and Castlehaven, County Cork, Ireland, who first founded the town in the 1750s. Somerville was originally a sparsely populated farming community, but rapidly grew after the completion of the railroad in the 1840s and development of water power along the Raritan River in the 1850s. Early industry included brick making from the plentiful red clay and shale on which Somerville is built. While much of the borough features distinctive Victorian architecture in several neighborhoods and along its Main Street, other periods are represented. National Register sites in Somerville include the white marble 1909 Somerville Court House and the wooden and stone colonial Wallace House (today a museum) where George Washington spent a winter during the American Revolutionary War. Near the Wallace House is the Old Dutch Parsonage, where Reverend Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh, a founder and first president of Rutgers University, then called Queens College, lived. Register listed Victorian structures include the James Harper Smith Estate (privately owned), St. John's Episcopal Church and rectory, and the Fire Museum (a vintage fire house). Other notable, register eligible structures are the Victorian train station (privately owned) and the municipal building, the former Robert Mansion.[25]

The location could not be found.

Choose the Ideal Electrical Vocational School near Somerville NJ

Picking the best electrical trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrician training program that you are examining includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every program provides different options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you pick is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Somerville NJ.