Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Dobbs Ferry NY 10522

How to Become an Electrician in Dobbs Ferry New York

Dobbs Ferry NY electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Dobbs Ferry NY. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are a number of points to examine. For example, some students will start by searching for schools that are close to their home. After they have identified several that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. While location and cost are significant, they are not the sole factors that should be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your final decision when picking an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are available.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Dobbs Ferry NY

Dobbs Ferry NY electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general options to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Dobbs Ferry NY. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are brief summaries of the three most common programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by New York trade and technical schools and require about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require two years to complete and are provided by New York community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some New York colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out prior to licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites

Dobbs Ferry NY electricians working on power lines Electricians in Dobbs Ferry NY can carry out a multitude of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually about four to five years of experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically assess general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be earned in numerous 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in Dobbs Ferry NY

attending electrician school online in Dobbs Ferry NY An option that you might have considered is choosing an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, distance learning may be a more accommodating alternative for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Travelling costs from Dobbs Ferry NY are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be available on line as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Dobbs Ferry NY electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Dobbs Ferry NY region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first two that we mentioned 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 chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are other variables that need to be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research before choosing an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. Many electrician vocational schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Dobbs Ferry NY program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you acquire an excellent education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, some states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate may suggest that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It could also signify that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to use 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 additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Dobbs Ferry NY graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Dobbs Ferry NY area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional 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 on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Dobbs Ferry NY electrical company if they can give you some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Dobbs Ferry residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with some of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Dobbs Ferry NY, check that the schools you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Dobbs Ferry NY?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Dobbs Ferry NY area.

Dobbs Ferry, New York

Dobbs Ferry is a village in Westchester County, New York. The population was 11,093 according to the 2016 census.[2] The Village of Dobbs Ferry is located in, and is a part of, the town of Greenburgh. The village ZIP code is 10522. Most of the Village falls into the boundaries of the Dobbs Ferry Union Free School District.

Dobbs Ferry was ranked seventh in the list of the top 10 places to live in New York State for 2014 according to the national online real estate brokerage Movoto.[3] Dobbs Ferry is also the first village in New York State certified as a Climate Smart Community, honored in 2014 with the highest level given out in the state.[4][5]

Dobbs Ferry was named after Jeremiah Dobbs, a descendent of William Dobbs, of Swedish and Dutch ancestry[6] whose family ran a ferry service[7] that traversed the Hudson River at this location.[8] Jeremiah Dobbs was a fisherman and settled near the southern part of what is now Dobbs Ferry, and he "added to his meager income by ferriage of occasional travelers across the Hudson. He used a style of boat known at that day as a periauger, a canoe hollowed out of a solid log. . . From this primitive ferry the village took its name."[6]

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Enroll in the Right Electrician Trade School near Dobbs Ferry NY

Picking the right electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new career. As we have covered in this article, there are many things that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each program offers unique possibilities for certification also. Probably the best way to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Take the time to attend some classes. Inspect 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 trade as a professional electrician in Dobbs Ferry NY.