Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Bethel Park PA 15102

How to Become an Electrician in Bethel Park Pennsylvania

Bethel Park PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Bethel Park PA. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially because there are so many variables to evaluate. For instance, some prospective students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their residence. When they have located some that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though location and cost are important, they are not the only factors that should be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are available.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Bethel Park PA

Bethel Park PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple options to obtain electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Bethel Park PA. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the three most prevalent programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Pennsylvania vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who would like to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require 2 years to complete and are offered by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Pennsylvania institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out before licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements

Bethel Park PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Bethel Park PA can carry out a vast array of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically around four to five years of prior experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be obtained in various specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Schools in Bethel Park PA

attending electrician school online in Bethel Park PA An alternative that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning can be a more convenient choice for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Driving costs from Bethel Park PA are also minimized and some of the study materials may be available online also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Bethel Park PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Because there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Bethel Park PA area, it’s imperative 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 online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research before enrolling in an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Bethel Park PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you get a quality education, it may help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, 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 considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate might signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It might also indicate that the teachers were not qualified 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 broader directory of alumni, which may result in 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 trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Bethel Park PA grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician trade programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Bethel Park PA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional 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 presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Bethel Park PA electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Bethel Park residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak to several of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Bethel Park PA, check that the schools you are considering offer those choices. 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, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Bethel Park PA?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Bethel Park PA area.

Bethel Park, Pennsylvania

Bethel Park, referring to itself as the Municipality of Bethel Park,[3] is a borough with home rule status[4] in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area, approximately 7 miles (13 km) southwest of Pittsburgh. The population was 32,313 at the 2010 census.

The area that is now Bethel Park was originally settled around 1800 and was first established as Bethel Township, in 1886. Bethel Park was incorporated as a borough on March 17, 1949,[5] and became a home rule municipality in 1978. The name was most likely named after a meeting house.[6]

The first armored car robbery in the U.S. occurred on March 11, 1927 when a Brinks truck, heading towards the Coverdale Mine about a mile away was attacked.[7][8]Paul Jaworski and his 'Flatheads" gang destroyed the road with dynamite to steal a mining payroll.[9]

The location could not be found.

Choose the Ideal Electrical Tech School near Bethel Park PA

Choosing the best electrical trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are many things that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small 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 in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Each program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Probably the best means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Bethel Park PA.