How to Become an Electrician in Canton Pennsylvania
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Canton PA. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are so many points to consider. For instance, many potential students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have located a few that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are of importance, they are not the only factors that should be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your final decision when picking an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are available.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Canton PA
There are three general approaches to receive electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Canton PA. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you intend to become certified. Bellow are brief summaries of the 3 most typical programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards those who want to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take two years to finish and are provided by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Pennsylvania colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be performed prior to licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria
Electricians in Canton PA can undertake a multitude of duties, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally around four to five years of prior experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually test electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be earned in many specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves three 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 tech school that you pick not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online in Canton PA
A possibility that you may have looked at is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, internet learning can be a more practical alternative for students that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Commuting expenses from Canton PA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be available on line as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Once you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Canton PA region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The first 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other variables that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze before choosing an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Canton PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain a superior education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many 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 reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It might also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher 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 an excellent reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Canton PA graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught together 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 electrician companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Canton PA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Canton PA electrical company if they can give you some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Canton home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized 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 see how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Speak with several of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Canton PA, check that the programs you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Canton PA?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Canton PA area.
Canton, Pennsylvania
Canton is located in southwestern Bradford County at 41°39′21″N 76°51′3″W / 41.65583°N 76.85083°W / 41.65583; -76.85083 (41.655805, -76.850706),[4] in the valley of Towanda Creek. It is surrounded by Canton Township but is a separate municipality.
Pennsylvania Route 14 passes through the borough, leading north 10 miles (16 km) to U.S. Route 6 in Troy and south 25 miles (40 km) to U.S. Route 15 at Trout Run. Pennsylvania Route 414 leaves east from the center of Canton, leading 21 miles (34 km) to U.S. Route 220 at Monroe, and follows PA-14 to the southwest out of town, then leading 17 miles (27 km) to US-15 at Liberty.
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 1,807 people, 758 households, and 475 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,580.1 people per square mile (612.0/km²). There were 824 housing units at an average density of 720.5 per square mile (279.1/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.67% White, 0.33% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.06% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.33% of the population.
Choose the Ideal Electrical Technical School near Canton PA
Selecting the ideal electrician trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrician training program 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 education needs to provide a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Every program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you pick is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Canton PA.
Other Cool Cities in Pennsylvania
Business Results 1 - 10 of 2
3 Reviews 
1 Reviews 