Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Duncannon PA 17020

How to Become an Electrician in Duncannon Pennsylvania

Duncannon PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Duncannon PA. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are so many variables to consider. For instance, many prospective students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their home. Once they have found some that are within driving distance, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the only factors that need to be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should influence your final decision when picking an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are available.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Duncannon PA

Duncannon PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Duncannon PA. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you intend to become certified. Bellow are brief summaries of the three most common programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards those who wish to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require two years to complete and are provided by Pennsylvania community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Pennsylvania institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer 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, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites

Duncannon PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Duncannon PA 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 finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be earned in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process 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 crucial that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Programs Online in Duncannon PA

attending electrician school online in Duncannon PA A possibility that you might have considered is selecting an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools have become more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, internet learning may be a more accommodating option for students that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus many online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Travelling expenses from Duncannon PA are also reduced and some of the study materials can be available online as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Duncannon PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Because there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Duncannon PA area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The initial two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are additional variables that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to enrolling in an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have received 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 a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Duncannon PA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you get a quality education, it can help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Also, a number of states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It could also signify that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Duncannon PA graduates acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Duncannon PA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Duncannon PA electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Duncannon home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be higher 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 challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with a few of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Duncannon PA, check that the schools you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Duncannon PA?

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

Duncannon, Pennsylvania

Duncannon is a borough in Perry County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,493 at the 2014 estimate.[3] It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. The center of population of Pennsylvania is located in Duncannon.[4]Lightning Guider sleds were manufactured in Duncannon from 1904 until 1988.[5] The Appalachian Trail makes its way through the town, going on various streets, and runs mainly along North High Street.[6] It comes off the mountain at 40.3813, -77.0292 lat/long, onto Inn Road.

The Mutzabaugh family has close connection to the town, as their market (now grocery store) named after the family has been a presence in the town since 1920, opening originally along the old railroad crossing between Market Square and High Street.[10]

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 1,508 people, 667 households, and 386 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,566.5 people per square mile (1,386.3/km²). There were 714 housing units at an average density of 1,688.7 per square mile (656.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.28% White, 0.53% African American, 0.07% Asian, 0.73% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.59% of the population.

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Choose the Right Electrical Trade School near Duncannon PA

Choosing the ideal electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training program that you are considering includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Each training program offers unique options for certification also. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you decide on is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Duncannon PA.