Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Emmaus PA 18049

How to Become an Electrician in Emmaus Pennsylvania

Emmaus PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Emmaus PA. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are so many factors to consider. For example, some students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their residence. When they have found a few that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are significant, they are not the only factors that should be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are available.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Emmaus PA

Emmaus PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple options to get electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Emmaus PA. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are short explanations of the 3 most common programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Pennsylvania vocational and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards those who want to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require 2 years to complete and are offered by Pennsylvania community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Pennsylvania institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Requirements

Emmaus PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Emmaus PA can perform a wide range of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about four to five years of experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically assess electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be earned in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you select not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online in Emmaus PA

attending electrician school online in Emmaus PA A possibility that you might have contemplated is choosing an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs have become more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning can be a more accommodating alternative for students that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Driving expenses from Emmaus PA are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be available online also. All of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Emmaus PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Because there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Emmaus PA area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program 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 a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are other variables that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Emmaus PA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you acquire a superior education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, some states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate may indicate that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It might also signify that the teachers 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 broader list of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to employ 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 additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Emmaus PA graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Emmaus PA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school 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 currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Emmaus PA electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Emmaus home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one training 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 large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to several of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Emmaus PA, confirm that the schools you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select offers 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 Emmaus PA?

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

Emmaus, Pennsylvania

Emmaus (/ɛˈmeɪ.əs/ em-AY-əs) is a borough in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is located 5 miles (8.0 km) southwest of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state. It is 50 miles (80 km) north of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's largest city, and 20 miles (32 km) west of the Delaware River.[3] Emmaus is located in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is in the New York City-Newark, New Jersey, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area.

The population of Emmaus was 11,368 in 2015. This borough has been given many awards, including the Delaware Valley Green Building Council's Sustainable Community Award. In 2007[4] and 2009,[5] Emmaus has been listed as one of the top 100 "Best Places to Live" in the United States by Money magazine.[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.5 km2), all land, though part of the Little Lehigh Creek, a tributary of the Lehigh River, flows just outside the Emmaus border with Salisbury Township. Emmaus borders South Mountain, a large mountain range. The town's elevation is 436 feet above sea level. Emmaus is located at approximately 40°32′13″N 75°29′45″W / 40.53694°N 75.49583°W / 40.53694; -75.49583.[7]

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Find the Right Electrician Tech School near Emmaus PA

Picking the best electrician trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrical training program that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each program provides different options for certification also. Probably the best approach to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you pick is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Emmaus PA.