Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Enola PA 17025

How to Become an Electrician in Enola Pennsylvania

Enola PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Enola PA. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are a number of factors to evaluate. For example, many potential students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their home. When they have identified several that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the only factors that must be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional choices that are accessible.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Enola PA

Enola PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Enola PA. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards students who would like to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to finish and are provided by Pennsylvania community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Pennsylvania colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed before licensing. Therefore, most students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Requirements

Enola PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Enola PA can perform a vast array of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically around four to five years of experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically test general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be acquired in several specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases includes 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you select not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes in Enola PA

attending electrician school online in Enola PA An alternative that you may have looked at is selecting an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, distance learning may be a more accommodating option for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Commuting costs from Enola PA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online as well. All of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Enola PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Enola PA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are additional factors that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Enola PA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you receive a quality education, it may help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states mandate 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 reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It might also suggest that the teachers were not competent 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 list 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 can not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Enola PA graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.

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

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Enola PA electrical contracting company if they can give you some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Enola home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much individualized instruction 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 observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with a few of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Enola PA, verify that the schools you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, 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 Enola PA?

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

Enola, Pennsylvania

Enola is a census-designated place (CDP) located along the Susquehanna River in East Pennsboro Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,111 at the 2010 census.[1]Norfolk Southern operates Enola Yard, a large rail yard and locomotive shop in Enola. It is situated in Cumberland County, directly across the Susquehanna River from Harrisburg and is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The town came into existence due to the building of rail lines through the area. Local farmers Francis and Wesley Miller sold 2 acres (0.81 ha) to the Pennsylvania Railroad to be used as a flag station. Mr. Miller was given the honor of naming the train station. He named the station "Enola", after his daughter. Miller at the time was the only resident living in the area. Eventually, when more people moved to the area the local post office and surrounding town adopted the name as well.

In the fall of 1902, the Pennsylvania Railroad made the decision to build a classification yard "between Marysville, Pennsylvania and West Fairview, Pennsylvania." In 1903, their agent, the Manor Realty Co. purchasing 743 acres (301 ha), officially opened the yards in January 1905. Of the 743 acres, the Enola Realty Co. bought 104 acres (42 ha) for $26,500. This would officially become known as Enola (or current North Enola).

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Enroll in the Right Electrician Tech School near Enola PA

Choosing the right electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world context, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Every program offers different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you pick is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Enola PA.