Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Freeland PA 18224

How to Become an Electrician in Freeland Pennsylvania

Freeland PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Freeland PA. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are a number of factors to examine. For example, some students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their home. After they have found some that are within driving distance, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the only things that should be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are accessible.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Freeland PA

Freeland PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple approaches to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Freeland PA. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three options. In many cases these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are short descriptions of the three most common programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Pennsylvania vocational and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who wish to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require 2 years to finish and are offered by Pennsylvania community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Pennsylvania colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be performed before licensing. Therefore, most students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites

Freeland PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Freeland PA can carry out a multitude of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself 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 involves three levels of proficiency:

An experience requirement
Passing a written exam
Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you select not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools in Freeland PA

attending electrician school online in Freeland PA An alternative that you may have contemplated is selecting an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning might be a more accommodating alternative for students that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Travelling costs from Freeland PA are also minimized and some of the study materials can be accessed online as well. Each of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Freeland PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Freeland PA area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we talked about 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 even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional variables that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze before selecting an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Freeland PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you receive a quality education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved 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 finish the program. A low completion rate could suggest that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It may also suggest that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which may result in more contacts for the school to employ 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 field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Freeland PA graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Freeland PA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area 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 working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Freeland PA electrical contractor if they can give you some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within driving distance of your Freeland residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in 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 desirable that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with a few of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Freeland PA, confirm that the schools you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Freeland PA?

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

Freeland, Pennsylvania

Freeland is a borough in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. It was originally called Birbeckville, South Heberton, and Freehold. Freeland is 18 miles (29 km) south of Wilkes-Barre and 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Hazleton. It was incorporated as a borough on September 11, 1876. Coal mining was the chief industry in the community up until the mid-20th century. As of the 2010 census, the population was 3,531.[3]

Joseph Birkbeck, the founder of Birbeckville, was born near Brough, in the county of Westmorland, England, on May 2, 1802. He and his wife Elizabeth came to America in 1844. After acquiring land from Edward Lynch the same year of his arrival, Birkbeck built a log cabin in a small valley between modern-day Freeland and Upper Lehigh. The next settler, Nathan Howey, purchased land from Birkbeck and built a frame house just west of Birkbeck's log cabin.

Developing coal mines in the nearby region created a steep increase in population and a demand for building lots. This led Birkbeck to survey the region for the town of South Heberton. South Heberton has long since lost its identity and is now simply a cluster of houses along Schwabe Street, which is now part of Freeland.[4]

The location could not be found.

Enroll in the Right Electrician Trade School near Freeland PA

Selecting the right electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are several things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a must that any electrician tech school that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Every program provides different options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the faculty 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 choose is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Freeland PA.