Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Freeport PA 16229

How to Become an Electrician in Freeport Pennsylvania

Freeport PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Freeport PA. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are so many factors to examine. For example, many students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have identified a few that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the only factors that should be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your final decision when selecting an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Freeport PA

Freeport PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple ways to receive electrician training in a trade or technical school near Freeport PA. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Frequently these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states to be licensed or if you want to earn certification. Following are short explanations of the 3 most typical programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who would like to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs take two years to finish and are provided by Pennsylvania community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Pennsylvania colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out before licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines

Freeport PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Freeport PA can undertake a multitude of duties, including 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 mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be obtained in numerous specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes 3 levels of competency:

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 imperative that the electrician tech school that you pick not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools in Freeport PA

attending electrician school online in Freeport PA An alternative that you may have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning might be a more accommodating choice for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Travelling expenses from Freeport PA are also minimized and some of the study materials can be available on line also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Freeport PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Freeport PA area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial 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 chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are other variables that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research before selecting an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs have earned 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 relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Freeport PA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Also, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate could suggest that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It might also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Freeport PA graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Freeport PA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Freeport PA electrical contracting company if they can provide some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Freeport home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Speak with a few of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Freeport PA, check that the schools you are looking at provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, 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 responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Freeport PA?

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

Freeport, Pennsylvania

Freeport is a borough in Armstrong County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania; it is situated along the Allegheny River in the southwest corner of the county. The population was 1,813 at the 2010 Census.[3] The first settlement was made at Freeport in the 1760s.[4] Freeport received its name from David Todd, who declared it a free and open port. The borough was incorporated in 1833.[5] Freeport was a port on the former Pennsylvania Canal.[6]

Freeport is located at 40°40′28″N 79°41′11″W / 40.67444°N 79.68639°W / 40.67444; -79.68639 (40.674337, -79.686320).[7] According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2), of which 1.3 square miles (3.3 km2) is land and 0.039 square miles (0.1 km2), or 2.20%, is water.[3]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 1,962 people, 878 households, and 532 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,697.9 people per square mile (653.0/km²). There were 944 housing units at an average density of 816.9 per square mile (314.2/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.42% White, 0.25% African American, 0.25% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.46% of the population.

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Choose the Right Electrician Technical School near Freeport PA

Selecting the best electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Each training program provides unique options for certification also. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you pick is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Freeport PA.