How to Become an Electrician in Grand Valley Pennsylvania
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Grand Valley PA. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are so many variables to examine. For example, many potential students will start by searching for schools that are close to their home. Once they have identified a few that are within driving range, they will select the one with the least expensive tuition. Although cost and location are significant, they are not the only factors that must be examined. Also important 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 judgment when choosing an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are available.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Grand Valley PA
There are several options to get electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Grand Valley PA. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or earn 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 offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are brief descriptions of the three most typical programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually 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 wish to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take two years to finish and are provided by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Pennsylvania colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be performed prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Grand Valley PA can perform a wide range of services, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally around four to five years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be earned in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases includes 3 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 crucial that the electrician trade school that you choose not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online in Grand Valley PA
A possibility that you might have considered is selecting an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning can be a more accommodating option for students that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Driving costs from Grand Valley PA are also reduced and some of the study materials may be accessed on line also. All of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Grand Valley PA region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are other variables that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research before choosing an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Grand Valley PA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you acquire an excellent education, it can help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs 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 might indicate that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It may also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s also essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, which may produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Grand Valley PA graduates acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician training programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Grand Valley PA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure 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. If not, ask a local Grand Valley PA electrical contracting company if they can give you some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Grand Valley residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with some of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Grand Valley PA, confirm that the programs you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Grand Valley PA?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Grand Valley PA area.
Grand Valley State Lakers football
The Grand Valley State Lakers football team represents Grand Valley State University (GVSU) in NCAA Division II football.[1] The team currently competes in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and was affiliated with the now defunct Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference. The Lakers football team has appeared in six NCAA Division II national title games, winning four championships, since 2001. The team has made the playoffs in 17 seasons. They have also won or shared 16 conference titles (GLIAC & MIFC).[1]
Since the start of the football program in 1970, the team has an overall winning percentage of .729 (371–137–3)[3] that places the program ranking the one of the highest among teams from NCAA Division 2 Football. The Lakers all time home record is 171–38–1.[3]
Grand Valley has played its home field games at Lubbers Stadium since 1973. The stadium has undergone numerous renovations and expansions in recent years to accommodate the overflow crowds that regularly exceed the stadium's 10,444 seat capacity.
Choose the Right Electrical Vocational School near Grand Valley PA
Selecting the ideal electrical training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician training program that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every training program provides different options for certification also. Probably The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Grand Valley PA.
Other Cool Cities in Pennsylvania
Business Results 1 - 10 of 3
2 Reviews 
3 Reviews 
2 Reviews 