Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Huntingdon PA 16652

How to Become an Electrician in Huntingdon Pennsylvania

Huntingdon PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Huntingdon PA. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are so many factors to consider. For example, many students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have found a few that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though location and cost are significant, they are not the only qualifications that need to be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your final decision when choosing an electrician training school. We will cover 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 educational options that are accessible.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Huntingdon PA

Huntingdon PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general options to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Huntingdon PA. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to become licensed or if you want to earn certification. Bellow are short explanations of the three most typical programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a good 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 provided by Pennsylvania community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Pennsylvania institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed before licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Guidelines

Huntingdon PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Huntingdon PA can undertake a vast array of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about four to five years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be obtained in many specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you choose not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Huntingdon PA

attending electrician school online in Huntingdon PA A possibility that you may have contemplated is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs have become more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning might be a more accommodating alternative for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Travelling costs from Huntingdon PA are also lessened and some of the study materials can be accessed online also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Huntingdon PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Huntingdon PA area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The first 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are other factors that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Many electrician vocational schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Huntingdon PA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you acquire a quality education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases 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 looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate may suggest that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It may also mean that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Huntingdon PA graduates acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Huntingdon PA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Huntingdon PA electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Huntingdon home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging 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 teachers. Talk with a few of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with a few of the instructors 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 meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Huntingdon PA, verify that the schools you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Huntingdon PA?

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

Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania

Huntingdon County is a county located in the center of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 45,913.[1] Its county seat is Huntingdon.[2] The county was created on September 20, 1787, mainly from the north part of Bedford County, plus an addition of territory on the east (Big Valley, Tuscarora Valley) from Cumberland County.

As of the census[9] of 2010, there were 45,913 people and 17,280 households within the county. The population density was 52 people per square mile (20/km²). There were 22,365 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.50% White, 5.21% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.87% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. 1.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 33.9% were of German, 17.1% American, 11.1% Irish, 7.5% English and 5.7% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 16,759 households out of which 30.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.92.

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Select the Right Electrical Vocational School near Huntingdon PA

Picking the best electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have discussed in this article, there are many things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Every program provides different options for certification as well. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you select 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 Huntingdon PA.