Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Jonestown PA 17038

How to Become an Electrician in Jonestown Pennsylvania

Jonestown PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Jonestown PA. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many points to evaluate. For example, many prospective students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have located a few that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole things that need to be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are available.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Jonestown PA

Jonestown PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Jonestown PA. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Bellow are short explanations of the three most prevalent programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards those who wish to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve two years to finish and are provided by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Pennsylvania colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements

Jonestown PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Jonestown PA can undertake a vast array of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally around four to five years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be earned in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves three 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 crucial that the electrician vocational school that you select not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might need to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes in Jonestown PA

attending electrician school online in Jonestown PA A possibility that you may have considered is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools have become more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, distance learning can be a more accommodating choice for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Commuting costs from Jonestown PA are also lessened and some of the study materials may be accessed online also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Jonestown PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Jonestown PA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are other variables that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to selecting an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Many electrician trade programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Jonestown PA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you obtain a superior education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program 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 percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate could indicate that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It might also mean that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which may result in more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Jonestown PA students secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Jonestown PA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Jonestown PA electrical contracting company if they can provide some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Jonestown home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to several of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Jonestown PA, check that the schools you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Jonestown PA?

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

Jonestown, Pennsylvania

The location could not be found.

Select the Ideal Electrician Tech School near Jonestown PA

Choosing the best electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each program offers different options for certification as well. Probably the best approach to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Jonestown PA.