Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Lancaster PA 17601

How to Become an Electrician in Lancaster Pennsylvania

Lancaster PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Lancaster PA. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are so many points to consider. For example, some prospective students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have located a few that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though location and cost are significant, they are not the only things that must be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Lancaster PA

Lancaster PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple approaches to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Lancaster PA. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Frequently these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are brief summaries of the three most prevalent programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Pennsylvania vocational and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards those who want to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require two years to complete and are provided by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Pennsylvania colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be performed before licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements

Lancaster PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Lancaster PA can undertake a wide range of duties, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually around four to five years of experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be earned in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases involves three levels of proficiency:

An experience requirement
Passing a written exam
Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying organizations include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes in Lancaster PA

attending electrician school online in Lancaster PA An option that you might have contemplated is choosing an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning might be a more convenient option for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Travelling costs from Lancaster PA are also lessened and some of the study materials can be available online also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Lancaster PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Lancaster PA area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are other variables that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze before choosing an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Lancaster PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you acquire a quality education, it may assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, many states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It may also suggest that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Lancaster PA graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with Lancaster PA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Lancaster PA electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Lancaster residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be higher tuition charges 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 bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to a few of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Lancaster PA, check that the schools you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Lancaster PA?

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

Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Lancaster (/ˈlæŋkəstər/ LANG-kə-stər) is a city located in South Central Pennsylvania which serves as the seat of Pennsylvania's Lancaster County and one of the oldest inland towns in the United States.[1] With a population of 59,322,[2] it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities.[3] The Lancaster metropolitan area population is 507,766,[4] making it the 101st largest metropolitan area in the U.S. and second largest in the South Central Pennsylvania area.[4]

The city's primary industries include healthcare, tourism, public administration, manufacturing, and both professional and semi-professional services. Lancaster hosts more electronic public CCTV outdoor cameras per capita than cities such as Boston or San Francisco, despite controversy among residents.[5] Lancaster was home to James Buchanan, the nation's 15th president,[6] and to congressman and abolitionist Thaddeus Stevens.[7]

Originally called Hickory Town, the city was renamed after the English city of Lancaster by native John Wright. Its symbol, the red rose, is from the House of Lancaster.[8] Lancaster was part of the 1681 Penn's Woods Charter of William Penn, and was laid out by James Hamilton in 1734. It was incorporated as a borough in 1742 and incorporated as a city in 1818.[9]

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Choose the Right Electrician Tech School near Lancaster PA

Choosing the best electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrical training that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the type of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every program provides different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best approach to research your final 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 program you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Lancaster PA.