Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Lawrence PA 15055

How to Become an Electrician in Lawrence Pennsylvania

Lawrence PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Lawrence PA. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are a number of factors to consider. For instance, some prospective students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their home. Once they have identified some that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. While cost and location are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that must be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your final decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are available.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Lawrence PA

Lawrence PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Lawrence PA. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are short explanations of the three most common programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who want to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs take two years to complete and are provided by Pennsylvania community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Pennsylvania colleges, but are less favored 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 4 years be carried out prior to 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 Certification and Licensing Requirements

Lawrence PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Lawrence PA can undertake a multitude of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be obtained in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 3 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician vocational school that you select not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Schools in Lawrence PA

attending electrician school online in Lawrence PA An option that you may have contemplated is selecting an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning can be a more practical alternative for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Travelling expenses from Lawrence PA are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Lawrence PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Lawrence PA area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are additional variables that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze before enrolling in an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Lawrence PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you acquire an excellent education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, many states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved 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 or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate may suggest that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It could also indicate 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 graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to employ 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 field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Lawrence PA graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician trade programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with Lawrence PA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local 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 presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Lawrence PA electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Lawrence residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with several of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with a few of the instructors and learn 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 evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Lawrence PA, confirm that the schools you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Lawrence PA?

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

Lawrence County, Pennsylvania

Lawrence County was created on March 20, 1849, from parts of Beaver and Mercer counties due to the rapid growth of New Castle, which was primarily in Mercer County but was rapidly expanding into Beaver County. The former borders between Beaver and Mercer Counties are still evident in Lawrence County today, as the northern borders of North Beaver Township, Shenango Township, and Slippery Rock Township with (respectively) the southern borders of Mahoning Township, Hickory Township, and Scott Township make up the former boundaries between Beaver and Mercer Counties. In addition, County Line Road in New Castle where the Lawrence County Courthouse is located also marks the former boundaries.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 363 square miles (940 km2), of which 358 square miles (930 km2) is land and 4.5 square miles (12 km2) (1.3%) is water.[4] Major waterways are the Shenango River, Neshannock Creek and the Mahoning River which form the Beaver River. Also, the Slippery Rock Creek and Connoquenessing Creak empty into the Beaver River.

As of the 2000 United States Census[10] there were 94,643 people, 37,091 households, and 25,889 families residing in the county. The population density was 263 people per square mile (101/km²). There were 39,635 housing units at an average density of 110 per square mile (42/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.98% White, 3.61% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. 0.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 26.1% were of Italian, 21.7% German, 9.3% Irish, 6.8% English and 6.8% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000.

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Select the Ideal Electrical Technical School near Lawrence PA

Picking the right electrical trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are several things that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical training program that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal means 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. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you select is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Lawrence PA.