Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Murrysville PA 15668

How to Become an Electrician in Murrysville Pennsylvania

Murrysville PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Murrysville PA. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are a number of factors to consider. For example, some students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their home. After they have found some that are within commuting range, they will pick the one with the lowest tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the only factors that must be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are offered.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Murrysville PA

Murrysville PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple options to receive electrician training in a trade or technical school near Murrysville PA. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are brief explanations of the three most typical programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to complete and are offered by Pennsylvania community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Pennsylvania colleges, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out 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 Licensing and Certification Requirements

Murrysville PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Murrysville PA can carry out a wide range of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually about 4 to 5 years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically test general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be obtained in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves 3 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) 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 strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Murrysville PA

attending electrician school online in Murrysville PA An option that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, internet learning can be a more convenient alternative for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Commuting costs from Murrysville PA are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be available on line also. All of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Murrysville PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Murrysville PA area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional factors that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Murrysville PA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you get an excellent education, it may assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Also, some states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order 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 or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate may indicate that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It could also indicate that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which may result in more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Murrysville PA students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with Murrysville PA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment 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 specialist you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Murrysville PA electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Murrysville residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in 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 desirable that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with some of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Murrysville PA, verify that the schools you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Murrysville PA?

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

Murrysville, Pennsylvania

Murrysville is a Home Rule Municipality and formerly a borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,872 at the 2000 census. It became a home rule municipality in August 1976.[3]

Murrysville is located at 40°26′5″N 79°39′24″W / 40.43472°N 79.65667°W / 40.43472; -79.65667 (40.434828, -79.656724).[4] It is roughly 20 miles east of Pittsburgh on U.S. Route 22,[5] just east of the county line that separates Westmoreland and Allegheny counties. Murrysville is a control city on the sign for eastbound US 22 at the eastern end of I-376 in Monroeville.

Among the neighborhoods within Murrysville are Murrysville Heights, Heather Highlands, Franklin Estates, Settlers Ridge (The Ridge), Dunningtown, Newlonsburg, Ringertown, Sardis, and White Valley. Murrysville surrounds, but does not include, the Borough of Export, which is a separate municipal entity.

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Select the Right Electrical Technical School near Murrysville PA

Selecting the ideal electrician training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are many things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrical training that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should offer a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Each program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you select is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Murrysville PA.