Find Electrician Schools Near Me in New Kensington PA 15068

How to Become an Electrician in New Kensington Pennsylvania

New Kensington PA electrician inspecting circuit panelThe initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near New Kensington PA. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are a number of factors to evaluate. For instance, some potential students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their residence. When they have found several that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the lowest tuition. Even though location and cost are of importance, they are not the only factors that must be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your final decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near New Kensington PA

New Kensington PA electrician re-wiring power outletThere are multiple ways to obtain electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near New Kensington PA. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three options. In many cases these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are short explanations of the 3 most common programs offered.

  • Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degree Programs take two years to finish and are offered by Pennsylvania community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Pennsylvania institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements

New Kensington PA electricians working on power linesElectricians in New Kensington PA can perform a multitude of functions, 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 become licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around four to five years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be earned in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you choose not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in New Kensington PA

attending electrician school online in New Kensington PAAn alternative that you might have contemplated is selecting an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning can be a more accommodating choice for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Driving costs from New Kensington PA are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online also. Each of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

New Kensington PA electrician re-wiring circuit panelOnce you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the New Kensington PA area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are additional factors that must be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical tech school.

Accreditation.  A large number of electrician vocational programs have acquired 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 relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the New Kensington PA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain an excellent education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, 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 schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate might signify that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It could also signify that the instructors were not qualified 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 broader directory of graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to use 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 also that it has the network of contacts to help New Kensington PA grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs.  A large number of electrician vocational programs are taught together 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 electrician businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with New Kensington PA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make sure 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 currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local New Kensington PA electrical contracting company if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your New Kensington residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be higher 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 sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to some of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the teachers and learn 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 fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near New Kensington PA, confirm that the schools you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near New Kensington PA?

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

New Kensington, Pennsylvania

New Kensington, known locally as New Ken, is a city in Westmoreland County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, situated along the Allegheny River 18 miles (29 km) northeast of Pittsburgh. The population was 13,116 at the 2010 Census.

Like much of Westmoreland County and surrounding areas, the region was a hunting ground for Native Americans of the Six Nations European-American settlement began in the mid-1700s. Continental army troops built Fort Crawford, near the mouth of Pucketa Creek, in 1777. The fort was abandoned in 1793.

Originally part of Burrell (and later Lower Burrell) Township, the city of New Kensington was founded in 1891. In 1890, the Burrell Improvement Company considered the advantages of the level land south of its home in Lower Burrell, and deemed it a prime location for a city and named the area "Kensington"; this was later changed to "New Kensington" for postal reasons, to avoid confusion with the Philadelphia neighborhood of the same name. In an attempt to make New Kensington comparable to Pittsburgh, the streets were named with numbers. Avenues ran parallel to the river, while streets were perpendicular. The main commercial streets were 4th and 5th avenues.

The location could not be found.

Choose the Ideal Electrical Technical School near New Kensington PA

Selecting the ideal electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician training that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Every training program provides different possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best approach to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you decide on is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in New Kensington PA.

Other Cool Cities in Pennsylvania

  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Aaronsburg PA 16820
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Addison PA 15411
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in La Plume PA 18440
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Mahanoy City PA 17948
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Howard PA 16841
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Montgomery PA 17752
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Spring House PA 19477
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Philipsburg PA 16866
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Wind Ridge PA 15380
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Leechburg PA 15656
  •  

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 69

    Omni Electric
    1 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    223 E 4th Ave, Tarentum, PA 15084

    Garrett Carl & Son Inc Plumbing Heating & Air
    1 Reviews
    Plumbing, Electricians
    Phone:
    121 E 5th Ave, Tarentum, PA 15084

    Heastings Electric
    6 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    4957 S Pioneer Rd, Gibsonia, PA 15044

    Just Electric
    1 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    520 Unity Center Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15239

    George's Plumbing-Heating & Electric
    2 Reviews
    Plumbing, Electricians
    Phone:
    1100 Hancock Ave, Vandergrift, PA 15690

    Voytex Electrical
    1 Reviews
    Electricians, Lighting Fixtures & Equipment, Generator Installation/Repair
    Phone:
    135 Market St, Leechburg, PA 15656

    Flanick Electric
    1 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    623 6th St, Oakmont, PA 15139

    KNK Electric
    15 Reviews
    Electricians, Lighting Fixtures & Equipment
    Phone:
    2444 Scott St, Swissvale, PA 15218

    Jb Electric
    1 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    235 Rosecrest Dr, Monroeville, PA 15146

    Nicholas Electric
    2 Reviews
    Electricians, Lighting Fixtures & Equipment, Home Theatre Installation
    Phone:
    525 Duquesne Way, Braddock, PA 15104