Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Somerset PA 15501

How to Become an Electrician in Somerset Pennsylvania

Somerset 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 Somerset PA. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are so many points to examine. For example, some prospective students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their home. After they have identified several that are within commuting range, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though cost and location are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that should be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Somerset PA

Somerset PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general options to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Somerset PA. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are brief summaries of the 3 most common programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards students who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require 2 years to complete and are provided by Pennsylvania community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Pennsylvania institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be completed before licensing. For that reason, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites

Somerset PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Somerset PA can carry out a multitude of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically assess general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be acquired in many specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician tech school that you pick not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Programs in Somerset PA

attending electrician school online in Somerset PA An alternative that you may have looked at is choosing an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning may be a more accommodating option for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Commuting expenses from Somerset PA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be available on line also. All of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Somerset PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Somerset PA area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are other variables that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Somerset PA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you acquire an excellent education, it may help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course 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 program. A low completion rate could suggest that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It could also indicate that the teachers 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 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 Somerset PA graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs 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 working partnerships with Somerset PA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Somerset PA electrical company if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Somerset residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak to some of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Somerset PA, confirm that the schools you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Somerset PA?

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

Somerset County, Pennsylvania

Somerset County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 77,742.[1] Its county seat is Somerset.[2] The county was created from part of Bedford County on April 17, 1795, and named after the county of Somerset in England.

Southwestern Pennsylvania began as a huge area called Cumberland County. As population increased, the area was split into smaller counties. Bedford County was formed from part from Cumberland in 1771 and is referred to as "Old Bedford County" and contained what are now 20 smaller counties. In 1773 part of Bedford County was split off to form Westmoreland County. In 1787 Bedford County was split in half with northern part becoming Huntingdon County and southern part remained as a smaller Bedford County. Somerset County was split off from western part Bedford County 17 April 1795. In 1804 the northern half of Somerset County was split off to form Cambria County. No further splits from Somerset County occurred since 1804.[3]

George Washington passed through the area of Somerset County in 1753 on a scouting expedition at the beginning of the French-Indian War.[4] The Forbes Road cuts through Somerset County. This 200-mile stretch from Carlisle to what is now Pittsburgh was created by Brigadier General John Forbes in the British Expedition of 1758 to Fort Duquesne. Forbes Ford was one of two great western land routes cut through the wilderness to create supply lines from the east.[5] It was later the primary route of pioneers travelling to Ohio Country.

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Find the Right Electrical Trade School near Somerset PA

Selecting the right electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are several things that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each program offers unique possibilities for certification also. Probably the best means to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain 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 trade as a professional electrician in Somerset PA.