Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Stroudsburg PA 18360

How to Become an Electrician in Stroudsburg Pennsylvania

Stroudsburg PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Stroudsburg PA. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are so many factors to consider. For example, some prospective students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have found several that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole qualifications that need to be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are available.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Stroudsburg PA

Stroudsburg PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several approaches to get electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Stroudsburg PA. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three options. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are brief explanations of the 3 most typical programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Pennsylvania vocational and trade schools and require about a year to complete. 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 take two years to complete and are offered by Pennsylvania community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Pennsylvania institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, many students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines

Stroudsburg PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Stroudsburg PA can undertake a multitude of duties, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly test general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be obtained in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online in Stroudsburg PA

attending electrician school online in Stroudsburg PA An alternative that you may have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, internet learning might be a more practical choice for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Commuting expenses from Stroudsburg PA are also reduced and some of the study materials can be available online also. All of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Stroudsburg PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Stroudsburg PA region, it’s essential 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 are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional factors that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze before selecting an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Stroudsburg PA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you acquire a quality education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools 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 lower completion rate could signify that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It may also mean that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which may result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Stroudsburg PA students acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician trade programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Check if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Stroudsburg PA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Stroudsburg PA electrical contracting company if they can provide some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Stroudsburg residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with some of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Stroudsburg PA, verify 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, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Stroudsburg PA?

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

Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania

Stroudsburg is a borough in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is in the state's Poconos region, approximately five miles (8 km) from the Delaware Water Gap, at the confluence of the Brodhead, McMichaels and Pocono Creeks. It is in northeastern Pennsylvania. It is also the county seat of Monroe County. Stroudsburg is part of the East Stroudsburg, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which in turn is part of the New York combined statistical area.

Currently Stroudsburg has an estimated population of about 6,674 people, an estimate from 2010. In 1900, 3,450 people inhabited Stroudsburg; in 1910, 4,379; in 1940, 6,186; in 2000, 5,756; and in 2008, 6,294 people were living here. The immediate greater Stroudsburg area, including Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg, Stroud Township, Hamilton Township, and Arlington Heights, has a population of about 50,000.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2).1.8 square miles (4.6 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2) of it (1.67%) is water.

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Choose the Ideal Electrical Technical School near Stroudsburg PA

Selecting the right electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new profession. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrical tech school that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Each training program offers unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you choose is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Stroudsburg PA.