Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Tamaqua PA 18252

How to Become an Electrician in Tamaqua Pennsylvania

Tamaqua PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Tamaqua PA. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are so many points to examine. For example, many potential students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have found a few that are within commuting range, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the only factors that should be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are available.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Tamaqua PA

Tamaqua PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near Tamaqua PA. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. In many cases these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are short descriptions of the 3 most common programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Pennsylvania vocational and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards students who want to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require two years to complete and are offered by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Pennsylvania institutions, but are less popular 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. For that reason, most students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Requirements

Tamaqua PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Tamaqua PA can perform a wide range of duties, such as 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 required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly about four to five years of experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be acquired in various specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases involves three levels of proficiency:

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 crucial that the electrician trade school that you select not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Tamaqua PA

attending electrician school online in Tamaqua PA A possibility that you might have considered is selecting an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, internet learning might be a more convenient option for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Driving expenses from Tamaqua PA are also reduced and some of the study materials can be accessed online as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Tamaqua PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Tamaqua PA area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other variables that need to be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research before enrolling in an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade programs have received 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 relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Tamaqua PA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you get an excellent education, it may help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, 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 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 suggest that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It may also signify that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, 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 validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Tamaqua PA graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Tamaqua PA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local 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 already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Tamaqua PA electrical contracting company if they can give you some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Tamaqua home. Take note 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 get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Talk to a few of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Tamaqua PA, verify that the schools you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Tamaqua PA?

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

Tamaqua, Pennsylvania

Tamaqua (pronounced tuh-MAH-qwah) is a borough in eastern Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States. The borough, located in Central Eastern Pennsylvania's Southern Coal Region, had a population of 7,107 as of the 2010 U.S. Census,[4] a drop of less than 1% from 2000. In 2013, population of 6,976, Tamaqua is part of the Pottsville, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Tamaqua is located in a valley basin at 40°47′55″N 75°57′59″W / 40.79861°N 75.96639°W / 40.79861; -75.96639 (40.798600, -75.966498)[5] situated within the Pennsylvania Southern Coal Region section of the Appalachian Mountains in the Schuylkill River drainage basin. Tamaqua's valley is just off the western end of the Pocono Mountains, just on the edge of the neighboring Lehigh watershed. Because of the dominant terrain the town is typical of medium towns in Ridge-and-valley Appalachians—low lands and flats were historically given over to business, rail transport, and industries, with dwellings located upon the slopes above.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 10.0 square miles (26 km2), of which, 9.8 square miles (25 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (1.31%) of it is water. Three streams pass through Tamaqua. The Little Schuylkill River, lesser known by its earlier name, the Tamaqua River, runs through the town from the north through the gap separating the folds of what would be an unbroken ridgeline but are now the separated ridges known as Sharp Mountain on the west and Nesquehoning Mountain. Panther Creek, flows southwest from Lansford, 5 miles away, and joins the Little Schuylkill in Tamaqua. The Wabash Creek joins the Little Schuylkill from the west.

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Select the Right Electrical Technical School near Tamaqua PA

Choosing the right electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrical training program that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you select is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Tamaqua PA.