Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Warrendale PA 15086

How to Become an Electrician in Warrendale Pennsylvania

Warrendale PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Warrendale PA. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are a number of factors to consider. For instance, some students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have located some that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are significant, they are not the only factors that must be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate decision when picking an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are accessible.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Warrendale PA

Warrendale PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several approaches to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Warrendale PA. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards those who want to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require 2 years to finish and are offered by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Pennsylvania colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be carried out before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites

Warrendale PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Warrendale PA can carry out a wide range of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly around four to five years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be earned in several specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails three levels of proficiency:

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 crucial that the electrician tech school that you choose not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Training Classes Online in Warrendale PA

attending electrician school online in Warrendale PA A possibility that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs have become more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning can be a more accommodating choice for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Commuting expenses from Warrendale PA are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online also. All of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Warrendale PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Warrendale PA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are other variables that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze before choosing an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. Many electrician technical schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can 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 sure that the Warrendale PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you receive an excellent education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved 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 indicate that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It might also mean that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which can mean 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 an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Warrendale PA graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician vocational programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Warrendale PA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school 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, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Warrendale PA electrical contracting company if they can give you some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Warrendale residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to several of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Warrendale PA, check that the schools you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Warrendale PA?

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

Warrendale, Pennsylvania

Warrendale is a northern suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in the northwestern corner of Allegheny County. It is the home to the corporate headquarters of rue21, Joy Mining Machinery, Printing Industries of America and SAE International, as well as the United States Postal Service Pittsburgh Network Distribution Center, one of 21 such mail delivery hubs in the country. It is also the home to one of American Eagle Outfitters' four North American distribution centers.

The location could not be found.

Enroll in the Ideal Electrician Vocational School near Warrendale PA

Selecting the right electrical training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are many factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Each training program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Probably the best approach to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you pick is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Warrendale PA.