How to Become an Electrician in Washington Crossing Pennsylvania
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Washington Crossing PA. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are so many factors to evaluate. For instance, some potential students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their home. After they have located some that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are significant, they are not the sole qualifications that should be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should influence your final decision when picking an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are accessible.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Washington Crossing PA
There are three general approaches to obtain electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Washington Crossing PA. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you wish to become certified. Bellow are brief summaries of the 3 most common programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who wish to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take 2 years to complete and are provided by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Pennsylvania colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be completed prior to licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in Washington Crossing PA can carry out a wide range of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically test general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be earned in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online in Washington Crossing PA
A possibility that you might have considered is choosing an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, internet learning can be a more accommodating choice for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Driving costs from Washington Crossing PA are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be available online as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Now that you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Washington Crossing PA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. 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 decision, there are additional factors that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to enrolling in an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Washington Crossing PA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you acquire a superior education, it can help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, some states require 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 considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate could indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It might also mean that the teachers were not qualified 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 graduates, which may 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 field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Washington Crossing PA grads obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade programs are taught along 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 electrician companies or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Washington Crossing PA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Washington Crossing PA electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Washington Crossing home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to a few of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Washington Crossing PA, check that the programs you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Washington Crossing PA?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Washington Crossing PA area.
Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania
Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania, is a small unincorporated village located in Upper Makefield Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, with a zip code of 18977. Formerly known as "Taylorsville," it is most famous for Washington's crossing of the Delaware River on the night of December 25–26, 1776 during the American Revolutionary War. It is also the location of the headquarters of Washington Crossing Historic Park. It is directly across the river from Washington Crossing, New Jersey, to which it is connected by the Washington Crossing Bridge. One aspect of Washington Crossing that is special to this town is that every Christmas Day the town performs a re-enactment of Washington Crossing the Delaware River. The town of Washington Crossing has an array of shops including a pizza restaurant, a bank and a jewelry store. As part of Washington's Crossing, the community was named a US National Historic Landmark in 1961.[2]
Pick the Ideal Electrical Tech School near Washington Crossing PA
Choosing the best electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most important 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 schools you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical training that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every program provides different possibilities for certification also. Probably The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you decide on is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Washington Crossing PA.
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