Electrician

How to Become an Electrician in New Jersey & Pennsylvania

Becoming an electrician provides you with a meaningful career and a host of great benefits. To pursue this career path, you must first gain the necessary skills and knowledge at an electrician trade school. A great place to begin is the Electrician Program offered at Pennco Tech in Blackwood, NJ, and Bristol, PA.

Students enrolled in this course will acquire the proficiencies they need to maintain a successful career as an electrician. Get a more in-depth look into our program, the reasons an electrician profession may be right for you, and the different career paths to take after graduation.

What are the Educational Requirements for an Electrician

Our Electrician Program is designed to provide students with the training needed to become electrical technicians. Dedicated teachers instruct students using proven teaching methods in the classroom and lab facility. The industry-recognized curriculum taught in our program focuses on a range of topics, including:

• Basic electrical theory, mathematics, and load calculations
• Understanding of voltage, current, resistance, transformers, and power
• DC, AC, and other fundamentals of electricity
• Wiring, single-phase and three-phase motors, and electrical controls
• Pipe bending and conduit bending
• Understanding of generators and related codes
• Photovoltaics and troubleshooting
• Familiarity with field and shop safety

Since electricians sometimes face dangerous situations, Pennco Tech prepares students through OSHA safety training at the Bristol campus. This component makes students aware of the possible threats and offers them techniques for mitigating risks and handling these circumstances overall.

Why Become an Electrician?

From job security to establishing a personalized schedule, the electrician career path provides several advantages. Some reasons to consider enrolling in an electrician program at a trade school include:

Potential for High Earnings

One of the primary benefits of becoming an electrician is the potential to earn a solid wage. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the annual mean wage for electricians was $79,940 in 2021. This amount is especially attractive when you consider that the occupation requires individuals to complete a trade school program instead of an expensive traditional four-year college program.

Need for Electricians

Given how much society relies on electricity for daily activities, the need for qualified electricians will persist for many years. BLS states electrician jobs are expected to grow by 9.1% from 2020 to 2030. Compare that to the 7.7% growth rate projected for all occupations. The rise in demand is largely due to the increase in electrical devices in buildings and households. Total energy consumption in the United States is expected to grow by 1.4% in the next year alone.

Great Flexibility

In most professions, workers go where the jobs are available. In other words, a person may need to pack up their family and their belongings to find more career opportunities elsewhere. With electrician jobs prevalent across the nation, you will likely not have to travel to find work. Conversely, you also have the luxury of choosing which part of the country you will live in and still attain a job.

More so, many electricians have the benefit of choosing a schedule that suits their lifestyle. While most electricians choose a standard nine-to-five job and work 40 hours per week, others may elect to work unconventional hours on different job sites. This flexibility allows you to make a good living while having time for the people who matter most in your life, as well as other important responsibilities.

Different Career Paths for Electricians

Another excellent benefit of becoming an electrician is the opportunity for advancement in your career. Electricians can use the skills they’ve learned at Pennco Tech and on the job and apply them to a variety of different fields. The numerous career paths for electricians include:

Master Electrician

Apprentice electricians looking to further their careers can do so by becoming journeyman electricians. With a journeyman electrician title, you can work without supervision, pull permits, and guide other electricians. To become a journeyman electrician, you must complete additional training and education.

Electrical Contractor

Many electricians who aspire to go into business for themselves become electrical contractors. Operating an electrical contracting business, you will be in charge of overseeing the operations and handling the employees you choose to hire.

Project Manager

Construction jobs tend to have a project manager that oversees all operations, ensuring the job is completed on time and within budget. Electricians earn this title and its added duties by continuing to advance within their field.

Discover Your Path as an Electrician at Pennco Tech

Individuals located in the Tri-State area and Pennsylvania interested in pursuing a rewarding career as an electrician can begin their training by enrolling in the Electrician Program at Pennco Tech, with campuses in Blackwood, NJ, and Bristol, PA. With the knowledge and skills obtained in these courses, students can pursue the career path of their choice. Contact us today to learn more about our vocational school programs and additional resources.