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How to Select the Right Electrician Technical School near Collegeville Pennsylvania

Collegeville PA electrician working on circuit board The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Collegeville PA. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are a number of variables to consider. For instance, many students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have identified a few that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the least expensive tuition. Although location and cost are important, they are not the sole factors that should be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate decision when picking an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are offered.

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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs

Collegeville PA electrician on power line pole There are three general options to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Collegeville PA. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Bellow are brief descriptions of the 3 most typical programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards students who want to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require two years to finish and are offered by Pennsylvania community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Pennsylvania institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed before licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites

Collegeville PA electrician wiring box Electricians in Collegeville PA can undertake a multitude of services, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally around four to five years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding 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 available differ by state and can be acquired in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails 3 levels of competency:

An experience requirement
Passing a written exam
Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying organizations include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you pick not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online

Collegeville PA student attending electrician school online An option that you might have contemplated is choosing an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning may be a more convenient alternative for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Travelling costs from Collegeville PA are also minimized and some of the study materials can be available on line as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Questions to ask Collegeville PA electrician schools Now that you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Since there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Collegeville PA region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are other factors that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn 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 Collegeville PA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Also, many states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it to qualify 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate may suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It might also suggest that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s also essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which may produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Collegeville PA grads acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Collegeville PA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Collegeville PA electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Collegeville residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to a few of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Collegeville PA, verify that the programs you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.

Industrial Electrician Training Collegeville Pennsylvania

Collegeville PA electricians working on power lines Selecting the ideal electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Industrial Electrician Training and wanting more information on the topic How To Become Electrical Technician. But as we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrician training program that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should offer a real-world perspective, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Each training program provides unique options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you decide on is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Collegeville PA.

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Collegeville, Pennsylvania

Collegeville is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia on the Perkiomen Creek. Collegeville was incorporated in 1896. It is the location of Ursinus College, opened in 1869. The population was 5,089 at the 2010 census.

The area which is present day Collegeville was part of the original William Penn purchase of "All the land lying on the Pahkehoma" in 1684. In 1799, Perkiomen Bridge was constructed using funds raised from a special lottery approved by the Pennsylvania Legislature. When the first post office in this area was established in 1847, it was called Perkiomen Bridge. In 1832, the first school for primary and secondary students was established and it was later renamed Freeland Public School in 1844. In 1848, Henry A. Hunsicker built the "Freeland Seminary of Perkiomen Bridge." Village around the school became known as Freeland. In 1851, Abraham Hunsicker established the Pennsylvania Female College near present day Glenwood Avenue. Ten years later, in 1861, the post office was moved and renamed Freeland.

When the trains first arrived in the area in 1868, there was a debate about naming of the station (Perkiomen Bridge vs Freeland). The local citizens had acquired notoriety when they had burned down the toll booth on the Perkiomen Bridge and thrown the gate into the river. The rail company avoided any troubles by naming it "Collegeville" (the station was actually closer to the Pennsylvania Female College than either Freeland School or Perkiomen Bridge). Ursinus College was founded a year later in 1869. Thus the name "Collegeville" precedes the establishment of Ursinus College and it is actually named after the other 4 year liberal arts college (Pennsylvania Female College) which closed in 1880. Collegeville was incorporated as Borough in 1896.