Colleges That Offer Electrician Programs Dover PA

How to Select the Right Electrician Trade School near Dover Pennsylvania

Dover PA electrician working on circuit boardThe first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Dover PA. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many factors to evaluate. For example, many students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their home. When they have found a few that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the only things that should be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your final judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are accessible.

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Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs

Dover PA electrician on power line poleThere are several options to receive electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Dover PA. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you wish to become certified. Bellow are short explanations of the 3 most common programs offered.

  • Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who would like to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degrees take two years to finish and are offered by Pennsylvania community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some Pennsylvania institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed before licensing. Therefore, most students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites

Dover PA electrician wiring boxElectricians in Dover PA can carry out a vast array of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be obtained in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes three 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician tech school that you choose not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might need to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Training Classes Online

Dover PA student attending electrician school onlineAn alternative that you may have considered is choosing an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning might be a more accommodating option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Driving costs from Dover PA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be accessed on line also. All of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Questions to ask Dover PA electrician schoolsNow that you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Because there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Dover PA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are additional factors that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation.  A large number of electrician trade schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Dover PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get an excellent education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates.  Ask the electrician training programs you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate might indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It could also signify that the teachers 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 more extensive list of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Dover PA students secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Many electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Dover PA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Dover PA electrical company if they can provide some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Dover residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak to a few of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling.  Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Dover PA, check that the schools you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.

Colleges That Offer Electrician Programs Dover Pennsylvania

Dover PA electricians working on power linesChoosing the right electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Colleges That Offer Electrician Programs and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Education Requirements. But as we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical training program that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world context, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every training program provides different options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Take the time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you choose 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 Dover PA.

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    Dover, Pennsylvania

    Dover is located in York County at 40°0′14″N 76°50′58″W / 40.00389°N 76.84944°W / 40.00389; -76.84944 (40.003846, -76.849397),[5] 5 miles (8 km) northwest of the county seat of York. The borough is entirely surrounded by Dover Township.

    As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 1,815 people, 770 households, and 489 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,623.6 people per square mile (1,401.6/km2). There were 790 housing units at an average density of 1,577.2 per square mile (610.0/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.47% White, 1.05% African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 0.72% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.43% of the population.

    There were 770 households out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.90.

     

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