How to Enroll in the Best Electrician Trade School near Eagleville Pennsylvania
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Eagleville PA. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are so many points to consider. For example, many students will start by looking for schools that are close to their home. Once they have found several that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the only things that need to be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your final judgment when choosing an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional choices that are accessible.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options
There are multiple ways to obtain electrician training in a trade or technical school near Eagleville PA. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Bellow are brief summaries of the 3 most common programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and take about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to finish and are provided by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Pennsylvania institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed before licensing. For that reason, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Eagleville PA can undertake a multitude of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually assess general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be earned in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you choose not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online
An option that you may have looked at is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools have become more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning may be a more accommodating alternative for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Driving expenses from Eagleville PA are also lessened and some of the study materials may be accessed on line as well. All of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Training Schools
When you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Since there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Eagleville PA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are additional variables that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to selecting an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Eagleville PA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you get a quality education, it can help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order 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 finish the program. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It might also suggest that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, which may produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Eagleville PA grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Eagleville PA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Eagleville PA electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Eagleville home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk to several of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
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 in the evening or on weekends near Eagleville PA, verify that the programs you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.
Online Electrical Training Courses Eagleville Pennsylvania
Picking the best electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Online Electrical Training Courses and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Technical Schools. But as we have covered in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every program provides unique options for certification as well. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you choose is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Eagleville PA.
More Electric Locations in Pennsylvania
Eagleville, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
As of the 2010 census, the CDP was 66.6% White, 22.4% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 5.5% Asian, 1.4% were Some Other Race, and 1.8% were two or more races. 4.1% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.[4]
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 4,458 people, 1,091 households, and 737 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,787.8 people per square mile (1,075.8/km2). There were 1,136 housing units at an average density of 710.4/sq mi (274.1/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 66.20% White, 26.96% African American, 0.02% Native American, 3.30% Asian, 0.31% Pacific Islander, 2.58% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.13% of the population.
There were 1,091 households, out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.08.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 344
17 Reviews 
5 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
5 Reviews 
11 Reviews 
9 Reviews 
39 Reviews 
39 Reviews 
3 Reviews 
6 Reviews 