How to Pick the Best Electrician Vocational School near Hatboro Pennsylvania
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Hatboro PA. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are a number of points to evaluate. For example, many prospective students will start by looking for schools that are close to their home. When they have found several that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the least expensive tuition. While location and cost are significant, they are not the sole qualifications that need to be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are available.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options
There are multiple approaches to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near Hatboro PA. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are brief explanations of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who would like to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve two years to complete and are offered by Pennsylvania community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Pennsylvania colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed before licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Hatboro PA can perform a wide range of duties, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around 4 to 5 years of experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically test general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be obtained in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you choose not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Schools Online
An option that you may have looked at is choosing an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning might be a more practical choice for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Travelling expenses from Hatboro PA are also minimized and some of the study materials may be available online also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
When 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 tech and trade schools in the Hatboro PA area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are additional variables that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze before enrolling in an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Hatboro PA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you get an excellent education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It might also suggest that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive 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 affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Hatboro PA graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician technical programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Hatboro PA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Hatboro PA electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Hatboro home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized 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. Talk with several of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Hatboro PA, confirm that the programs you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Electrical Technician Program Hatboro Pennsylvania
Picking the right electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrical Technician Program and wanting more information on the topic Top Electrician Schools Online. But as we have addressed in this article, there are many things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrical training program that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Each training program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you select is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Hatboro PA.
More Electric Locations in Pennsylvania
Hatboro, Pennsylvania
The town of Hatboro is located on land purchased from William Penn by the family of Nicholas More around 1705. The first land titles in town were issued in 1711. Original construction by early residents of the town occurred between 1715 and 1719. Early settlement pre-dating the Hatboro name occurred in the Crooked Billet area east of York Road, between Moreland Avenue and Byberry Road.
Early resident John Dawson entertained guests at the Crooked Billet Inn as well as manufacturing a line of hats. When the post office opened in 1809 the town was officially called Hatborough. U.S. Postmaster General John Wanamaker officially changed the name of the town in the 1880s to Hatboro.
The Union Library Company of Hatboro, the third library company to be founded in Pennsylvania, was formed in 1755. This building still stands on its original site today and still serves as a library. George Washington and his troops passed through the town numerous times during 1777 in pursuit of British Troops. The Battle of Crooked Billet was fought in 1778.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 387
10 Reviews 
95 Reviews 
40 Reviews 
41 Reviews 
22 Reviews 
4 Reviews 
8 Reviews 
132 Reviews 
5 Reviews 
2 Reviews 