How to Pick the Right Electrician Training School near Havertown Pennsylvania
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Havertown PA. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are so many factors to examine. For example, many potential students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their home. When they have found some that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though cost and location are of importance, they are not the only things that must be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are available.
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Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs
There are three general options to obtain electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Havertown PA. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you want to earn certification. Following are short descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take two years to finish and are offered by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Pennsylvania institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. For that reason, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements
Electricians in Havertown PA can undertake a multitude of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically around four to five years of prior experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be earned in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves three 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you choose not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online
An alternative that you may have looked at is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs have become more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, internet learning may be a more convenient alternative for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Travelling costs from Havertown PA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online as well. All of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
When you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Havertown PA area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The initial two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are additional factors that need to be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs have attained 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 example electrical technology. Make certain that the Havertown PA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you get a quality education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, many states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order to qualify 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 finish the program. A low completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It may also mean that the teachers were not qualified to instruct 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 alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Havertown PA grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Havertown PA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Havertown PA electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Havertown home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with a few of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Havertown PA, verify that the schools you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Train To Be Electrician Havertown Pennsylvania
Choosing the ideal electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Train To Be Electrician and wanting more information on the topic How To Become An Electrician. 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 looking at. It’s a must that any electrician tech school that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will have to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every program offers different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best means to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you decide on is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Havertown PA.
More Electric Locations in Pennsylvania
Havertown, Pennsylvania
Havertown is a residential suburban unincorporated community in Haverford Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, approximately 9 miles west of the center of Philadelphia. Havertown's ZIP Code is 19083. "Havertown" is a postal address. The name "Havertown" does not appear until the advent of the ZIP Code. Prior to the ZIP Code each community was known by its local name: Brookline, Penfield, Beechwood, Llanerch, Manoa, Oakmont, Coopertown, Ardmore. Under William Penn's land divisions these communities were part of the Welsh Tract and comprised the area known as Harford, a Welsh contraction of Haverford.[1]
Haverford Township was founded by Welsh Quakers in 1681 on land purchased from William Penn. The settlers named their new home after Haverfordwest, Wales, UK.The township is home to many historic sites. The Grange Estate, entertained the Revolutionary War figures George Washington and General Lafayette. Nitre Hall, along Karakung (Cobb's) Creek, supplied the United States with over 800,000 pounds of gunpowder during the War of 1812. Leedom Hall[2] was the probable home to William Howell the founder of Haverford Mills which date from 1688.[3] Other Havertown sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places include the Federal School and Lawrence Cabin. Coopertown, appears as early as 1848 as the first community and the earliest post office is found at the Spread Eagle Tavern at the junction of the present Eagle and Manoa Roads.
The Haverford Road is one of the earliest roads laid out by civil ordinance. Dates for its layout and completion vary from 1687 to 1703. Darby Road, known earlier as Coopertown Road dates from 1687. Records show its extension to Radnor the “principal market for corn,” ordered in 1696.[4] Mill Road, at one time called Dickinson Mill Road, may be one of the earliest roads of popular use. Its zig-zag pattern illustrates the indirect path required by horse and cart going up or down hill. Eagle Road which takes its present name from the Spread Eagle Tavern c.1814 led Quaker settlers to the Haverford Meeting House
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