Electrician Certificate Programs Newtown PA

How to Select the Right Electrician Trade School near Newtown Pennsylvania

Newtown PA electrician working on circuit boardThe first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Newtown PA. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially because there are a number of variables to consider. For instance, many students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their home. When they have located some that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the least expensive tuition. Although location and cost are important, they are not the only qualifications that need to be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your ultimate decision when picking an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are accessible.

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Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options

Newtown PA electrician on power line poleThere are multiple options to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Newtown PA. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Frequently these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you wish to become certified. Bellow are short descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.

  • Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and require about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degrees involve 2 years to finish and are offered by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some Pennsylvania institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be completed before licensing. Therefore, many students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines

Newtown PA electrician wiring boxElectricians in Newtown PA can undertake a vast array of duties, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally about four to five years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be obtained in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes 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) and also 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 educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools

Newtown PA student attending electrician school onlineAn alternative that you might have contemplated is selecting an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools have become more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more accommodating choice for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Travelling expenses from Newtown PA are also lessened and some of the study materials may be accessed on line also. Each of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Questions to ask Newtown PA electrician schoolsWhen you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Newtown PA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The initial two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are other factors that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical tech school.

Accreditation.  Many electrician technical programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Newtown PA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you get an excellent education, it can help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, some 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 looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate could suggest that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It could also mean that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Newtown PA students obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Many electrician vocational programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Newtown PA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Newtown PA electrical contracting company if they can give you some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Newtown residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak to a few of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling.  Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Newtown PA, check that the programs you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.

Electrician Certificate Programs Newtown Pennsylvania

Newtown PA electricians working on power linesSelecting the ideal electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Certificate Programs and wanting more information on the topic Best Online Electrician School. But as we have addressed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrician training that you are evaluating 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 education needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides different options for certification as well. Perhaps the best means to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you decide on is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Newtown PA.

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    Newtown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania

    Newtown is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,248 at the 2010 census. It is located just west of the Trenton, New Jersey metropolitan area, and is part of the larger Philadelphia metropolitan area. It is entirely surrounded by Newtown Township, from which it separated in 1838. State Street is the main commercial thoroughfare with wide sidewalks, shops, taverns, and restaurants.

    In September 2011, Yahoo! Travel ranked Newtown Borough seventh in their annual 10 Coolest Small Towns in America list, despite incorrectly claiming that Newtown is part of "Amish Country".[4] There is a thriving Amish Market in Newtown Township, and perhaps this could explain the confusion. While there are very small pockets of Amish communities in Bucks County, this is much more characteristic of Central Pennsylvania, a considerably more rural area than suburban Lower Bucks.[citation needed]

    Newtown was founded by William Penn in 1684. Newtown was one of several towns that Penn had organized around Philadelphia to provide country homes for city residents and to support farming communities. It was the county seat of Bucks County from 1726 until 1813, when it was replaced by a more central Doylestown. After his December 26, 1776 morning march to Trenton, and before the Battle of Princeton, General George Washington made his headquarters in Newtown. Newtown was incorporated on April 16, 1838 and has been enlarged three times since. In 1969 Newtown's entire central business district was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. This designation was largely due to Newtown's historic clock tower. Newtown is enhanced by unique boutiques, colleges, cuisine, a climate for industry, Pennsylvania’s most popular state park (Tyler State Park) and a Heritage Walk that traces the very steps of George Washington. The Law School Admission Council is headquartered in Newtown Township. As a result, many American lawyers have heard of Newtown. The oldest operating movie theater in America is Newtown Theatre at 120 North State Street.

     

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