How to Choose the Best Electrician Trade School near Perkasie Pennsylvania
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Perkasie PA. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are a number of points to consider. For example, many prospective students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have located several that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though location and cost are significant, they are not the only factors that need to be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are available.
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Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs
There are multiple ways to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Perkasie PA. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to become licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are brief descriptions of the three most prevalent programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Pennsylvania vocational and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take two years to finish and are provided by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Pennsylvania institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be completed before licensing. For that reason, most students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Perkasie PA can undertake a wide range of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally about four to five years of experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically test general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be obtained in numerous specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure 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 important that the electrician tech school that you pick not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools
A possibility that you may have looked at is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning can be a more accommodating choice for students that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Driving expenses from Perkasie PA are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line also. All of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Now that you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Perkasie PA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are other factors that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Perkasie PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a superior education, it may help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, many states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate might signify that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It may also signify that the instructors were not competent 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 directory of graduates, 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 affirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Perkasie PA grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Perkasie PA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed 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 tech you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Perkasie PA electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Perkasie home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with some of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Perkasie PA, verify that the schools you are considering provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.
Study To Be An Electrician Perkasie Pennsylvania
Picking the right electrical training program 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 Study To Be An Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Trade Schools. But as we have discussed in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. 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 unique options for certification also. Perhaps The ideal 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 sit in on some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Perkasie PA.
More Electric Locations in Pennsylvania
Perkasie, Pennsylvania
Perkasie is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, 35 miles (56 km) north of Philadelphia. Establishments in the borough early in the twentieth century included silk mills, brickyards, lumber mills, tile works, a stone crusher, and manufacturies of cigars, tags and labels, wire novelties, etc. The population in 1900 was 1,803; in 1910, 2,779 people lived in Perkasie. The population was 8,511 at the 2010 census.
Both the town of Perkasie and Pocasie Creek derive their name from the Lenape Unami phrase Pèhpahkàsink/Poekskossing which translates to "One who goes to the place to crack nuts". The Dutch/Swedish (before the British settlements) pronounced the word with an r and it stuck. There was doubtless a village on the site of the present town before William Penn’s Perkasie Manor was settled."[3] "The "Manor" of Perkasie was one of several in Bucks County and contained 11,462 acres (4,639 ha). Laid out and surveyed in 1708 it embraced most of Hilltown and Rockhill Township."[4]
On June 8, 1890, a disastrous fire began at the livery stable located at 7th and Chestnut Streets; twelve buildings were destroyed. Personal buckets and ladders were used to extinguish the fire. Less than a month later, on July 4, 1890, a committee appointed by Perkasie Borough Council met to form the Hope Fire Company. On September 8, 1890, the Hope Fire Company met at Groover's Hall (517 Chestnut Street) and adopted a constitution and by-laws; 32 members were present.
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