Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Birdsboro PA 19508

How to Become an Electrician in Birdsboro Pennsylvania

Birdsboro PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Birdsboro PA. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are a number of factors to examine. For instance, some prospective students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have located several that are within commuting range, they will pick the one with the lowest tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the sole things that should be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your ultimate decision when picking an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are offered.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Birdsboro PA

Birdsboro PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several approaches to obtain electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Birdsboro PA. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are brief descriptions of the three most prevalent programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Pennsylvania vocational and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards those who wish to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs take two years to complete and are offered by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some Pennsylvania colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Requirements

Birdsboro PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Birdsboro PA can undertake a multitude of tasks, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically around four to five years of prior experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to differentiate 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 procedure usually entails 3 levels of proficiency:

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 crucial that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Training Classes in Birdsboro PA

attending electrician school online in Birdsboro PA An alternative that you may have contemplated is choosing an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs have become more prevalent as a means 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 get hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, internet learning may be a more practical choice for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Commuting expenses from Birdsboro PA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be available on line as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Birdsboro PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Birdsboro PA region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The first two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are other factors that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before selecting an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Birdsboro PA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you get a quality education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, 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 finish the course. A low completion rate might signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It might also signify that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to use 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 industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Birdsboro PA graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Birdsboro PA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Birdsboro PA electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Birdsboro residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging 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 instructors and students. Speak with a few of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Birdsboro PA, confirm that the programs you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Birdsboro PA?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Birdsboro PA area.

Birdsboro, Pennsylvania

Birdsboro is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. Located along the Schuylkill River, it is 8 miles (13 km) southeast of Reading. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 5,163.[3] In the past, Birdsboro was noted for its large foundries and machine shops, none of which remain in operation today.

Birdsboro was named for ironmaker William Bird, who established a forge on Hay Creek about 1740. His son Marcus founded Hopewell Furnace in 1771, which was the largest domestic producer of iron by the time of the American Revolution. The Schuylkill Canal, running parallel to the river, was completed in 1827. The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, constructed to haul anthracite coal, was completed in 1843. Edward and George Brooke, descendants of the Birds, established the Birdsboro Iron Foundry Company (1867), which became Birdsboro Steel Company (1905). The principal employer for 120 years, the steel plant closed in 1988, following a lengthy strike.[4]

The borough was created in 1872, from sections of Union and Robeson townships. Its population increased slowly from 2,261 in 1890, to 2,264 in 1900, to 2,930 in 1910. The population was 5,064 at the 2000 census.[5]

The location could not be found.

Find the Right Electrical Trade School near Birdsboro PA

Choosing the right electrical training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training that you are examining includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Every training program provides different possibilities for certification also. Probably the best means to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you decide on is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Birdsboro PA.