Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Blue Bell PA 19422

How to Become an Electrician in Blue Bell Pennsylvania

Blue Bell PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Blue Bell PA. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are so many variables to consider. For instance, many prospective students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have found several that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the sole qualifications that need to be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your final judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are accessible.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Blue Bell PA

Blue Bell PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to get electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Blue Bell PA. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are brief explanations of the 3 most common programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who would like to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees involve 2 years to complete and are offered by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available 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 4 years be performed before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Requirements

Blue Bell PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Blue Bell PA can perform a multitude of duties, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around four to five years of prior experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be acquired in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases includes three 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online in Blue Bell PA

attending electrician school online in Blue Bell PA An alternative that you might have considered is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs have become more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning can be a more convenient choice for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Commuting costs from Blue Bell PA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be accessed online as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Blue Bell PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Blue Bell PA area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program 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 a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical 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 assess before enrolling in an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Many electrician technical programs have earned 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 a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Blue Bell PA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get a quality education, it can help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate may signify that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It might also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which can mean 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 an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Blue Bell PA grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician trade programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Blue Bell PA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional 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 in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Blue Bell PA electrical company if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Blue Bell home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with some of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the teachers and learn 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 handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Blue Bell PA, confirm that the schools you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Blue Bell PA?

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

Blue Bell, Pennsylvania

Blue Bell was originally known as Pigeontown, after the large flocks of the now-extinct passenger pigeons that once gathered there. The town was renamed in 1840 after the historically prominent Blue Bell Inn.

Blue Bell is known for its large executive-style homes, major business parks, community shopping facilities, and small businesses. It is one of the most affluent areas outside the Main Line communities in the Philadelphia area. In July 2005, Money magazine ranked Blue Bell 14th on its list of the "100 Best Places to Live in the United States".[1]

Blue Bell is located at 40°8′41″N 75°16′8″W / 40.14472°N 75.26889°W / 40.14472; -75.26889 (40.144759, -75.268752).[3] According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 5.4 square miles (14 km2), all of it land.

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Pick the Right Electrician Technical School near Blue Bell PA

Picking the ideal electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrical training that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each training program offers unique options for certification as well. Probably the best means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you pick is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Blue Bell PA.