Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Boyertown PA 19512

How to Become an Electrician in Boyertown Pennsylvania

Boyertown PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Boyertown PA. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many factors to examine. For example, many potential students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have located a few that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the least expensive tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the only qualifications that should be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your final judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are available.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Boyertown PA

Boyertown PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several ways to get electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Boyertown PA. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Bellow are brief summaries of the three most common programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who want to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to finish and are provided by Pennsylvania community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

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

Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines

Boyertown PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Boyertown PA can perform a multitude of tasks, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly about four to five years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be acquired in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases involves three levels of competency:

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 vocational school that you select not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Schools in Boyertown PA

attending electrician school online in Boyertown PA An option that you may have contemplated is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning may be a more accommodating choice for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Driving costs from Boyertown PA are also minimized and some of the study materials may be accessed on line as well. All of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Boyertown PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Since there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Boyertown PA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The initial two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are additional variables that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to choosing an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Boyertown PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you acquire a superior education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states mandate 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 of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate could suggest that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It may also signify that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s also important 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 an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Boyertown PA students obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician trade programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Boyertown PA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain 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 currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Boyertown PA electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Boyertown residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to several of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the teachers 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 schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Boyertown PA, confirm that the schools you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Boyertown PA?

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

Boyertown, Pennsylvania

Boyertown is located along the southeastern border of Berks County. It is bordered on the north, west, and south by Colebrookdale Township; to the southeast it is bordered by Douglass Township in Montgomery County.

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 3,940 people, 1,805 households, and 1,025 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,941.7 people per square mile (1,901.6/km²). There were 1,885 housing units at an average density of 2,364.2 per square mile (909.8/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.83% White, 0.20% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.13% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.74% of the population.

There were 1,805 households, out of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder, and 43.2% were non-families. 37.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.87.

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Find the Right Electrician Technical School near Boyertown PA

Selecting the best electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrician training program that you are considering includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every program offers different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to attend a few classes. Tour 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 proper training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Boyertown PA.