Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Concordville PA 19331

How to Become an Electrician in Concordville Pennsylvania

Concordville PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Concordville PA. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are a number of variables to consider. For example, many potential students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have identified a few that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole factors 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 other qualifiers should influence your final judgment when picking an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional choices that are available.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Concordville PA

Concordville PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several approaches to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near Concordville PA. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are short explanations of the three most prevalent programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards students who want to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to complete and are provided by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Pennsylvania institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed prior to licensing. For that reason, most students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements

Concordville PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Concordville PA can undertake a vast array of tasks, such as 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 become licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be acquired in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves 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 imperative that the electrician trade school that you choose not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes in Concordville PA

attending electrician school online in Concordville PA A possibility that you may have considered is enrolling in an electrician online 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 situation they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more accommodating choice for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Commuting costs from Concordville PA are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online also. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational 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

Concordville PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Concordville PA area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The initial two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are other factors that must be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Concordville 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. In addition to helping guarantee that you acquire an excellent education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate could signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It could also mean that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory 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 industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Concordville PA students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical programs are taught together 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 trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Concordville PA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained 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. If not, ask a local Concordville PA electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Concordville residence. Take note that if you decide to attend 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 desirable that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to a few of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience 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 meet your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Concordville PA, check that the programs you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Concordville PA?

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

Concordville, Pennsylvania

Concordville is an unincorporated community in Concord Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located 20 miles west-southwest of Philadelphia, at the junction of U.S. Routes 1 and 322. This intersection can be traced back to two of the earliest roads in Pennsylvania, Baltimore Pike which became U.S. 1, and Concord Pike, which connected Pennsylvania with Delaware.[3]

The first European settlement in the area occurred about 1700, after Quakers bought land from William Penn. Two Friends Meetinghouses (formerly Orthodox and Hicksite) are located in the village. The Orthodox meetinghouse was built in the first half of the nineteenth century, while the Hicksites retained the original meetinghouse (built 1728, reconstructed and expanded 1788). The two factions have since merged and now meet in the original meetinghouse. Part of the village was added to the National Register in 1973.[4]

The location could not be found.

Choose the Right Electrical Tech School near Concordville PA

Selecting the best electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. 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 must that any electrician training program that you are considering includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every training program offers different options for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you select is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Concordville PA.