Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Dublin PA 18917

How to Become an Electrician in Dublin Pennsylvania

Dublin PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Dublin PA. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are a number of variables to evaluate. For example, many potential students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have identified several that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are of importance, they are not the only things that must be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician trade school. We will discuss 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 offered.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Dublin PA

Dublin PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Dublin PA. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are short summaries of the three most typical programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Pennsylvania vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who want to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees involve two years to finish and are offered by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Pennsylvania colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out before licensing. For that reason, most students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines

Dublin PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Dublin PA can undertake a wide range of functions, 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 become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about four to five years of experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be acquired in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases includes 3 levels of proficiency:

An experience requirement
Passing a written exam
Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician tech school that you pick not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes in Dublin PA

attending electrician school online in Dublin PA An alternative that you might have considered is choosing an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning may be a more practical alternative for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Travelling costs from Dublin PA are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be available online also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Dublin PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Dublin PA region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The initial two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are other variables that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze before choosing an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational schools have received 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 an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Dublin PA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you obtain an excellent education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate may suggest that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It may also mean that the teachers 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 confirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Dublin PA grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Dublin PA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Dublin PA electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Dublin residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with a few of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with some of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Dublin PA, check that the schools you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Dublin PA?

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

Dublin, Pennsylvania

Dublin extends along a stretch of Pennsylvania Route 313 which connects the much larger towns of Doylestown and Quakertown. Almost the entire town can be viewed from 313 with only a few streets diverging from the main road. The town is surrounded by sparse housing developments and a series of dairy farms and nurseries, all of which are part of Hilltown Township and Bedminster Township. Dublin contains a small shopping center, a Department of Motor Vehicles Center, a pharmacy and 5 restaurants. Several rows of old houses line 313, some of which date back to the late 18th century. The majority of Dublin's population lives in several developments around the main part of town. Dublin has its own municipal government and maintains a fire station. Dublin has its own local police department and relies on Pennsylvania State Police when not on duty.

As of the 2010 census, the borough was 90.5% White, 1.4% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 2.0% Asian, and 2.1% were two or more races. 8.9% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry [2].

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 2,083 people, 851 households, and 520 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,825.7 people per square mile (1,489.4/km²). There were 869 housing units at an average density of 1,596.0 per square mile (621.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 93.90% White, 1.59% African American, 0.19% Native American, 1.15% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 1.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.97% of the population.

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Find the Ideal Electrical Trade School near Dublin PA

Choosing the right electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are many things that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrical tech school that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides unique options for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you decide on is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Dublin PA.