Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Folcroft PA 19032

How to Become an Electrician in Folcroft Pennsylvania

Folcroft PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Folcroft PA. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are a number of factors to examine. For instance, some prospective students will start by looking for schools that are close to their residence. When they have identified some that are within commuting range, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the only qualifications that should be considered. 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 ultimate decision when choosing an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are offered.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Folcroft PA

Folcroft PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple ways to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Folcroft PA. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to become licensed or if you want to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the 3 most prevalent programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who want to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to finish and are provided by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Pennsylvania institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Requirements

Folcroft PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Folcroft PA can perform a wide range of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically around four to five years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be earned in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes three 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 crucial that the electrician trade school that you choose not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes in Folcroft PA

attending electrician school online in Folcroft PA A possibility that you might have contemplated is choosing an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, internet learning may be a more practical choice for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Travelling expenses from Folcroft PA are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be accessed online as well. Each of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Folcroft PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Because there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Folcroft PA region, it’s important 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 are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional variables that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. Many electrician technical programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Folcroft PA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some states require 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 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 may suggest that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It may also signify that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader 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 can not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Folcroft PA graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician training programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Folcroft PA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Folcroft PA electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Folcroft 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 charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with some of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Folcroft PA, check that the schools you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Folcroft PA?

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

Folcroft, Pennsylvania

The origin of Folcroft can be traced back to the mid 1600s and early settlements of New Sweden. Delmar Drive was once part of Calcon Hook Road. Calcon is the Swedish word for "turkey," and Hook is the Swedish word for "road". The original road was a Leni Lenape trail called "Turkey's Neck Trail" by the settlers, and was no more than 4 feet (1.2 m) wide.

Originally productive farmlands, it became a residential suburb of Philadelphia with the construction of the Pennsylvania Railroad through the area in 1874. A passenger stop was built and named Folcroft, or "leafy fields".

Folcroft is located in southeastern Delaware County at 39°53′36″N 75°16′51″W / 39.89333°N 75.28083°W / 39.89333; -75.28083 (39.893212, -75.280881).[5] It is bordered to the south by Darby Creek and to the west by its tributary, Muckinipattis Creek. To the south across Darby Creek is Tinicum Township. Neighboring boroughs are Norwood to the west, Glenolden to the northwest, Collingdale to the north, and Sharon Hill to the northeast. Darby Township is also to the northeast, and the city of Philadelphia is to the east, across Darby Creek.

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Enroll in the Right Electrical Trade School near Folcroft PA

Choosing the right electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have covered in this article, there are many things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical training program that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Probably The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you select is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Folcroft PA.