Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Franconia PA 18924

How to Become an Electrician in Franconia Pennsylvania

Franconia PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Franconia PA. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are a number of points to consider. For instance, many students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have located a few that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though location and cost are significant, they are not the only things that should be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your final decision when picking an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this post. 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 Franconia PA

Franconia PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to get electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Franconia PA. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to become licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are brief descriptions of the three most prevalent programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards students who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to complete and are provided by Pennsylvania community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some Pennsylvania institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be performed before licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Guidelines

Franconia PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Franconia PA can undertake a multitude of services, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly around four to five years of experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be acquired in numerous specializations, such as 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 organizations 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 vocational school that you select not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Programs Online in Franconia PA

attending electrician school online in Franconia PA A possibility that you might have contemplated is selecting an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools have become more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, internet learning may be a more convenient choice for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Commuting expenses from Franconia PA are also lessened and some of the study materials can be accessed on line also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Franconia PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Franconia PA region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school 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 an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are additional factors that need to be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze before enrolling in an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Franconia 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 ensure that you receive a superior education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it 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 percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate might suggest that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It could also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, which may produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Franconia PA graduates acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician vocational programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Franconia PA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Franconia PA electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Franconia home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak with a few of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to some of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Franconia PA, verify that the programs you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Franconia PA?

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

Bridge in Franconia Township

Bridge in Franconia Township is a historic stone arch bridge spanning Skippack Creek at Elvoy in Franconia Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The bridge was built in 1837 and reconstructed in 1874. It has two 20-foot-long (6.1 m) spans with an overall length of 100-foot (30 m).[2]

The location could not be found.

Select the Ideal Electrical Technical School near Franconia PA

Picking the ideal electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are several things that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrician training program that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each training program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best way to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you pick is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Franconia PA.