Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Glenolden PA 19036

How to Become an Electrician in Glenolden Pennsylvania

Glenolden PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Glenolden PA. But with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are a number of points to examine. For example, many prospective students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their residence. After they have found some that are within commuting range, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are significant, they are not the sole qualifications that need to be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional choices that are accessible.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Glenolden PA

Glenolden PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to obtain electrician training in a trade or technical school near Glenolden PA. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are short descriptions of the 3 most typical programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Pennsylvania vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards those who wish to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to finish and are offered by Pennsylvania community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Pennsylvania colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria

Glenolden PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Glenolden PA can undertake a wide range of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around four to five years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be obtained in many specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves 3 levels of competency:

An experience requirement
Passing a written exam
Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician tech school that you choose not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Glenolden PA

attending electrician school online in Glenolden PA An option that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, internet learning may be a more convenient alternative for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Travelling costs from Glenolden PA are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be available on line as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Glenolden PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Because there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Glenolden PA region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional variables that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Glenolden PA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you obtain an excellent education, it can help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Also, 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 reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It could also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Glenolden PA grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Glenolden PA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Glenolden PA electrical company if they can give you some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Glenolden home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with several of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify 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 Glenolden PA, check that the schools you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Glenolden PA?

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

Glenolden, Pennsylvania

Glenolden is located in eastern Delaware County at 39°53′56″N 75°17′33″W / 39.89889°N 75.29250°W / 39.89889; -75.29250 (39.898812, -75.292456).[4] It is bordered to east and southeast by the borough of Folcroft, to the southwest by Norwood, to the northwest by Ridley Township, to the north by Darby Township, and to the northeast by Collingdale.

As of Census 2010, the racial makeup of the borough was 86.9% White, 8.5% African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.7% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.2% of the population [2].

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,476 people, 3,058 households, and 1,871 families residing in the borough. The population density was 7,673.6 people per square mile (2,975.8/km²). There were 3,198 housing units at an average density of 3,282.5 per square mile (1,272.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 92.28% White, 4.03% African American, 0.04% Native American, 2.38% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.18% of the population.[6]

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Pick the Right Electrical Vocational School near Glenolden PA

Picking the ideal electrical training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrical tech school that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Every training program offers unique options for certification also. Probably the best means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you pick is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Glenolden PA.