Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Harleysville PA 19438

How to Become an Electrician in Harleysville Pennsylvania

Harleysville PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Harleysville PA. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are a number of variables to examine. For instance, some prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have found a few that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole factors that need to be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are offered.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Harleysville PA

Harleysville PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple approaches to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Harleysville PA. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are short descriptions of the three most common programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards students who would like to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs take two years to complete and are provided by Pennsylvania community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Pennsylvania institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed prior to licensing. For that reason, many students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines

Harleysville PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Harleysville PA can perform a wide range of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly about four to five years of practical experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically test general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be earned in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails three 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Training Classes Online in Harleysville PA

attending electrician school online in Harleysville PA An option that you might have contemplated is choosing an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, distance learning may be a more practical option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Driving costs from Harleysville PA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be available on line as well. Each of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Harleysville PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Harleysville PA area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are additional factors that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Many electrician technical schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Harleysville PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you obtain a quality education, it may assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order 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 program. A lower completion rate could indicate that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It could also mean that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly 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 employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Harleysville PA students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Harleysville PA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Harleysville PA electrical company if they can give you some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Harleysville residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to a few of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Harleysville PA, check that the schools you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, find 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 Harleysville PA?

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

Harleysville, Pennsylvania

Harleysville is a census-designated place (CDP) in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is a suburb of Philadelphia. The population was 9,286 at the 2010 census. It is located mostly within Lower Salford Township and also in Franconia Township. Harleysville was settled by Pennsylvania Dutch in the 18th century and was named after Samuel Harley.

Route 63 (Main Street) and Route 113 (Harleysville Pike) meet in Harleysville and provide access to other routes on the main grid. Interstate 476 is a five-minute drive via 63 from Harleysville to the Lansdale Interchange, on the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Center City Philadelphia is less than 30 miles from Harleysville.

As of the 2010 census, the CDP was 90.4% Non-Hispanic White, 2.6% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American and Alaskan Native, 3.5% Asian, 0.6% were Some Other Race, and 1.2% were two or more races. 2.4% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.[3]

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Select the Ideal Electrician Technical School near Harleysville PA

Picking the ideal electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new profession. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every program offers unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you pick is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Harleysville PA.