Find Electrician Schools Near Me in King of Prussia PA 19406

How to Become an Electrician in King of Prussia Pennsylvania

King of Prussia PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near King of Prussia PA. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are so many factors to consider. For example, many prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their home. Once they have found some that are within driving range, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole qualifications that must be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are available.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near King of Prussia PA

King of Prussia PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple options to get electrician training in a technical or vocational school near King of Prussia PA. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. In many cases these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Bellow are brief explanations of the three most prevalent programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who wish to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require two years to finish and are provided by Pennsylvania community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some Pennsylvania colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed before licensing. Because of that, many students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites

King of Prussia PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in King of Prussia PA can perform a vast array of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about four to five years of practical experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be earned in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician tech school that you choose not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Programs Online in King of Prussia PA

attending electrician school online in King of Prussia PA An alternative that you might have contemplated is choosing an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools have become more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning may be a more accommodating alternative for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Driving costs from King of Prussia PA are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be accessed online also. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

King of Prussia PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Because there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the King of Prussia PA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are additional factors that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research before enrolling in an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the King of Prussia PA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you get a quality education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, some states require 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 considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate may suggest that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It may also mean that the instructors were not competent 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 graduates, which may result in 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 an excellent reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist King of Prussia PA graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with King of Prussia PA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment 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 on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local King of Prussia PA electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your King of Prussia residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with several of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near King of Prussia PA, confirm that the schools you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near King of Prussia PA?

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

King of Prussia, Pennsylvania

King of Prussia (also referred to as KOP)[3] is a census-designated place in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 19,936. The community took its name in the 18th century from a local tavern named the King of Prussia Inn, which was named after King Frederick the Great of Prussia. Like the rest of Montgomery County, King of Prussia continues to experience rapid development. The largest shopping mall in the United States, King of Prussia, is located here. Also located here is the headquarters of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region I. King of Prussia is considered to be an edge city of Philadelphia, consisting of large amounts of retail and office space situated at the convergence of four highways.

The eponymous King of Prussia Inn was originally constructed as a cottage in 1719 by the Welsh Quakers William and Janet Rees, founders of Reesville. The cottage was converted to an inn in 1769 and did a steady business in colonial times as it was approximately a day's travel by horse from Philadelphia. Settlers headed west to Ohio would sleep at the inn on their first night on the road. In 1774 the Rees family hired James Berry to manage the inn, which henceforth became known as "Berry's Tavern". General George Washington first visited the tavern on Thanksgiving Day in 1777 while the Continental Army was encamped at Whitemarsh; a few weeks later Washington and the army bivouacked at nearby Valley Forge.[4]

Parker's spy map,[5] created by a Tory sympathizer of the Kingdom of Great Britain, listed the inn as "Berry's" in 1777, but a local petition in 1786 identified it as the "King of Prussia". It was possibly renamed in honor of Benjamin Franklin's pro-American satirical essay "An Edict by the King of Prussia".[6] At some point a wooden signboard of the inn depicted King Frederick II (Frederick the Great) of Prussia. The inn is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[7]

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Choose the Right Electrical Trade School near King of Prussia PA

Choosing the best electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Every training program offers different options for certification as well. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you select is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in King of Prussia PA.