Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Leesport PA 19533

How to Become an Electrician in Leesport Pennsylvania

Leesport PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Leesport PA. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are so many points to examine. For instance, many potential students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their home. When they have located several that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. Although 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 final decision when choosing an electrician training 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 instructional choices that are available.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Leesport PA

Leesport PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Leesport PA. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you intend to become certified. Bellow are short explanations of the three most prevalent programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Pennsylvania vocational and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who want to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs take two years to complete and are offered by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Pennsylvania institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, many students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements

Leesport PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Leesport PA can undertake a wide range of services, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly around 4 to 5 years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be obtained in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you pick not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might need to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes in Leesport PA

attending electrician school online in Leesport PA An alternative that you may have considered is choosing an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools have become more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning might be a more convenient choice for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus many online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Travelling expenses from Leesport PA are also reduced and some of the study materials may be accessed online also. All of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Leesport PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Leesport PA area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The initial two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to choosing an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Many electrician technical schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Leesport PA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get a quality education, it may help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to qualify 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate might suggest that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It might also mean that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s also essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to use 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 trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Leesport PA grads secure apprenticeships or employment.

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

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art 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 with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Leesport PA electrical contractor if they can give you some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Leesport residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak to several of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Leesport PA, confirm that the programs you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Leesport PA?

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

Leesport, Pennsylvania

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km2), of which, 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) of it (4.00%) is water.

As of the census[5] of 2010, there were 1,918 people, 747 households, and 523 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,740 people per square mile (1,059.7/km²). There were 790 housing units at an average density of 1128.6 per square mile (436.5/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.8% White, 1.5% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 1.4% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.2% of the population.

There were 747 households, out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30% were non-families. 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.03.

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Pick the Ideal Electrical Vocational School near Leesport PA

Selecting the ideal electrical training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides unique options for certification also. Perhaps the best way to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you pick is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Leesport PA.