Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Montgomeryville PA 18936

How to Become an Electrician in Montgomeryville Pennsylvania

Montgomeryville PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Montgomeryville PA. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially because there are so many factors to examine. For instance, many students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their home. When they have identified some that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though location and cost are important, they are not the only factors that must be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your final decision when picking an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in more 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 Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Montgomeryville PA

Montgomeryville PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple ways to get electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Montgomeryville PA. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you want to earn certification. Bellow are short descriptions of the three most prevalent programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to complete and are offered by Pennsylvania community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain Pennsylvania institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. For that reason, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines

Montgomeryville PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Montgomeryville PA can carry out a wide range of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally about four to five years of practical 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 her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be obtained in numerous specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes three 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 crucial that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools in Montgomeryville PA

attending electrician school online in Montgomeryville PA An alternative that you may have contemplated is selecting an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs have become more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Pretty much 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, distance learning might be a more convenient choice for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Travelling expenses from Montgomeryville PA are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line 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

Montgomeryville PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Montgomeryville PA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional factors that must be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to selecting an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Montgomeryville PA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you receive a superior education, it can assist in acquiring 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 course be accredited in order to be approved 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 or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate could signify that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It might also indicate that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which can result in 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 help Montgomeryville PA graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Montgomeryville PA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Montgomeryville PA electrical company if they can give you some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Montgomeryville residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with several of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Montgomeryville PA, confirm that the schools you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Montgomeryville PA?

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

Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania

Montgomeryville is a census-designated place (CDP) in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 12,624 at the 2010 census. Montgomeryville is about 30 miles from the center of Philadelphia. According to a 2010 Forbes magazine/Yahoo.com survey, Montgomeryville ranks 5th in America's top 10 affordable suburbs. [1] It is part of the North Penn Valley region that is centered around the borough of Lansdale.

As of the 2010 census, there were 12,624 people residing in the CDP. The racial makeup of the CDP was 77.5% White Non-Hispanic,14.6% Asian, 4.4% African American, 0.06% American Indian, 1.1% were two or more races, and 0.07% were some other race. 2.3% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.[2]

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 12,031 people, 4,114 households, and 3,278 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,521.8 people per square mile (973.8/km2). There were 4,158 housing units at an average density of 871.5/sq mi (336.6/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 87.55% White, 3.26% African American, 0.06% Native American, 7.75% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.37% of the population.

The location could not be found.

Pick the Ideal Electrical Vocational School near Montgomeryville PA

Choosing the best electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician training program that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Every program provides different possibilities for certification also. Probably the best approach to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you pick is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Montgomeryville PA.