Find Electrician Schools Near Me in New Hope PA 18938

How to Become an Electrician in New Hope Pennsylvania

New Hope PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near New Hope PA. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are a number of factors to examine. For instance, some prospective students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their home. When they have located several that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the sole qualifications that should be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your final judgment when choosing an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are available.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near New Hope PA

New Hope PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general approaches to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near New Hope PA. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are short explanations of the three most typical programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards those who wish to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require 2 years to finish and are provided by Pennsylvania community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Pennsylvania institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. For that reason, most students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites

New Hope PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in New Hope PA can perform a multitude of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about four to five years of prior experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually assess general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be acquired in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might need to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Programs in New Hope PA

attending electrician school online in New Hope PA A possibility that you might have contemplated is choosing an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, internet learning may be a more convenient option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Travelling costs from New Hope PA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be accessed on line also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

New Hope PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When 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 vocational and trade schools in the New Hope PA area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are other factors that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to selecting an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Many electrician trade programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the New Hope PA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain a superior education, it can help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate may suggest that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It may also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help New Hope PA grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with New Hope PA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain 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 presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local New Hope PA electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your New Hope home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with some of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise 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 fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near New Hope PA, verify that the programs you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, 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 New Hope PA?

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

New Hope, Pennsylvania

New Hope is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,528 at the 2010 census. New Hope is located approximately 40 mi (64 km) north of Philadelphia, and lies on the west bank of the Delaware River at its confluence with Aquetong Creek. The two-lane New Hope – Lambertville Bridge carries automobile and foot traffic across the Delaware to Lambertville, New Jersey on the east bank.

New Hope is located along the route of the Old York Road, the former main highway between Philadelphia and New York City. It was generally regarded as the halfway point, where travelers would stay overnight and be ferried across the Delaware River the next morning. The section of U.S. Route 202 that passes just north of New Hope is still named York Road, and the original route is now known as Bridge Street (PA 179).

New Hope was first called "Coryell's Ferry", after the owner of the ferry business. The current name came into use following a fire in 1790 that destroyed several mills in the area; their reconstruction was considered a "new hope".

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Choose the Ideal Electrical Vocational School near New Hope PA

Choosing the ideal electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world perspective, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Each training program offers different possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you pick is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in New Hope PA.