Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Newtown Square PA 19073

How to Become an Electrician in Newtown Square Pennsylvania

Newtown Square PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Newtown Square PA. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are so many factors to consider. For example, many students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have identified some that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are significant, they are not the only things that must be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate decision when picking an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Newtown Square PA

Newtown Square PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Newtown Square PA. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Often these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you want to earn certification. Bellow are brief summaries of the three most typical programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards those who wish to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require 2 years to complete and are offered by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Pennsylvania institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be performed prior to licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites

Newtown Square PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Newtown Square PA can undertake a wide range of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around four to five years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be obtained in various specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you pick not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online in Newtown Square PA

attending electrician school online in Newtown Square PA An option that you may have contemplated is choosing an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning can be a more convenient choice for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Driving expenses from Newtown Square PA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be available on line also. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Newtown Square PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Newtown Square PA region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The initial two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are other factors that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to selecting an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Many electrician trade programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Newtown Square PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you acquire a superior education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It might also mean that the teachers were not qualified 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 mean more contacts for the school to utilize 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 also that it has the network of contacts to assist Newtown Square PA students secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Newtown Square PA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently 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 Newtown Square PA electrical company if they can give you some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Newtown Square residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with some of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Newtown Square PA, check that the programs you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Newtown Square PA?

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

Newtown Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania

The first mention of the township was in 1684, when Thomas Norbury and John Humphrey were appointed collectors of the "Levie for the cort house and Prison for ye Township of Newtowne".[4] Newtown Square was the name used for the townstead with the majority of early settlers being Welshmen. These Welsh "Friends" (Quakers) needed a road to facilitate their journey to meeting, the only established road at the time being Newtown Street Road, which ran north and south. As such, in 1687, an east-west road was laid out (Goshen Road) so the Friends could attend either Goshen or the Haverford Friends Meeting. By 1696, these friends had become numerous enough to hold their own meeting in Newtown and continued to meet in a private home until the completion of the Newtown Square Friends Meetinghouse in 1711. In the 18th century, Newtown was basically a farming community. Blacksmith and wheelwright shops emerged on the main arteries to service horse and buggy travelers. Taverns and inns were also opened to accommodate local patrons as well as drovers taking their livestock to the markets in Philadelphia.

During the Revolutionary War, Newtown township was visited several times by foraging parties of the British Army. On Goshen Road, west of Newtown Square, were the outpost and headquarters of General Potter.[5]

During the 19th century a number of mills sprang up along Crum Creek (the western border) and Darby Creek (in the northeast corner of the Township). These included saw mills, paper mills, shingle mills, and a woolen factory. In the Darby Creek area a number of tenement houses were built as well as a general store to service the needs of the mill workers.

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Select the Ideal Electrical Trade School near Newtown Square PA

Selecting the best electrician training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are many factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world context, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each program provides different options for certification also. Perhaps The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you select is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Newtown Square PA.