Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Oxford PA 19363

How to Become an Electrician in Oxford Pennsylvania

Oxford PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Oxford PA. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are so many points to evaluate. For example, some students will start by looking for schools that are close to their home. When they have found several that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are significant, they are not the only qualifications that need to be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your final judgment when picking an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Oxford PA

Oxford PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Oxford PA. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Frequently these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are brief descriptions of the three most common programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who want to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees take two years to complete and are provided by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Pennsylvania institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed before licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Guidelines

Oxford PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Oxford PA can perform a multitude of duties, such as 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 become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about four to five years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be acquired in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases entails 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Schools Online in Oxford PA

attending electrician school online in Oxford PA A possibility that you might have looked at is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, distance learning may be a more accommodating choice for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Travelling expenses from Oxford PA are also minimized and some of the study materials can be accessed on line also. Each of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Oxford PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Oxford PA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are other factors that must be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to choosing an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Many electrician technical programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Oxford PA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, many states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools 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 course. A lower completion rate might indicate that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It could also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, 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 confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Oxford PA graduates acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician vocational programs are taught together 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 contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Oxford PA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm 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, consult with the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Oxford PA electrical contracting company if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Oxford residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with a few of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Oxford PA, verify 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 allows part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Oxford PA?

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

Oxford, Pennsylvania

Oxford is located near the half-way point on the main road from Philadelphia to Baltimore. The owner of the stage between the two cities purchased Hood's Tavern and renamed it Oxford Hotel. It became the stopping point on the two-day trip between the two cities.

The northern half of Oxford was owned by the Dickey family in the 19th century. The Dickeys included the local Presbyterian minister, the Mr O'Malley of the local bank, a state Representative, and local businessmen. Reverend John Miller Dickey and his wife Sarah Emlen Cresson founded Ashmun Institute in 1854, and which later became Lincoln University. The family played a major role in re-routing the new Philadelphia and Baltimore Central Railroad (P&BC) through Oxford. Track was laid in the 1850s. The railroad reached Oxford in 1860 and later connected to Philadelphia and Baltimore.[4] By the time of the Civil War, Oxford was a bustling community. The business district on Third Street was entirely re-built at this time, including the Oxford Hotel (1858) and Oxford Hall (1862). Oxford became known for its confectionery and candy businesses and was the location of many manufacturing facilities. A second railroad, the Peach Bottom Railway, was built in the 1870s from Oxford to Peach Bottom. It carried farm products and passengers but was not profitable. It struggled through three bankruptcies and reorganized as the Lancaster, Oxford and Southern Railway, finally closing permanently in 1918.[5]

The Pennsylvania Railroad took control of the P&BC on the eve of World War I. Passenger train service on the line ended in 1935.[6] In the late 20th century, transportation changes resulted in Oxford being located off the main roads. A bypass was constructed for U.S. Route 1 in the late 1960s,[7] but the major change was the 1963 opening of Interstate 95, which shifted the bulk of the Philadelphia-Baltimore traffic away from Oxford. The former Pennsylvania Railroad Station is now the borough hall.[8]

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Enroll in the Right Electrician Tech School near Oxford PA

Selecting the right electrician trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every program provides different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best way to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you decide on is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Oxford PA.