Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Phoenixville PA 19460

How to Become an Electrician in Phoenixville Pennsylvania

Phoenixville PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Phoenixville PA. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are a number of points to examine. For instance, some students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their home. After they have identified some that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole qualifications that should be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your final 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 training choices that are available.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Phoenixville PA

Phoenixville PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to get electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Phoenixville PA. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Bellow are brief summaries of the three most prevalent programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards those who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees take two years to complete and are offered by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Pennsylvania institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be performed before licensing. Therefore, most students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements

Phoenixville PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Phoenixville PA can undertake a wide range of duties, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly evaluate 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 identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be earned in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 3 levels of proficiency:

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 important that the electrician tech school that you select not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in Phoenixville PA

attending electrician school online in Phoenixville PA An option that you may have considered is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools have become more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more convenient alternative for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Driving expenses from Phoenixville PA are also reduced and some of the study materials can be accessed online as well. All of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Phoenixville PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Because there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Phoenixville PA area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to enrolling in an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Many electrician vocational schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Phoenixville PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you get a superior education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, some states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate might suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It may also indicate that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which may mean more contacts for the school to utilize 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 trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Phoenixville PA grads secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools 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 partnerships with Phoenixville PA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Phoenixville PA electrical company if they can give you some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Phoenixville residence. Take note 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 important that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with several of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Phoenixville PA, check that the programs you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Phoenixville PA?

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

Phoenixville, Pennsylvania

Phoenixville is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States, 28 miles (45 km) northwest of Philadelphia, at the junction of French Creek with the Schuylkill River. It is located in the Philadelphia Metro Area. The population is 16,440 as of the 2010 Census.[4]

Originally called Manavon, Phoenixville was settled in 1732 and incorporated as a borough in 1849. In its industrial heyday early in the twentieth century, it was an important manufacturing center and it was the site of great iron and steel mills such as the Phoenix Iron Works, boiler works, silk mill, underwear and hosiery factories, a match factory, and the famous (and now highly collectible) Etruscan majolica pottery. Like many American towns and cities, Phoenixville owes its growth to its waterways. It is not only situated on the broad Schuylkill River, a historic thoroughfare to Native Americans and early settlers alike, but it is bisected by the fast-flowing French Creek, which was quickly harnessed for water power.

Much of this history was recognized by the creation of the Phoenixville Historic District, the largest National Register of Historic Places site in Chester County. The Black Rock Bridge, Gay Street School, and Schuylkill Navigation Canal, Oakes Reach Section are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[5]

The location could not be found.

Find the Ideal Electrician Trade School near Phoenixville PA

Selecting the best electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a must that any electrician training that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you select is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Phoenixville PA.