Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Trexlertown PA 18087

How to Become an Electrician in Trexlertown Pennsylvania

Trexlertown PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Trexlertown PA. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are a number of variables to evaluate. For example, many potential students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their home. Once they have found a few that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the only qualifications that need to be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your final judgment when picking an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are accessible.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Trexlertown PA

Trexlertown PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple ways to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Trexlertown PA. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are brief summaries of the 3 most common programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Pennsylvania vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards those who would like to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees take 2 years to complete and are provided by Pennsylvania community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Pennsylvania colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, many students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria

Trexlertown PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Trexlertown PA can carry out a multitude of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around 4 to 5 years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be earned in many specializations, 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 agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you choose not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Programs in Trexlertown PA

attending electrician school online in Trexlertown PA An alternative that you may have looked at is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning may be a more convenient choice for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Commuting costs from Trexlertown PA are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be available online as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Trexlertown PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Because there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Trexlertown PA area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are other factors that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze before enrolling in an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Trexlertown PA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you receive an excellent education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, 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 reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate could indicate that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It might also mean that the instructors 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 more extensive directory of graduates, which may mean more contacts for the school to employ 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 assist Trexlertown PA students obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical companies or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Trexlertown PA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Trexlertown PA electrical company if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Trexlertown home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak to several of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Trexlertown PA, verify that the schools you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Trexlertown PA?

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

Trexlertown, Pennsylvania

Trexlertown (also Trexlerstown[1]) is a census-designated place in Upper Macungie Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States. It lies in the Lehigh Valley between Breinigsville and Wescosville. As of the 2010 census the population was 1,988 residents.

Jeremiah Trexler obtained land adjoining that of his father in Upper Macungie Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where he kept a tavern as early as in 1732. In 1734 a road was laid out from his tavern through North Wales in now Montgomery County to Philadelphia. As was the custom of the time, a village grew around the tavern, which came to be known as Trexlertown.[2]

The location could not be found.

Enroll in the Right Electrical Tech School near Trexlertown PA

Selecting the ideal electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are several things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every training program offers unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you select is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Trexlertown PA.