Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Villanova PA 19085

How to Become an Electrician in Villanova Pennsylvania

Villanova PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Villanova PA. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are so many variables to consider. For example, some prospective students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have identified a few that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are significant, they are not the only factors that need to be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your final judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are available.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Villanova PA

Villanova PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to receive electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Villanova PA. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are brief explanations of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who would like to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs take two years to complete and are offered by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Pennsylvania colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be performed prior to licensing. For that reason, 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

Villanova PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Villanova PA can perform a wide range of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be obtained in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails three levels of competency:

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 imperative that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Villanova PA

attending electrician school online in Villanova PA An alternative that you may have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs have become more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, internet learning might be a more accommodating choice for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Driving expenses from Villanova PA are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be available online also. All of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Villanova PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Villanova PA area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are other factors that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to selecting an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Villanova PA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you obtain an excellent education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Also, many states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it 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 of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate could signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It might also mean that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which may result in more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Villanova PA graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Villanova PA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Villanova PA electrical contracting company if they can give you some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Villanova residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized instruction 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 see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with some of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Villanova PA, verify that the schools you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Villanova PA?

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

Villanova, Pennsylvania

Villanova is a community in the United States Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It straddles Lower Merion Township in Montgomery County and Radnor Township in Delaware County. It is located at the center of the Philadelphia Main Line, a series of highly affluent Philadelphia suburban towns located along the original east-west railroad tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad. It is served by the SEPTA Paoli/Thorndale Line regional rail train and Norristown High Speed Line.

The center of the village straddles Lancaster Pike where it intersects Spring Mill. This village center contains the area's post office for ZIP code 19085, an office building, the Wilmington Trust Company's Pennsylvania headquarters, and several smaller shops. The Royal Bank of Pennsylvania also maintains an office at this site.

The most notable feature of Villanova is Villanova University, from which the community gains its name. The university campus extends from County Line Road along Spring Mill Road south to Lancaster Pike, US Route 30, and then east to just beyond Villanova Stadium, home of the Villanova University football, men's and women's lacrosse, women's field hockey and men's and women's track teams. The university's indoor arena, the Pavilion, is home to the school's NCAA Division I 1985,2016 and 2018 national champion men's basketball teams. In addition to the undergraduate college Villanova University includes a well-recognized graduate school, a nursing school, a school of continuing studies, numerous certificate programs, and Villanova University Law School.[2]

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Find the Ideal Electrical Vocational School near Villanova PA

Choosing the best electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new career. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training program that you are examining includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every program offers different possibilities for certification also. Probably The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Villanova PA.