Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Wayne PA 19080

How to Become an Electrician in Wayne Pennsylvania

Wayne 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 Wayne PA. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are so many points to consider. For instance, many prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their home. When they have identified several that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole qualifications that must be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your final decision when choosing an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional choices that are available.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Wayne PA

Wayne PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Wayne PA. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. In many cases these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are short explanations of the three most common programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees take two years to complete and are provided by Pennsylvania 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 previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Pennsylvania institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed before licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines

Wayne PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Wayne PA can undertake a vast array of functions, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly test general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be earned in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician tech school that you select not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Programs Online in Wayne PA

attending electrician school online in Wayne PA A possibility that you may have contemplated is choosing an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning can be a more practical choice for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Driving expenses from Wayne PA are also lessened and some of the study materials may be accessed online as well. All of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Wayne PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Wayne PA region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we mentioned 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 important when making your selection, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess prior to choosing an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Wayne PA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you receive a superior education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, many states mandate that the electrician training course 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 percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate could signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It may also signify that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Wayne PA students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with Wayne PA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Wayne PA electrical contractor if they can give you some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Wayne home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be increased tuition charges 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 monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Speak with several of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Wayne PA, check that the programs you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select allows 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 Wayne PA?

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

Wayne, Pennsylvania

Wayne is an unincorporated community centered in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, on the Main Line, a series of highly affluent Philadelphia suburban villages located along the railroad tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad. While the center of Wayne is in Radnor Township, Wayne extends into both Tredyffrin Township in Chester County and Upper Merion Township in Montgomery County. The center of Wayne was designated the Downtown Wayne Historic District in 2012.[1] Considering the large area served by the Wayne post office, the community may extend slightly into Easttown Township, Chester County, as well.

The center of the Wayne business district is the intersection of Lancaster Avenue and Wayne Avenue, its main street. The historic Wayne station is located one block north of this intersection. The Wayne business district also includes a post office, a cinema, a hotel, a library, the new Radnor Middle School, and several banks, stores, restaurants, cafes, bars and other commercial establishments. Other institutions and attractions in Wayne include the Wayne Hotel, Chanticleer Garden, the Valley Forge Military Academy and College (with a monument from the Battle of the Bulge located by the parade ground) and the headquarters of Traffic Pulse (NAVTEQ Traffic), a world wide traffic information provider.

Wayne's development began when a railroad stop called Cleaver's Landing was established. It was renamed Wayne Station after General Anthony Wayne. Parcels in the area totaling 293 acres (1.19 km2) were bought by banker J.H. Askin, where he built a mansion named "Louella" after his daughters Louisa and Ella. "Louella" was described as an 8 room stone building with a large porch overlooking manicured lawn.[2] His and surrounding land were bought in 1880 by banker A.J. Drexel and newspaper editor G.W. Childs, to form a larger development they called Wayne Estate.[3] More homes and a hotel were then built. In a brochure from 1887 about their development they noted they had provided Wayne with "water, light and drainage — the three great conveniences of a large city — by the most approved modern methods." They described Wayne Estate as follows:

The location could not be found.

Pick the Right Electrician Tech School near Wayne PA

Choosing the right electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every training program offers unique options for certification as well. Perhaps the best means to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Invest some time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you pick is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Wayne PA.