Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Ambler PA 19002

How to Become an Electrician in Ambler Pennsylvania

Ambler PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Ambler PA. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are a number of factors to consider. For example, some prospective students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have located some that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though location and cost are of importance, they are not the only things that need to be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your final decision when picking an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Ambler PA

Ambler PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general options to receive electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Ambler PA. You can choose a certificate or diploma 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. Frequently these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are brief explanations of the 3 most prevalent programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees take 2 years to complete and are provided by Pennsylvania community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain Pennsylvania institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Criteria

Ambler PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Ambler PA can undertake a vast array of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about four to five years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be obtained in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases includes three levels of competency:

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 crucial that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Training Classes Online in Ambler PA

attending electrician school online in Ambler PA An alternative that you may have looked at is selecting an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning may be a more convenient option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Commuting costs from Ambler PA are also minimized and some of the study materials may be available on line as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Ambler 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 school options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Ambler PA region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are other factors that must be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze before selecting an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Many electrician trade programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Ambler PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, many states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved 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 lower completion rate might indicate that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It may also suggest that the teachers 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 broader list of alumni, which can result in 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 an excellent reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Ambler PA students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Ambler PA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Ambler PA electrical company if they can give you some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Ambler residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be higher 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 difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Speak with a few of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Ambler PA, confirm that the schools you are considering provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Ambler PA?

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

Ambler, Pennsylvania

The historical territory of the Lenni Lenape was in the Delaware River Valley, in an area reaching from Cape Henlopen, Delaware, northward towards the lower Hudson Valley in southern New York. The area towards the south, including what is now Philadelphia and nearby Ambler, was the home of a linguistic group called the Unami.[4] According to tradition, the Lenape established a peace treaty in with Quaker William Penn in the 1680s.[5]

William and George Harmer are listed among the Quakers who emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1682.[6] In 1716, William and George Harmer purchased a 408-acre tract from William Penn, an area including most of what now is Ambler Borough.[7] They are credited as the first landholders to actually settle in the area.[8] William Harmer built a grist mill powered by the Wissahickon Creek, "the first commercial venture in the Ambler area".[9] He also built a stone dwelling with casement windows and diamond shaped leaded glass, near what is now the intersection of Butler Pike and Morris Road. After his death in 1731, the house, mill, and property were sold to Morris Morris and his wife Susanna Heath Morris.[9]

Residents sought permission from the Crown to build roads in the area. The first road built in Ambler, now known as Mt. Pleasant Avenue, was confirmed in 1730. It went from Harmer's Mill to the North Wales Road (now Bethlehem Pike).[7] Butler Pike was created in 1739, and went through the town, which was known at that time as the Village of Wissahickon, after the Wissahickon Creek.[10]:7

The location could not be found.

Enroll in the Right Electrical Trade School near Ambler PA

Picking the ideal electrical 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 many factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrical tech school that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each program offers different options for certification also. Perhaps the best way to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Take the time to sit in on 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 occupation as a professional electrician in Ambler PA.