Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Blandon PA 19510

How to Become an Electrician in Blandon Pennsylvania

Blandon PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Blandon PA. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are a number of variables to consider. For instance, some potential students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their residence. After they have identified some that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the only things that should be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will cover 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 accessible.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Blandon PA

Blandon PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to obtain electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Blandon PA. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are brief explanations of the three most typical programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve two years to finish and are provided by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Pennsylvania colleges, but are less preferred at four 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 performed prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria

Blandon PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Blandon PA can undertake a vast array of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly around 4 to 5 years of experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be obtained in numerous specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves 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 imperative that the electrician tech school that you choose not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might need to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Schools Online in Blandon PA

attending electrician school online in Blandon PA An alternative that you might have contemplated is choosing an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, distance learning may be a more practical option for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Travelling costs from Blandon PA are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be available on line also. All of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Blandon PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Because there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Blandon PA area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess before selecting an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have earned 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, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Blandon PA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you get a quality education, it may assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate might signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It might also signify that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have high 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 use 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 additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Blandon PA grads secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician technical programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Blandon PA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus 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 technician you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Blandon PA electrical company if they can provide some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Blandon home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to several of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Blandon PA, check that the schools you are looking at provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Blandon PA?

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

Blandon, Pennsylvania

Blandon is a census-designated place[2] in Maidencreek Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located at the junction of Pennsylvania Route 73 and Park Road. As of the 2010 census, the population was 7,152 residents.[3] Third Rail bar and restaurant is located in Blandon.[4]

A post office called Blandon has been in operation since 1862.[5] Sources differ whether the community was named for H. Willis Bland,[6] a county judge, or for Robert Bland,[7] an original owner of the town site.

The location could not be found.

Enroll in the Ideal Electrical Trade School near Blandon PA

Selecting the ideal electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have discussed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training program that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides different options for certification as well. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you pick is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Blandon PA.