Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Drexel Hill PA 19026

How to Become an Electrician in Drexel Hill Pennsylvania

Drexel Hill PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Drexel Hill PA. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are a number of factors to examine. For example, many prospective students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their home. When they have identified a few that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. While location and cost are important, they are not the only things that must be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are accessible.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Drexel Hill PA

Drexel Hill PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple approaches to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Drexel Hill PA. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three options. In many cases these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.

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

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Pennsylvania institutions, but are less popular 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 carried out before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Criteria

Drexel Hill PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Drexel Hill PA can perform a multitude of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally around 4 to 5 years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be acquired in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails 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 vocational school that you choose not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may need to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Training Classes Online in Drexel Hill PA

attending electrician school online in Drexel Hill PA A possibility that you might have looked at is selecting an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for 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, distance learning might be a more accommodating choice for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Travelling costs from Drexel Hill PA are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be available on line as well. All of these advantages can make electrician online vocational 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

Drexel Hill PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Drexel Hill PA region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional variables that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Drexel Hill PA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Also, many 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 considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate could signify that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It may also indicate that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to utilize 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 field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Drexel Hill PA grads secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training 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 electrician companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Drexel Hill 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 form relationships in the local 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 working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Drexel Hill PA electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Drexel Hill home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might 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 couple of the classes so that you can see how big 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 some of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Drexel Hill PA, check that the programs you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Drexel Hill PA?

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

Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania

Drexel Hill is a census-designated place (CDP) largely located in Upper Darby, with a small section (Pilgrim Gardens) located in Haverford Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. Drexel Hill is located 7 miles (11 km) west of Center City, Philadelphia, and is part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The population was 28,043 at the 2010 census,[1] down from 29,364 at the 2000 census.

Drexel Hill is located in the western part of Upper Darby Township at 39°57′00″N 75°18′7″W / 39.95000°N 75.30194°W / 39.95000; -75.30194 (39.949962, -75.301841).[2] The CDP is bordered to the north by Haverford Township, to the east by the Kirklyn, Highland Park, Beverly Hills, and Bywood neighborhoods of Upper Darby, to the southeast by the borough of Lansdowne, to the south by the borough of Clifton Heights and the Westbrook Park neighborhood of Upper Darby, and to the southwest by Springfield Township.[3]Darby Creek forms the southwestern/southern border of the CDP. U.S. Route 1 (Township Line Road) runs through the northwest corner of the CDP and forms most of its northern border with Haverford Township.

The Lower Swedish Cabin on Creek Avenue alongside Darby Creek is possibly the oldest log house in North America. The cabin is believed to have been built by early Swedish settlers who were part of the New Sweden colony. The cabin was most likely built between 1638 and 1655, but the exact year is not known. Log cabin architecture was a major contribution of the colonial Swedes. European settlers from other countries copied this style of housing, and the log cabin became popular all across America.[4]

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Select the Right Electrical Trade School near Drexel Hill PA

Selecting the right electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every training program provides different options for certification also. Probably The ideal approach to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you choose is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Drexel Hill PA.