Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Exton PA 19341

How to Become an Electrician in Exton Pennsylvania

Exton PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Exton PA. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are so many points to examine. For instance, many prospective students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have identified a few that are within driving distance, they will decide on the one with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are of importance, they are not the only factors that need to be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your ultimate judgment when selecting 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 being an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Exton PA

Exton PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several approaches to obtain electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Exton PA. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are short explanations of the three most prevalent programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Pennsylvania vocational and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who want to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees take two years to finish and are offered by Pennsylvania community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Pennsylvania colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed before licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements

Exton PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Exton PA can perform a wide range of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of experience is called for 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 a voluntary means for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be acquired in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you select not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Programs in Exton PA

attending electrician school online in Exton PA An alternative that you might have considered is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools have become more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more accommodating alternative for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Travelling expenses from Exton PA are also minimized and some of the study materials can be available on line as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Exton PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Since there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Exton PA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are additional factors that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to selecting an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Exton 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. In addition to helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it may assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, many states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order to qualify 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 percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate could indicate that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It could also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to instruct 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 affirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Exton PA grads secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician training 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 inside their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Exton PA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school 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 specialist you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Exton PA electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Exton residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with a few of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Exton PA, confirm that the schools you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Exton PA?

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

Exton, Pennsylvania

Exton is a census-designated place (CDP) in West Whiteland Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. Its population was 4,842 at the 2010 census. The Exton Square Mall and Main Street at Exton are both located within Exton along with several other shopping centers, making Exton the major shopping district in Chester County.

Exton lies at the intersection of U.S. Route 30 (formerly the Lancaster Road, and later the Lincoln Highway) and Pennsylvania Route 100 (Pottstown Pike). Beginning in the late 18th century, the Lancaster Road became a major transportation route between Philadelphia and the west, while what is now Route 100 was a regional north-south route to Pottstown. A theory exists that Exton was named as the "X" on the map, denoting this intersection, though more likely the village was named after one of the several Extons in the United Kingdom.

In the late 1940s, Exton became home to the Newcomen Society of the United States. The campus of the learned society was built overlooking farmland on Newcomen Road, and featured offices, a printing shop, library and museum, guest houses, a chapel and a belltower with a carillon. The Newcomen Society (since dissolved) sold the property in the late 1990s, but its campus remains an Exton landmark serving as the headquarters of another business.

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Select the Right Electrician Technical School near Exton PA

Picking the ideal electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrician training that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every training program provides different options for certification also. Probably the best means to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Exton PA.