Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Glenside PA 19038

How to Become an Electrician in Glenside Pennsylvania

Glenside 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 Glenside PA. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are so many factors to consider. For example, some potential students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have found a few that are within commuting range, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. Even though cost and location are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that should be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your final decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are available.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Glenside PA

Glenside PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Glenside PA. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Frequently these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are brief explanations of the three most common programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards students who wish to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require two years to complete and are offered by Pennsylvania community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Pennsylvania colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines

Glenside PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Glenside PA can carry out a vast array of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in several specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process 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 tech school that you choose not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Schools in Glenside PA

attending electrician school online in Glenside PA An option that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning can be a more convenient alternative for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Commuting costs from Glenside PA are also reduced and some of the study materials can be accessed on line also. All of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Glenside PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Glenside PA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The first 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 an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are other factors that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Glenside PA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you receive an excellent education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate could suggest that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It might also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which may mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Glenside PA students secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of 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 electrician businesses or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Glenside PA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Glenside PA electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Glenside residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to several of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Glenside PA, verify that the programs you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Glenside PA?

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

Glenside, Pennsylvania

Glenside is a census-designated place (CDP) bordering Northwest Philadelphia in Abington, and Cheltenham townships, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,384 at the 2010 census on a land area of only 1.3 square miles. The Glenside station is one of the busiest in the SEPTA system. Glenside is located about 6 miles from Center City Philadelphia.

Glenside is bordered to the South by the West Oak Lane and Cedarbrook neighborhoods of Philadelphia, the East and West by the Cheltenham neighborhoods of Edge Hill, Laverock, and Wyncote, and to the North by the Abington neighborhoods of Ardsley and Abington.

Glenside is split into two townships: Abington Township, and Cheltenham Township, with the latter being where the majority of Glenside is located, including the United States Post Office, Glenside Library, and Glenside Memorial Hall.

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Enroll in the Right Electrical Vocational School near Glenside PA

Picking the best electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are many things that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical training that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world perspective, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs 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 serve your needs. Each training program offers different possibilities for certification also. Probably The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you choose is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Glenside PA.