Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Haverford PA 19041

How to Become an Electrician in Haverford Pennsylvania

Haverford PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Haverford PA. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are so many factors to examine. For example, many students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have found a few that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the only factors that should be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your final judgment when picking an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional choices that are available.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Haverford PA

Haverford PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near Haverford PA. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Frequently these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are short descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards those who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to finish and are provided by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Pennsylvania colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out before licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Guidelines

Haverford PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Haverford PA can undertake a wide range of services, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally around 4 to 5 years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be earned in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually 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 vocational school that you select not only furnishes a strong 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 Programs in Haverford PA

attending electrician school online in Haverford PA A possibility that you may have considered is selecting an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning might be a more convenient option for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Commuting expenses from Haverford PA are also lessened and some of the study materials may be available on line also. All of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Haverford PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Haverford PA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional factors that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. Many electrician technical programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Haverford PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you acquire a superior education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, some states require 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 complete the course. A low completion rate might suggest that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It may also mean that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s also imperative 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 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 Haverford PA students obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Haverford PA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional 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 using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Haverford PA electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Haverford home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one training 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 see how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to a few of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Haverford PA, confirm that the programs you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Haverford PA?

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

Haverford, Pennsylvania

Haverford is an unincorporated community located in both Haverford Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, US, and Lower Merion Township in Montgomery County, about 10 miles (16 km) west of Philadelphia. It is on the Main Line, which is known historically for its wealth. As of August 2009, the average home price in the Haverford ZIP Code 19041 was $849,000. ZIP Code 19041 borders the unincorporated portion of Haverford Township called "Havertown," as well as the unincorporated communities of Bryn Mawr, Gladwyne, Ardmore, Wynnewood, and a small portion of Broomall. Haverford's name is derived from the name of the town of Haverfordwest in Wales, UK.[2][3] Today, Haverford is most notable for being the site of Haverford College and one of the United States' oldest country clubs, the Merion Cricket Club. The town is connected to central Philadelphia by the Paoli/Thorndale Line commuter rail system and Norristown High Speed Line.

Alexander Johnson Cassatt 1839–1906 His friends and neighbors hereby record their grateful appreciation of many years given to generous interest in the welfare of Lower Merion Township and to the intelligent supervision of the public roads. 1910

The location could not be found.

Enroll in the Right Electrician Vocational School near Haverford PA

Selecting the right electrician trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Every program offers different options for certification also. Probably the best means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Haverford PA.