Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Havertown PA 19083

How to Become an Electrician in Havertown Pennsylvania

Havertown PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Havertown PA. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are so many variables to examine. For instance, some prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their home. When they have identified some that are within commuting range, they will decide on the one with the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the only factors that must be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are accessible.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Havertown PA

Havertown PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several approaches to get electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Havertown PA. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are short summaries of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards students who want to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require 2 years to complete and are provided by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Pennsylvania institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed before licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Criteria

Havertown PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Havertown PA can carry out a vast array of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with 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 usually about 4 to 5 years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be obtained in numerous specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Programs in Havertown PA

attending electrician school online in Havertown PA An option that you might have looked at is choosing an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Pretty much 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 can be a more convenient option for students that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Travelling costs from Havertown PA are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Havertown PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Because there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Havertown PA area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are additional factors that need to be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to enrolling in an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical schools have attained 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 an individual program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Havertown 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 obtain a superior education, it may assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, some states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it 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 program. A low completion rate could indicate that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It might also indicate 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 directory of graduates, which may 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 a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Havertown PA students acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician training programs are taught in conjunction 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. Find out if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Havertown PA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school 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 tech you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Havertown PA electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Havertown home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much individualized 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 instructors and students. Speak to several of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure 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 Havertown PA, verify that the programs you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Havertown PA?

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

Havertown, Pennsylvania

Havertown is a residential suburban unincorporated community in Haverford Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, approximately 9 miles west of the center of Philadelphia. Havertown's ZIP Code is 19083. "Havertown" is a postal address. The name "Havertown" does not appear until the advent of the ZIP Code. Prior to the ZIP Code each community was known by its local name: Brookline, Penfield, Beechwood, Llanerch, Manoa, Oakmont, Coopertown, Ardmore. Under William Penn's land divisions these communities were part of the Welsh Tract and comprised the area known as Harford, a Welsh contraction of Haverford.[1]

Haverford Township was founded by Welsh Quakers in 1681 on land purchased by William Penn. The town is home to many historic sites, such as the Grange Estate, a mansion that entertained the Revolutionary War figures George Washington and General Lafayette. Nitre Hall, also located within the town’s borders, supplied the United States with over 800,000 pounds of gunpowder during the War of 1812. Other Havertown sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places include the Federal School and Lawrence Cabin. The namesake of Haverford and Havertown is Haverfordwest, Wales, UK.

Prior to the First World War Haverford was a township of extensive farms. Property maps in 1862 indicate that the landowners were descendants of the same families that arrived with William Penn: among them, the Lawrences, the Ellis’, the Humphreys and the Lewis’. By 1902 the maps indicate a significant change in land ownership. Most of the old family names no longer appear. Llanerch appears as a small community with numbered streets. Darby Road is called Coopertown Road. The “Chester County” rail line makes its appearance. This rail line, now removed, served Boyle Fuel, Lobb Lumber and the Swell Bubble Gum factory up until the 1960’s. (See Map)

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Enroll in the Ideal Electrician Trade School near Havertown PA

Choosing the ideal electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the type of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Every program offers unique options for certification as well. Probably The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you pick is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Havertown PA.