Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Prospect Park PA 19076

How to Become an Electrician in Prospect Park Pennsylvania

Prospect Park PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Prospect Park 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 a number of points to examine. For example, some potential students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their home. After they have found some that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the sole things that need to be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should influence your final judgment when choosing an electrician school. We will address 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 educational options that are offered.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Prospect Park PA

Prospect Park PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general options to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Prospect Park PA. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Frequently these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are short explanations of the 3 most common programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Pennsylvania vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve two years to complete and are offered by Pennsylvania community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Pennsylvania institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be performed prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria

Prospect Park PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Prospect Park PA can perform a vast array of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about four to five years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be acquired in numerous specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails 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 crucial that the electrician vocational school that you select not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Schools Online in Prospect Park PA

attending electrician school online in Prospect Park PA A possibility that you may have considered is choosing an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning might be a more practical option for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Travelling costs from Prospect Park PA are also reduced and some of the study materials can be available on line also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Prospect Park PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Because there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Prospect Park PA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional factors that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Many electrician vocational schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Prospect Park PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you get an excellent education, it can help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify 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 percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate might signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It may also suggest that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which may mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Prospect Park PA grads secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most 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 within their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Prospect Park PA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus 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 presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Prospect Park PA electrical company if they can give you some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Prospect Park residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with some of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with some of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Prospect Park PA, confirm that the schools you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Prospect Park PA?

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

Pennsylvania Route 420

Pennsylvania Route 420 (PA 420) is a north–south state highway in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The route runs 5.6 miles (9.0 km) from PA 291 in Tinicum Township, a short distance west of the Philadelphia International Airport, northwest to PA 320 in Springfield Township. PA 420 runs through suburban areas, passing through Prospect Park, Folsom, and Morton. The route interchanges with Interstate 95 (I-95) in Tinicum Township and intersects U.S. Route 13 (US 13) in Prospect Park. PA 420 was first designated by 1928 to run from PA 191 at the intersection of 84th Street and Bartram Avenue in Philadelphia to PA 320 in Springfield. By 1950, the southern terminus was moved to its current location at PA 291.

PA 420 begins at an intersection with PA 291 in Tinicum Township, Delaware County, heading north on four-lane divided Wanamaker Avenue. South of here, Wanamaker Avenue continues south as an unnumbered road into the community of Essington toward the Delaware River. From PA 291, the route passes near businesses and comes to a cloverleaf interchange with I-95, where it curves to the north-northwest. Past this interchange, the road heads through wooded areas within the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum before crossing the Darby Creek into the borough of Prospect Park. Here, PA 420 curves north and becomes four-lane undivided Lincoln Avenue, heading into residential areas. The route turns north-northwest again and intersects US 13 near businesses. The road narrows to two lanes and passes more homes and businesses, running through the downtown of Prospect Park. PA 420 comes to a bridge under Amtrak's Northeast Corridor near the Prospect Park station serving SEPTA's Wilmington/Newark Line before it runs past more homes. The route crosses under CSX's Philadelphia Subdivision, at which point it enters Ridley Township and becomes Kedron Avenue.[2][3]

The road runs into business areas and crosses MacDade Boulevard in the community of Folsom. PA 420 continues through suburban development, curving to the northwest and passing near more residential neighborhoods. The route continues into the borough of Morton, where it passes businesses. PA 420 becomes Woodland Avenue as it intersects Morton Avenue immediately before a grade crossing with SEPTA's Media/Elwyn Line near the Morton station. Past this, the road heads through commercial development with some homes to the northeast, continuing into Springfield Township. The route heads between woods to the west and residential areas to the east, gaining a second southbound lane as it heads into business areas and crosses Baltimore Pike. Past this, PA 420 becomes two lanes again and continues through suburban areas of homes. The road gains a center left-turn lane and passes businesses as it comes to a grade crossing with SEPTA's Route 101 trolley line at the Woodland Avenue station. The route becomes two lanes again and passes near more homes with some patches of woods. PA 420 curves more to the west and comes to its northern terminus at an intersection with PA 320 a short distance to the south of that route's interchange with US 1.[2][3]

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Enroll in the Ideal Electrician Trade School near Prospect Park PA

Selecting the ideal electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are considering includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world context, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Every training program provides different possibilities for certification as well. Probably The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you pick is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Prospect Park PA.