Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Thornton PA 19373

How to Become an Electrician in Thornton Pennsylvania

Thornton PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Thornton PA. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are so many points to evaluate. For instance, many students will start by searching for schools that are close to their residence. After they have identified some that are within driving range, they will select the one with the lowest tuition. While location and cost are important, they are not the sole qualifications that should be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician trade school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are available.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Thornton PA

Thornton PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several approaches to get electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Thornton PA. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you want to earn certification. Following are short summaries of the three most prevalent programs available.

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

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Pennsylvania institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed 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 Criteria

Thornton PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Thornton PA can carry out a vast array of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually about four to five years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be acquired in various specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases entails three levels of competency:

An experience requirement
Passing a written exam
Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying organizations include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you pick not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools in Thornton PA

attending electrician school online in Thornton PA An option that you might have considered is choosing an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs have become more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, internet learning can be a more practical option for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Travelling expenses from Thornton PA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Thornton PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Thornton PA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are other variables that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to enrolling in an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Thornton PA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you obtain a quality education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate could suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It may also indicate that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Thornton PA students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician training programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Thornton PA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Thornton PA electrical company if they can provide some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Thornton residence. Take note 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 get as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging 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. Talk with some of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to a few of the teachers 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 schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Thornton PA, check that the schools you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Thornton PA?

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

Grant Thornton International

Grant Thornton is the world's sixth largest professional services network[2] of independent accounting and consulting member firms which provide assurance, tax and advisory services to privately held businesses, public interest entities, and public sector entities. Grant Thornton International Ltd is a not-for-profit, non-practising, international umbrella membership entity organised as a private company limited by guarantee. Grant Thornton International Ltd is incorporated in London, England, and has no share capital.

According to Grant Thornton International Ltd, member firms within the global organisation operate in over 135 countries. Combined global revenues from member firms in 2017 were US$5 billion. There are over 2,500 member firm partners and total member firm personnel of over 42,000.[3]

The earliest origins of the name date back to 1904, when the UK firm of Thornton, Webb & Co was formed. Through a series of name changes this firm merged in 1959 with another UK firm, Baker & Co, which traced its origins to 1868, to form the firm Thornton Baker. In 1975 Thornton Baker merged with Kidston, Jackson, McBain, a UK firm which traced its origins to the Glaswegian accountant, Robert McCowan, who set up in practice in 1844, and was a founder of the Institute of Accountants and Actuaries in Glasgow in 1853.

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Select the Right Electrical Trade School near Thornton PA

Picking the best electrician training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrical training that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and each student must 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 in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each training program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you choose is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Thornton PA.