Find Electrician Schools Near Me in West Chester PA 19380

How to Become an Electrician in West Chester Pennsylvania

West Chester PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near West Chester PA. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are a number of variables to consider. For instance, many prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their home. After they have located a few that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the only factors that must be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your final judgment when picking an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional choices that are accessible.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near West Chester PA

West Chester PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to receive electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near West Chester PA. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. In many cases these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are short descriptions of the three most typical programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards students who wish to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require two years to finish and are provided by Pennsylvania community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Pennsylvania institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed prior to licensing. For that reason, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements

West Chester PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in West Chester PA can perform a wide range of duties, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most states or municipalities. 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 exam. The exams commonly test electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be earned in several specialties, including 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 organizations include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online in West Chester PA

attending electrician school online in West Chester PA An option that you might have contemplated is choosing an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools have become more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, internet learning may be a more practical alternative for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Driving expenses from West Chester PA are also minimized and some of the study materials can be accessed online also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

West Chester PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Since there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the West Chester PA region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are other factors that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the West Chester PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate may suggest that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It might also signify that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist West Chester PA grads secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with West Chester PA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local West Chester PA electrical company if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within driving distance of your West Chester home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Speak to a few of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near West Chester PA, verify that the programs you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near West Chester PA?

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

West Chester, Pennsylvania

Much of the West Chester University of Pennsylvania North Campus and the Chester County government are located within the borough. The center of town is located at the intersection of Market and High Streets.

The area was originally known as Turk's Head—after the inn of the same name located in what is now the center of the borough.[5] West Chester has been the seat of government in Chester County since 1786 when the seat was moved from nearby Chester in what is now Delaware County. The borough was incorporated in 1799.[6] In the heart of town is its courthouse, a classical revival building designed in the 1840s by Thomas U. Walter, one of the architects for the Capitol in Washington, D.C.[7] In the 18th century West Chester was a center of clockmaking. In the late 19th century the Hoopes, Bro. and Darlington company became a major wheelworks, first for wagons and later automobiles.[8][9] In the early 20th century, an important industry was the Sharples cream separator company.[10] In the late 20th century, Commodore International, one of the pioneers of home computers, giving its headquarters as West Chester, was located approximately a mile northeast of the borough.[citation needed]

The West Chester Downtown Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. Other listed buildings are the Bank of Chester County, Buckwalter Building, Butler House, Chester County Courthouse, William Everhart Buildings, Farmers and Mechanics Building, First Presbyterian Church of West Chester, New Century Clubhouse, Joseph Rothrock House, Sharples Homestead, Sharples Separator Works, Warner Theater, West Chester Boarding School for Boys, and the components of the West Chester State College Quadrangle Historic District.[11]

The location could not be found.

Choose the Right Electrical Trade School near West Chester PA

Selecting the ideal electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrician tech school that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world context, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Probably the best means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you choose is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in West Chester PA.