How to Become an Electrician in Belfast Maine
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Belfast ME. But with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are so many factors to examine. For instance, some potential students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have identified a few that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the only factors that must be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your final judgment when selecting an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are offered.
Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Belfast ME
There are multiple ways to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Belfast ME. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Frequently these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are short descriptions of the 3 most common programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Maine technical and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to complete and are provided by Maine junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Maine institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed before licensing. Because of that, many students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Belfast ME can perform a multitude of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about four to five years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically test general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be acquired in numerous specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases entails 3 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 important that the electrician tech school that you pick not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online in Belfast ME
A possibility that you might have contemplated is choosing an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools are becoming more popular as a way 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 rest of the classes can be attended online, distance learning might be a more accommodating option for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Driving expenses from Belfast ME are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be available on line as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Once you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Belfast ME region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. 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 critical when making your determination, there are additional variables that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to enrolling in an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Belfast ME school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you receive a superior education, it may assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, many states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It may also mean that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Belfast ME grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Belfast ME area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Belfast ME electrical company if they can give you some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Belfast residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized instruction 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 large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with some of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Belfast ME, confirm that the programs you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Belfast ME?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Belfast ME area.
Belfast, Maine
Belfast is a city in Waldo County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 6,668. Located at the mouth of the Passagassawakeag River estuary on Belfast Bay and Penobscot Bay. Belfast is the county seat of Waldo County.[4] The seaport has a wealth of antique architecture in several historic districts, and remains popular with tourists.
The area was once territory of the Penobscot tribe of Abenaki Native Americans, which each summer visited the seashore to hunt for fish, shellfish and seafowl. In 1630, it became part of the Muscongus Patent, which granted rights for English trading posts with the Native Americans, especially for the lucrative fur trade. About 1720, General Samuel Waldo of Boston bought the Muscongus Patent, which had evolved into outright ownership of the land, and was thereafter known as the Waldo Patent.[5]
Waldo died in 1759, and his heirs would sell the plantation of Passagassawakeag (named after its river) to 35 Scots-Irish proprietors from Londonderry, New Hampshire. Renamed Belfast after Belfast, Northern Ireland, it was first settled in 1770, and incorporated as a town in 1773. The village was mostly abandoned during the Revolution while British forces occupied Bagaduce (now Castine).[6] The British military burned Belfast in 1779, then held it for five days in September 1814 during the War of 1812.[7]
Pick the Ideal Electrical Tech School near Belfast ME
Selecting the right electrician trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are many things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical tech school that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every training program offers unique options for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you choose is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Belfast ME.
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