How to Become an Electrician in Dexter Maine
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Dexter ME. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are a number of variables to examine. For instance, many students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their residence. After they have identified some that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though 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, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your ultimate decision when picking 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 becoming an electrician and the educational options that are offered.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Dexter ME
There are multiple approaches to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Dexter ME. 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 common as the other three options. Frequently these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you want to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the three most typical programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Maine technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who wish to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take two years to finish and are offered by Maine junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Maine colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements
Electricians in Dexter ME can undertake a vast array of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally around four to five years of practical experience is needed in order to take 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 method for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be acquired in various specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes three 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 imperative that the electrician tech school that you select not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Programs in Dexter ME
An option that you may have looked at is choosing an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, internet learning may be a more practical option for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Travelling costs from Dexter ME are also lessened and some of the study materials can be available online as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
When you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Dexter ME region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are additional variables that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze before enrolling in an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Many electrician technical programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Dexter ME school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you get an excellent education, it can help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order 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 of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate could signify that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It might also signify that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Dexter ME graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Dexter ME area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers 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 certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed 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 specialist you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Dexter ME electrical company if they can provide some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Dexter home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Dexter ME, check that the schools you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Dexter ME?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Dexter ME area.
Dexter, Maine
Dexter is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. The population was 3,895 at the 2010 census.[4] It is part of the Bangor metropolitan statistical area. Dexter Regional High School, which serves Dexter as well as other nearby small towns, is located in the town.
Dexter was settled beginning in 1801 by Ebenezer Small, David Smith, and others from New Hampshire, and was originally called Elkinstown. When incorporated as a town in 1816, it named itself after Judge Samuel Dexter,[5] who was then running for governor of Massachusetts (of which Maine was still a part). The town of Brooks in nearby Waldo County was incorporated the same year and named for the opposing candidate, John Brooks. Brooks won the election. The town of Dexter, however, achieved the greater prosperity.[6]
The town grew because of its location on the East Branch of the Sebasticook River, which provided excellent water power for mills. In 1818, Jonathan Farrar constructed a grist mill at the falls. The Dexter Historical Society today uses the building which replaced it in 1854 as part of its museum complex. The stream would also power five woolen mills, the oldest and largest of which was established by Amos and Jeremiah Abbott in 1836. Amos Abbott & Company, which closed in 1975, was the only textile mill in the United States owned by one family for such a long period.[7] In the 1960s, the town's name became familiar throughout New England because of the pervasive log cabin style factory outlets of the Dexter Shoe Company, founded in a vacant Dexter woolen mill in 1958 by Harold Alfond.[8]
Find the Right Electrician Trade School near Dexter ME
Selecting the best electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical training program that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to decide what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each program offers different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you decide on is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Dexter ME.
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