How to Become an Electrician in Kennebunkport Maine

The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Kennebunkport ME. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are a number of factors to examine. For instance, many potential students will start by looking for schools that are close to their residence. After they have identified some that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are important, they are not the only factors that need to be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your ultimate decision when picking an electrician school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are available.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Kennebunkport ME

There are multiple ways to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Kennebunkport ME. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are short explanations of the 3 most common programs offered.

• Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Maine vocational and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who want to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
• Associate Degrees require two years to finish and are provided by Maine junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Maine colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. Therefore, most students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Criteria

Electricians in Kennebunkport ME can perform a multitude of duties, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally around four to five years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be obtained in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases involves 3 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 imperative that the electrician trade school that you select not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes in Kennebunkport ME

An option that you may have contemplated is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, distance learning may be a more convenient choice for students that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Commuting expenses from Kennebunkport ME are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line also. All of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Once you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Kennebunkport ME area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are other variables that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze before choosing an electrical trade school.

Accreditation.  A large number of electrician trade programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Kennebunkport ME program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it 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 or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate might suggest that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It might also mean that the instructors 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 more extensive list of graduates, which may result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Kennebunkport ME graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Most electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Kennebunkport ME area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Confirm that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Kennebunkport ME electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Kennebunkport home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to a few of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the teachers 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 schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Kennebunkport ME, confirm that the programs you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Kennebunkport ME?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Kennebunkport ME area.

Select the Right Electrician Trade School near Kennebunkport ME

Selecting the right electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start 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 schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are considering includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best means to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Take the time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you decide on is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Kennebunkport ME.

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