How to Become an Electrician in Lagrange Maine
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Lagrange ME. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are so many factors to examine. For example, many students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have found some that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the least expensive tuition. While cost and location are of importance, they are not the only things that need to be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are accessible.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Lagrange ME
There are three general ways to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Lagrange ME. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are short descriptions of the 3 most common programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Maine technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards those who would like to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require two years to complete and are provided by Maine community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Maine colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed prior to licensing. For that reason, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Lagrange ME can perform a multitude of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly around four to five years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be obtained in numerous specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 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 crucial that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Programs Online in Lagrange ME
An option that you may have looked at is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning can be a more practical option for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Travelling costs from Lagrange ME are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Lagrange ME region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The initial two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are additional factors that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research before selecting an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Lagrange ME program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you receive an excellent education, it may assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some 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 looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate could signify that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It might also mean that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to utilize 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 trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Lagrange ME students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Lagrange ME area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment 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, consult with the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Lagrange ME electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Lagrange residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one 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 see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk to some of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Lagrange ME, confirm that the schools you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Lagrange ME?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Lagrange ME area.
Lagrange, Maine
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 49.51 square miles (128.23 km2), of which, 49.47 square miles (128.13 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) is water.[1]
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 708 people, 298 households, and 189 families residing in the town. The population density was 14.3 inhabitants per square mile (5.5/km2). There were 380 housing units at an average density of 7.7 per square mile (3.0/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.6% White, 0.3% African American, 1.4% Native American, 0.6% Asian, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.8% of the population.
There were 298 households of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.6% were non-families. 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.89.
Choose the Right Electrician Technical School near Lagrange ME
Selecting the best electrician trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should offer a real-world perspective, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each program offers different possibilities for certification also. Probably the best approach to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you pick is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Lagrange ME.
Other Cool Cities in Maine
Business Results 1 - 10 of 26
1 Reviews 