Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Lisbon Falls ME 04252

How to Become an Electrician in Lisbon Falls Maine

Lisbon Falls ME electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Lisbon Falls ME. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are a number of points to consider. For example, some students will start by looking for schools that are close to their home. After they have identified a few that are within driving distance, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the only qualifications that must be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your final decision when picking an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Lisbon Falls ME

Lisbon Falls ME electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple ways to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Lisbon Falls ME. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Frequently these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are short explanations of the 3 most typical programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Maine technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees take two years to complete and are provided by Maine junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Maine colleges, but are less popular 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 carried out before licensing. Therefore, most students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites

Lisbon Falls ME electricians working on power lines Electricians in Lisbon Falls ME can perform a multitude of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally about four to five years of experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be acquired in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves 3 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 crucial that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Lisbon Falls ME

attending electrician school online in Lisbon Falls ME An option that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning might be a more accommodating option for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Driving costs from Lisbon Falls ME are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Lisbon Falls ME electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Lisbon Falls ME region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional variables that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Lisbon Falls ME school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you acquire a superior education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states require that the electrician training program 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 percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate could indicate that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It may also signify that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s also essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Lisbon Falls ME grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Lisbon Falls ME area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus 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, check with the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Lisbon Falls ME electrical company if they can give you some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Lisbon Falls residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Speak with several of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Lisbon Falls ME, confirm that the programs you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, 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 emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Lisbon Falls ME?

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

Lisbon Falls, Maine

Lisbon Falls is a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Lisbon, located in Androscoggin County, Maine, United States. The population of Lisbon Falls was 4,100 at the 2010 census.[1] It is included in both the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine, metropolitan statistical area and the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine, Metropolitan New England city and town area.

Abenaki Indians called the falls Anmecangin, meaning "much fish". The area was once part of Little River Plantation, a portion of which was incorporated in 1799 as Thompsonborough, then renamed in 1802 after Lisbon, Portugal. In 1806, Lisbon annexed the remainder of Little River Plantation. With water power from the Androscoggin River, Lisbon Falls became a small mill town.[2] Before it burned down in 1987, the Worumbo Mill was the main mill in Lisbon Falls. It had been incorporated in 1864, and was world-famous for its woolens.[3] Especially well known were its vicuna wool products, which became famous when President Eisenhower's Chief of Staff, Sherman Adams, received a vicuna sport coat as a gift from a wealthy industrialist and had to resign due to the resulting scandal. The town's primary employment[citation needed] is at a gypsum mill. Another large employer is Bath Iron Works, in nearby Bath, Maine.

The horror writer Stephen King attended Lisbon Falls High School. The fictional town of Castle Rock, which he used in several stories, is thought to be based on Lisbon Falls.[citation needed] King utilized the town's actual name, description, and citizens in his 2011 novel, 11/22/63.

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Pick the Right Electrician Vocational School near Lisbon Falls ME

Choosing the right electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides unique options for certification also. Probably the best means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you select is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Lisbon Falls ME.