How to Become an Electrician in Machias Maine
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Machias ME. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are a number of points to consider. For instance, many prospective students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have located a few that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the only factors that must be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your final judgment when picking an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are offered.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Machias ME
There are several ways to get electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Machias ME. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are brief descriptions of the three most common programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Maine technical and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards those who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require two years to complete and are offered by Maine junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Maine colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out before licensing. For that reason, many students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Machias ME can undertake a wide range of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be obtained in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases involves three levels of proficiency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying organizations 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 trade school that you enroll in not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Schools Online in Machias ME
An option that you may have contemplated is choosing an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs have become more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, internet learning may be a more accommodating choice for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Commuting expenses from Machias 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 vocational schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Once you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Because there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Machias ME region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. 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 variables that need to be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Machias ME program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate might indicate that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It may also indicate that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which can result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Machias ME grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Machias ME area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build 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 state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Machias ME electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Machias residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to some of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Machias ME, check that the programs you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, 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 Machias ME?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Machias ME area.
Machias, Maine
Machias /məˈtʃaɪ.əs/ is a town in and the county seat of Washington County in downeast Maine, United States.[4] As of the 2010 census, the town population was 2,221.[5] It is home to the University of Maine at Machias and Machias Valley Airport, a small public airport owned by the town. The word Machias roughly translates in Passamaquoddy as "bad little falls", a reference to the Machias River. Machias is best known as the site of the first naval battle of the American Revolution.[6][7]
A fierce contest was at this time going on between France and England. Charles de la Tour, the French commander of Acadia, made a descent upon it from his seat at Port Royal, Nova Scotia, killing two of its six defenders, and carrying the others away with their merchandise.[9] No persistent attempt was again made to hold this point by the English or French for upwards of 120 years.
In 1704, Major Benjamin Church found and captured here John Bretoon, of Jersey, with his wife and child, and M. Lattre, with his wife and three children. In 1734 the place was visited by Jonathan Belcher, governor of Massachusetts.
Pick the Right Electrical Technical School near Machias ME
Selecting the ideal electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are many things that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training that you are considering includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each training program provides different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Machias ME.
Other Cool Cities in Maine
Business Results 1 - 10 of 0
