How to Become an Electrician in Medway Maine
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Medway ME. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are so many points to examine. For instance, many students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have found several that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the sole qualifications that should be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are available.
Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Medway ME
There are several ways to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Medway ME. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are short summaries of the 3 most typical programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Maine trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who want to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take two years to finish and are offered by Maine community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Maine institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be completed before licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Medway ME can undertake a wide range of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing 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 duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally around four to five years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically assess general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be earned in various specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in Medway ME
An alternative that you might have contemplated is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs have become more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, distance learning may 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. Driving expenses from Medway ME are also reduced and some of the study materials can be accessed online as well. All of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Medway ME region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are other factors that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Medway ME school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you get a quality education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, many states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate might signify that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It may also signify that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which may produce 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 a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Medway ME students secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Medway ME area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with 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 Medway ME electrical company if they can give you some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Medway home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in 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 get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to several of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Medway ME, confirm that the programs you are looking at provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Medway ME?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Medway ME area.
Medway, Maine
One of the largest water powered sawmills then on the Penobscot River was built in Medway in 1820 by Gen. Boyd, who owned half the township. A second large mill was built soon after near what is now Medway Center, attracting settlers. Sawmills remained there as late as the 1920s. Boyd originally incorporated the town as "Kilmarnock", but the name was changed to Medway in 1854.[5]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 41.14 square miles (106.55 km2), of which, 41.00 square miles (106.19 km2) of it is land and 0.14 square miles (0.36 km2) is water.[1] The town is at the confluence of the East and West Branches of the Penobscot River
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,349 people, 576 households, and 400 families residing in the town. The population density was 32.9 inhabitants per square mile (12.7/km2). There were 658 housing units at an average density of 16.0 per square mile (6.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.8% White, 0.1% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.3% Asian, and 0.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.2% of the population.
Enroll in the Ideal Electrical Technical School near Medway ME
Choosing the right electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrical training program that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each program offers unique options for certification also. Perhaps The ideal means 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 training program you pick is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Medway ME.
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