How to Become an Electrician in Monroe Maine
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Monroe ME. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many points to examine. For example, some potential students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have located several that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. While location and cost are significant, they are not the only things that should be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Monroe ME
There are multiple ways to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Monroe ME. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Frequently these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Bellow are short explanations of the 3 most typical programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Maine vocational and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who want to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to finish and are offered by Maine community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain Maine colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter 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. Because of that, many students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in Monroe ME can perform a wide range of services, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be earned in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases 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 important 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 Online Training Classes in Monroe ME
An option that you may have looked at is selecting an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs have become more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning might be a more convenient choice for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit many online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Driving costs from Monroe ME are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be available online also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Once you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Monroe ME area, 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 are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are other factors that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Monroe ME school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get a quality education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order 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 course. A lower completion rate may suggest that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It may also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to employ 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 industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Monroe ME students acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical programs 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 working partnerships with Monroe ME area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to build 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 up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Monroe ME electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Monroe 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 important that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk to several of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Monroe ME, verify that the schools you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Monroe ME?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Monroe ME area.
Monroe, Maine
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 39.03 square miles (101.09 km2), of which, 38.92 square miles (100.80 km2) of it is land and 0.11 square miles (0.28 km2) is water.[1] Principle bodies of water include: Chase Bog Pond (67 acres), Basin Pond (28 acres), Lily Pond (27 acres), Thistle Pond (16 acres) and Northern Pond (15 acres).
Monroe is located at the intersection of Routes 139 and 141. It is bordered on the north by Newburgh, on the east by Winterport and Frankfort, one the south by Swanville, on the southwest by Brooks, on the west by Jackson and on the northwest by Dixmont.
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 890 people, 402 households, and 247 families residing in the town. The population density was 22.9 inhabitants per square mile (8.8/km2). There were 461 housing units at an average density of 11.8 per square mile (4.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.6% White, 0.2% African American, 0.2% Asian, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population.
Find the Ideal Electrician Technical School near Monroe ME
Choosing the right electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrician training that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world context, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best means to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and faculty. 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, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Monroe ME.
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