How to Become an Electrician in New Portland Maine
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near New Portland ME. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are a number of points to evaluate. For example, many prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their home. After they have identified some that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the lowest tuition. Even though location and cost are important, they are not the only factors that should be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your final judgment when choosing an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are available.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near New Portland ME
There are multiple options to receive electrician training in a trade or technical school near New Portland ME. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Bellow are brief summaries of the three most prevalent programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Maine vocational and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who wish to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require two years to complete and are provided by Maine junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain Maine institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be performed before licensing. Therefore, most students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in New Portland ME can undertake a multitude of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about four to five years of prior experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually assess general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be earned in various specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you select not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in New Portland ME
An option that you may have contemplated is selecting an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs have become more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder 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 many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Commuting costs from New Portland ME are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be accessed on line as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the New Portland ME region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional factors that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the New Portland ME school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you get a superior education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Also, some states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate could indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It might also signify that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which may result in 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 an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist New Portland ME students acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working relationships with New Portland ME area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school 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 presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local New Portland ME electrical company if they can provide some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your New Portland home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with several of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near New Portland ME, check that the programs you are looking at provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near New Portland ME?
Following is a little bit of background information about the New Portland ME area.
New Portland, Maine
New Portland is a town in Somerset County, Maine. It is perhaps best known for its Wire Bridge, a cable suspension bridge completed in 1866 that is the last remaining bridge of its type in Maine, and possibly the U.S. Much of North New Portland's Main Street burned to the ground in the fire of 1919, including a hotel. The annual town fair draws large crowds from around, and is held in September. The population was 718 at the 2010 census. The town was given to the residents of Falmouth (now Portland) by the Massachusetts legislature to repay them for their loss when the British fleet burned Falmouth in 1775.[4]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 44.23 square miles (114.56 km2), of which, 43.88 square miles (113.65 km2) of it is land and 0.35 square miles (0.91 km2) is water.[1] The town is situated on Route 27 adjacent to Kingfield and a short drive to the popular Sugarloaf ski resort. The Carrabassett River flows through the West New Portland village and East New Portland village, whereas the Gilman Stream flows through the North New Portland village. The Carrabassett River is rocky and in places swift, whereas Gilman Stream is a slower river, amenable to kayaking and canoeing.
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 718 people, 346 households, and 202 families residing in the town. The population density was 16.4 inhabitants per square mile (6.3/km2). There were 605 housing units at an average density of 13.8 per square mile (5.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.2% White, 0.1% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.1% Asian, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.3% of the population.
Pick the Right Electrician Technical School near New Portland ME
Picking the ideal electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are many things that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Every program provides different possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best means to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you decide on is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in New Portland ME.
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