How to Become an Electrician in New Sharon Maine
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near New Sharon ME. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are so many points to examine. For example, many students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their home. Once they have found a few that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole factors that should be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician training school. We will cover 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 options that are available.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near New Sharon ME
There are several approaches to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near New Sharon ME. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three options. In many cases these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are short explanations of the 3 most common programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Maine vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards those who want to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve two years to finish and are offered by Maine junior or community colleges, commonly 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 stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Maine colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be carried out prior to licensing. For that reason, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Requirements
Electricians in New Sharon ME can perform a wide range of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be obtained in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails 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) and also 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 strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes in New Sharon ME
A possibility that you might have considered is selecting an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs have become more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning can be a more practical choice for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Travelling expenses from New Sharon ME are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Once you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the New Sharon ME region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other factors that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the New Sharon ME school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, a number of 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 looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate could suggest that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It could also indicate that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help New Sharon ME students secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational 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 comparing have referring partnerships with New Sharon ME area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local New Sharon ME electrical company if they can provide some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your New Sharon residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on 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 opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near New Sharon ME, confirm that the schools you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, 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 New Sharon ME?
Following is a little bit of background information about the New Sharon ME area.
New Sharon, Maine
New Sharon is a town in Franklin County, Maine, United States, incorporated in 1794. The population was 1,407 at the 2010 census. The town is roughly bisected by the Sandy River a tributary of the Kennebec River.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 46.83 square miles (121.29 km2), of which, 46.19 square miles (119.63 km2) of it is land and 0.64 square miles (1.66 km2) is water.[1]
This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, New Sharon has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.[4]
Select the Right Electrician Tech School near New Sharon ME
Choosing the best electrician trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every training program provides different options for certification as well. Probably the best means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you decide on 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 New Sharon ME.
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