How to Become an Electrician in Newport Maine
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Newport ME. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are a number of points to evaluate. For instance, many potential students will start by searching for schools that are close to their residence. When they have found a few that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole things that need to be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will talk about 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 accessible.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Newport ME
There are multiple options to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Newport ME. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. In many cases these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Bellow are short explanations of the 3 most typical programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Maine vocational and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who would like to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to finish and are offered by Maine community colleges, typically 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 accessible at some Maine institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be performed before licensing. For that reason, many students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Newport ME can carry out a vast array of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally about four to five years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be acquired in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails 3 levels of competency:
- 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 imperative that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in Newport ME
An alternative that you may have considered is choosing an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. While 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 training programs require some attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, internet learning may be a more convenient option for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Travelling expenses from Newport ME are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be available online also. All of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Since there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Newport ME region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are other variables that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Newport ME school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you obtain an excellent education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, a number of states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs 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 program. A lower completion rate might indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It could also suggest that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Newport ME graduates acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician trade programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Newport ME area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Newport ME electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Newport residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be higher 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 difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak to some of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Newport ME, verify that the programs you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Newport ME?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Newport ME area.
Newport, Maine
The town was settled about 1808 as East Pond Plantation, then incorporated on June 14, 1814, as Newport. Agriculture was a principal early occupation, and industries included several sawmills, a gristmill, a foundry, cabinet shop, and a number of harness and blacksmith shops. By 1859, when the population was 1,120, Newport was an important producer of carriages "...which, for durability and finish, [were] not excelled by any in the state."[5] The Maine Central Railroad connected to Newport and made it the terminus for its Dexter & Newport Railway, which opened in 1868. By 1880, the population reached 1,451, and industries included a marble, granite and slate works, and a maker of boots and shoes.[6] In 1891, the woolen mill was built, and the Aroostook Condensed Milk Company founded. The latter became the Maine Condensed Milk Company in 1894, then Borden's Condensed Milk Company in 1902.[7]
In 1901, a large fire destroyed the Maine Central Railroad freight depot and two mills, and damaged 20 houses.[8] In 1990, two boys, aged 8 and 9, started a fire which burned half of Newport's historic downtown (three buildings more than a century old). [9]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 36.97 square miles (95.75 km2), of which, 29.50 square miles (76.40 km2) of it is land and 7.47 square miles (19.35 km2) is water.[1] Situated on Sebasticook Lake, Newport is drained by Martin Stream and the East Branch of the Sebasticook River. Sebasticook Lake is contained entirely in the town of Newport, and is the largest lake contained in one town in the state of Maine.[10]
Enroll in the Ideal Electrical Technical School near Newport ME
Choosing the ideal electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each program offers unique options for certification as well. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you select is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Newport ME.
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