Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Pittsfield ME 04967

How to Become an Electrician in Pittsfield Maine

Pittsfield ME electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Pittsfield ME. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are so many points to evaluate. For instance, many potential students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have identified a few that are within driving distance, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. While cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole qualifications that should be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Pittsfield ME

Pittsfield ME electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several approaches to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Pittsfield ME. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are short descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Maine trade and technical schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees 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 providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Maine colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be performed prior to licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites

Pittsfield ME electricians working on power lines Electricians in Pittsfield ME can carry out a multitude of services, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is called for before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be acquired in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails three levels of competency:

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 vocational school that you select not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Schools Online in Pittsfield ME

attending electrician school online in Pittsfield ME An option that you may have contemplated is choosing an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning can be a more convenient choice for individuals 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 alternatives. Driving costs from Pittsfield ME are also minimized and some of the study materials may be available on line as well. All of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Pittsfield ME electrician re-wiring circuit panel 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 numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Pittsfield ME region, it’s imperative 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 have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional variables that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to enrolling in an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Pittsfield ME school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you acquire an excellent education, it may help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of 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 percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate may signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It might also suggest that the instructors were not competent to train 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 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 a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Pittsfield ME graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician training programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Pittsfield ME area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment 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 technician you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Pittsfield ME electrical contracting company if they can give you some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Pittsfield residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with a few of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Pittsfield ME, verify that the schools you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Pittsfield ME?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Pittsfield ME area.

Pittsfield, Maine

Pittsfield is a town in Somerset County, Maine, United States. The population was 4,215 at the 2010 census. Pittsfield is home to the Maine Central Institute, a private boarding school, and the annual Central Maine Egg Festival.

The area was part of the Kennebec Purchase. First called Plymouth Gore, it was settled in 1794 by Moses Martin and his family from Norridgewock. In 1815, the town was organized as the Plantation of Sebasticook, but was incorporated on June 18, 1819 as Warsaw after Warsaw, Poland. In 1824, the name was changed to Pittsfield after William Pitts of Boston, a large landowner.[4]

Pittsfield was noted for fine orchards, and became an agricultural trade center. Water power from the Sebasticook River attracted industry, and a gristmill and sawmill were built at the falls. Blacksmith shops and a carriage shop were established. In 1855, the Penobscot and Kennebec Railroad arrived, and Pittsfield developed into a small mill town. In 1869, the first woolen mill was established. The Riverside Woolen Company was the first mill in the state to sell cloth direct from loom to wearer. Fire destroyed the downtown in 1881, but it was soon rebuilt. Woodworking plants and a canning factory were established. The Waverly Woolen Mill was built in 1891–1892, together with 52 dwellings the company rented to workers. Pittsfield was also home to the Sebasticook and the Pioneer woolen mills.[5]

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Pick the Right Electrical Trade School near Pittsfield ME

Choosing the best electrical trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have discussed in this article, there are many things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each training program offers unique options for certification as well. Probably The ideal approach to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you select is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Pittsfield ME.