Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Portland ME 04101

How to Become an Electrician in Portland Maine

Portland ME electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Portland ME. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are a number of factors to examine. For example, some prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their residence. When they have located some that are within commuting range, they will pick the one with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole things that need to be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician trade school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are accessible.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Portland ME

Portland ME electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to get electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Portland ME. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are brief explanations of the 3 most common programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Maine trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees involve 2 years to complete and are offered by Maine community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Maine colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed before licensing. Therefore, most students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines

Portland ME electricians working on power lines Electricians in Portland ME can undertake a vast array of duties, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be obtained in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Training Classes in Portland ME

attending electrician school online in Portland ME An option that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools have become more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, internet learning can be a more convenient alternative for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Commuting expenses from Portland ME are also minimized and some of the study materials can be accessed on line also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Portland ME electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Portland ME region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. 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 final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are other factors that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze before enrolling in an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational programs have earned 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 a specific program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Portland ME school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you acquire a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate could suggest that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It might also mean that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which may mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Portland ME graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician training programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Portland ME area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Portland ME electrical company if they can give you some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Portland home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger 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 a few of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Portland ME, confirm that the schools you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Portland ME?

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

Portland, Maine

Portland is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maine, with a population of 67,067 as of 2017.[5] The Greater Portland metropolitan area is home to over half a million people, more than one-third of Maine's total population. Portland's economy is heavily dependent on tourism and the Old Port district is a popular destination. The Port of Portland is the largest tonnage seaport in New England. The city seal depicts a phoenix rising from ashes, which is a reference to the recoveries from four devastating fires.[6] Portland was named after the English Isle of Portland, Dorset. The city of Portland, Oregon was named after Portland, Maine.

Native Americans originally called the Portland peninsula Machigonne ("Great Neck").[7] Portland, Maine, was named for the English Isle of Portland, and the city of Portland, Oregon, was in turn named for Portland, Maine.[8] The first European settler was Capt. Christopher Levett, an English naval captain granted 6,000 acres (2,400 ha) in 1623 to found a settlement in Casco Bay. A member of the Council for New England and agent for Ferdinando Gorges, Levett built a stone house where he left a company of ten men, then returned to England and wrote a book about his voyage to drum up support for the settlement.[9] The settlement failed, and the fate of Levett's colonists is unknown. The explorer sailed from England to the Massachusetts Bay Colony to meet John Winthrop in 1630, but never returned to Maine. Fort Levett in the harbor is named for him.

The peninsula was first permanently settled in 1632 as a fishing and trading village named Casco.[7] When the Massachusetts Bay Colony took over Casco Bay in 1658, the town's name changed again to Falmouth. In 1676, the village was destroyed by the Abenaki during King Philip's War. It was rebuilt. During King William's War, a raiding party of French and Native allies attacked and largely destroyed it again in the Battle of Fort Loyal (1690).

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Choose the Ideal Electrical Tech School near Portland ME

Choosing the best 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 many things that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrician training that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Probably the best way to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you choose is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Portland ME.