How to Become an Electrician in Solon Maine
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Solon ME. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are a number of points to consider. For instance, many students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have identified several that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the sole things that need to be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your final decision when picking an electrician school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are accessible.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Solon ME
There are multiple options to receive electrician training in a trade or technical school near Solon ME. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are brief explanations of the 3 most typical programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Maine vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards those who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve two years to complete and are offered by Maine community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered 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 in most cases four years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Solon ME can carry out a vast array of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically test general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be earned in various specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases includes 3 levels of proficiency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying organizations include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you choose not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Schools in Solon ME
An option that you may have considered is selecting an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, internet learning might be a more convenient option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Driving expenses from Solon ME are also lessened and some of the study materials can be available on line also. All of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Once you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Because there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Solon ME area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The first two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze before selecting an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Solon ME program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you get a superior education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved 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 of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate could signify that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It could also signify that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Solon ME students secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Solon ME area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed 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, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Solon ME electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Solon residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized 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 large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak with several of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with a few 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 programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Solon ME, check that the schools you are considering offer 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 protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Solon ME?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Solon ME area.
Solon, Maine
The first known inhabitants were the Abenaki Indians, whom European settlers encountered in the early 1600s. There are petroglyphs that have been said[by whom?] to be 5,000 years old or more, but more than likely came about after 1620.[citation needed]General Benedict Arnold and his troops camped below Caratunk Falls on October 7, 1775, before carrying their boats around them on the way up the Kennebec River to the Battle of Quebec. Originally called T1 R2 EKR, the plantation was known as Spauldingtown after Thomas Spaulding, a grantee. It was settled in 1782 by William Hilton from Wiscasset, who purchased 500 acres (2.0 km2). On February 23, 1809, it was incorporated as Solon, named after Solon, a statesman and poet of Ancient Greece.[4]
Agriculture was the principal occupation of the inhabitants. The surface of the town is uneven, the underlying rock is slate, but the sandy and occasionally gravelly loam produced good crops of hay and grain. Solon village was established at Fall Brook, its water power used to operate mills. By 1859, when the population was 1,419, there were two sawmills, a gristmill, a shovel handle factory, two fulling and two carding machines, and two blacksmiths.[4] By 1886, the town's industries included a carriage manufacturer and a harness maker.[5]
Solon is the gateway to the Old Canada Road (U. S. Route 201), which from 1820 until 1860 served as the primary link between Lower Canada and Maine. The byway follows the Kennebec River valley through various villages and into the forests near the Canada–US border.[6]
Select the Ideal Electrical Trade School near Solon ME
Picking the ideal electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are several things that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrician training that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world context, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses 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 fulfill your needs. Every training program offers unique options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Invest some time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Solon ME.
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