How to Become an Electrician in Stratton Maine
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Stratton ME. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are a number of points to evaluate. For instance, many students will start by searching for schools that are close to their home. When they have identified several that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the sole things that must be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your final judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are available.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Stratton ME
There are three general ways to get electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Stratton ME. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states to become licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are short descriptions of the three most prevalent programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Maine vocational and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who want to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to complete and are provided by Maine community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Maine institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Stratton ME can carry out a vast array of services, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally around four to five years of experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be earned in numerous specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes three 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online in Stratton ME
An alternative that you might have looked at is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, distance learning may be a more practical choice for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus many online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Travelling expenses from Stratton ME are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online also. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
When you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Stratton ME area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. 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 crucial when making your decision, there are other factors that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Stratton ME school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you receive a superior education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, many states mandate 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 reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate could suggest that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It could also signify that the teachers were not competent 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 list of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Stratton ME grads secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational 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 electrician contractors or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Stratton ME area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Stratton ME electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Stratton home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Stratton ME, confirm that the programs you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Stratton ME?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Stratton ME area.
General Tom Thumb
Charles Sherwood Stratton (January 4, 1838 – July 15, 1883), better known by his stage name "General Tom Thumb", was a dwarf who achieved great fame as a performer under circus pioneer P.T. Barnum.[1]
Stratton was the son of a Bridgeport, Connecticut, carpenter named Sherwood Edward Stratton, son of Seth Sherwood Stratton and Amy Sharpe. Sherwood married his first cousin Cynthia Thompson, daughter of Joseph Thompson and Mary Ann Sharpe. Charles Stratton's maternal and paternal grandmothers, Amy and Mary Ann Sharpe, were stated to be small twin girls born on July 11, 1781/83 in Oxford, New Haven, Connecticut.
Born in Bridgeport to parents who were of medium height, Charles was a relatively large baby, weighing 9 pounds 8 ounces (4.3 kg) at birth.[2] He developed and grew normally for the first six months of his life, at which point he was 25 inches (64 cm) tall and weighed 15 pounds (6.8 kg). Then he suddenly stopped growing. His parents became concerned when, after his first birthday, they noticed he had not grown at all in the previous six months. They showed him to their doctor, who said there was little chance Charles would ever reach normal height.
Find the Right Electrician Tech School near Stratton ME
Selecting the right electrical trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world perspective, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each training program offers different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Take the time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you choose is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Stratton ME.
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