How to Become an Electrician in West Enfield Maine
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near West Enfield ME. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are so many variables to examine. For example, many prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their home. Once they have found some that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. While location and cost are significant, they are not the sole qualifications that must be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your final judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near West Enfield ME
There are three general approaches to obtain electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near West Enfield ME. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are brief explanations of the three most common programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by Maine trade and technical schools and take about a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to complete and are provided by Maine junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Maine colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements
Electricians in West Enfield ME can undertake a multitude of duties, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly around 4 to 5 years of experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails 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 crucial that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Programs Online in West Enfield ME
A possibility that you might have considered is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, internet learning can be a more practical option for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Driving expenses from West Enfield ME are also lessened and some of the study materials may be accessed on line as well. Each of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
When you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the West Enfield ME area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are other variables that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze before enrolling in an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Many electrician technical schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the West Enfield ME school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain an excellent education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to qualify 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate may suggest that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It may also signify that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which can produce 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 industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist West Enfield ME students secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with West Enfield ME area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form 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 working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local West Enfield ME electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within driving distance of your West Enfield residence. 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 important that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to some of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near West Enfield ME, confirm that the programs you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, 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 due to work, sickness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near West Enfield ME?
Following is a little bit of background information about the West Enfield ME area.
Enfield, Maine
Enfield is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,607 at the 2010 census.[4] There is also a large seasonal population with many cottages located on Cold Stream Pond, a lake within the town.
In 1891, four armed men boarded and attempted to rob a train as it passed through Enfield, shooting at the engineer, fireman, and conductors. They also shot up the train station. They failed in their attempt to break into the mail-car, but it was a dark night and they escaped capture.[6]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 33.00 square miles (85.47 km2), of which, 27.74 square miles (71.85 km2) of it is land and 5.26 square miles (13.62 km2) is water.[1]
Choose the Right Electrician Technical School near West Enfield ME
Selecting the best electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrical training program that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Each program offers different options for certification also. Perhaps the best means to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in West Enfield ME.
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