Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Burtonsville MD 20866

How to Become an Electrician in Burtonsville Maryland

Burtonsville MD electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Burtonsville MD. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are a number of factors to examine. For example, some students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have located several that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. Even though location and cost are important, they are not the only factors that must be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are accessible.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Burtonsville MD

Burtonsville MD electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several approaches to get electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Burtonsville MD. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are short explanations of the three most prevalent programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Maryland technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who wish to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to finish and are provided by Maryland junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Maryland institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed before licensing. For that reason, many students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria

Burtonsville MD electricians working on power lines Electricians in Burtonsville MD can carry out a vast array of tasks, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically test general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be obtained in several specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician tech school that you select not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Burtonsville MD

attending electrician school online in Burtonsville MD A possibility that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning might be a more accommodating choice for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Travelling costs from Burtonsville MD are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be available on line also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Burtonsville MD electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Burtonsville MD region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other variables that must be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Burtonsville MD program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive an excellent education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states require that the electrician training course 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate could signify that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It may also mean that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which may result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Burtonsville MD students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician training programs are taught together 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 electrical contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Burtonsville MD area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school 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, check with the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Burtonsville MD electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Burtonsville residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk to several of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the instructors and find out 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 reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Burtonsville MD, check that the programs you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Burtonsville MD?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Burtonsville MD area.

Burtonsville, Maryland

In colonial times, the area was referred to as the Patuxent Hundred and later the Eastern Branch Hundred, a community comprising about 100 inhabitants. Prince George's County Court recorded that on September 27, 1699, Thomas Wells and Thomas Pindell were appointed to be the overseers of Patuxant Hundred.[1]

Among some of the earliest land grants are Maiden's Fancy, a 580-acre (2.3 km2) tract surveyed for Neal Clark in 1700, and Bear Bacon nearby, a 600-acre (2.4 km2) tract of land surveyed in 1703 for a Mark Richardson. Another prominent land holder was Richard Snowden, an iron master, who held various land patents in the area, including Snowdens Manor (surveyed 1715) consisting of an impressive 9,265 acres (37.49 km2) and Snowdens Mill (surveyed 1723) occupying an additional 546 acres (2.21 km2). From these larger tracts, among others, were carved smaller tracts of land which were either rented or sold off to planters and the like.[citation needed]

The community of Burtonsville, originally called Burton's, takes its name from Isaac Burton, who in 1825 bought out his siblings' shares of his father's land and became the major landowner in the area. He and his wife Keturah had 17 children, many of whom stayed in the area as adults. The community itself grew around the intersection of Old Columbia Pike and the road to Sandy Spring. In the 1850s Isaac Burton became the first postmaster of the newly established post office in the vicinity, which operated out of his store at the intersection. Burtonsville's core area today continues to center around the intersection of Maryland Route 198 and US Route 29.[2]

The location could not be found.

Select the Right Electrician Tech School near Burtonsville MD

Selecting the ideal electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are several things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training program that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you choose is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Burtonsville MD.