Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Glenwood MD 21738

How to Become an Electrician in Glenwood Maryland

Glenwood MD electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Glenwood MD. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are a number of variables to examine. For example, many prospective students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have found several that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. Even though location and cost are significant, they are not the sole factors that must be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your final decision when picking an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are accessible.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Glenwood MD

Glenwood MD electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple options to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near Glenwood MD. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are short descriptions of the three most typical programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Maryland trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who wish to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to complete and are provided by Maryland community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Maryland institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed before licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria

Glenwood MD electricians working on power lines Electricians in Glenwood MD can perform a vast array of duties, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally around four to five years of experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be obtained in numerous specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you pick not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Glenwood MD

attending electrician school online in Glenwood MD A possibility that you might have considered is selecting an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not entirely 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, distance learning may be a more practical option for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Commuting costs from Glenwood MD are also minimized and some of the study materials may be accessed online as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Glenwood MD electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Glenwood MD region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are other factors that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research before enrolling in an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Many electrician technical programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Glenwood MD school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a superior education, it can assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate could suggest that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It could also mean that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Glenwood MD students acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with Glenwood MD 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 establish relationships in the local 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 Glenwood MD electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Glenwood home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with several of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with a few of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Glenwood MD, check that the schools you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Glenwood MD?

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

Glenwood, Howard County, Maryland

Glenwood is an unincorporated community in Howard County, Maryland, United States.[1] It is located between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., therefore attracting commuters to those employment centers. The community features acres of open space and is districted to Bushy Park Elementary, Glenwood and Folly Quarter Middle, and Glenelg High schools. Union Chapel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and Round About Hills was added in 2008.[2]

The area was settled in the early 18th century by the Ridgley and Warfield families forming large tobacco plantations "Bushy Park", "Longwood", "Ellerslie" and others. In 1822 James B. Matthews purchased a 200-acre farm and stone home from Caleb Dorsey. He opened a post office, on July 30, 1841 giving the area the name "Matthews Store" in the Howard District of Anne Arundel County, which operated until January 1874.[3][4] The Union Chapel was built in 1833. The Anne Arundel community became part of the newly formed Howard County. Despite southern sympathies, the Civil war ended slave labor on the local farms, slavery was replaced with Jim Crow laws. The Phrenakosmian Hall was opened, renamed to the Howard Institute serving 25 children. On January 13, 1874 the Glenwood postal stop opened.[3] It was renamed to Glenwood by James Matthew's son, Professor Lycurgus Matthews.[5][6]

In 1995, Glenwood land developer Randolph Ayersman made national news after police found that profits from drug sales were being used to buy and develop properties under A&A contracting in Glenwood.[7][8]

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Pick the Ideal Electrician Vocational School near Glenwood MD

Selecting the ideal electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training program that you are examining includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each 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. Training programs vary in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides different possibilities for certification also. Probably the best approach to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you choose is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Glenwood MD.