Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Owings MD 20736

How to Become an Electrician in Owings Maryland

Owings MD electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Owings MD. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are a number of factors to consider. For instance, some potential students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their home. Once they have located a few that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. While cost and location are significant, they are not the sole things that need to be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are accessible.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Owings MD

Owings MD electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general options to receive electrician training in a trade or technical school near Owings MD. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three options. In many cases these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Bellow are brief explanations of the 3 most prevalent programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Maryland vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require 2 years to complete and are offered by Maryland community colleges, typically 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 previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Maryland colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be performed before licensing. For that reason, many students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites

Owings MD electricians working on power lines Electricians in Owings MD can undertake a multitude of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally around four to five years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be obtained in numerous specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves 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 vocational school that you choose not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Owings MD

attending electrician school online in Owings MD An option that you may have contemplated is choosing an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs have become more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, distance learning may be a more accommodating choice for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Driving expenses from Owings MD are also lessened and some of the study materials may be available online also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Owings MD electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Since there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Owings MD area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature 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 considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Owings MD program and school are 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 obtain a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, a number of states require that the electrician training course 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 might indicate that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It could also mean that the teachers were not competent to train 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 may produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Owings MD graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Owings MD area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Owings MD electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Owings home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to a few of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Owings MD, verify that the programs you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Owings MD?

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

Owings Mills, Maryland

Owings Mills is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. It is a suburb of Baltimore. The population was 30,622 at the 2010 census.[1] Owings Mills is home to the northern terminus of the Baltimore Metro Subway, and previously housed the Owings Mills Mall until its closure in 2015.[2] It is also home to the Baltimore Ravens' headquarters facility. In 2008, CNNMoney.com named Owings Mills number 49 of the "100 Best Places to Live and Launch." [3]

As of the census[5] of 2010, there were 30,622 people and 12,525 households in the CDP. The population density was 3,189.8 people per square mile (1,229.8/km²). There were 13,282 housing units, at an average density of 1,383.5 per square mile (533.4/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 34.3% White, 51.0% African American, 0.3% Native American, 7.8% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, 3.3% some other race, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.0% of the population.

There were 12,525 households, out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.5% were headed by married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.1% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.1% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34, and the average family size was 3.01.

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Choose the Right Electrical Technical School near Owings MD

Selecting the right electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrician training program that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should offer a real-world context, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Every training program offers different options for certification as well. Perhaps the best way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you select is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Owings MD.