Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Burlington MA 01803

How to Become an Electrician in Burlington Massachusetts

Burlington MA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Burlington MA. But with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are a number of factors to consider. For instance, some students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their home. When they have identified several that are within commuting range, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the sole things that need to be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your final judgment when picking 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 training choices that are available.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Burlington MA

Burlington MA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple approaches to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Burlington MA. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are short summaries of the three most prevalent programs available.

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

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Massachusetts institutions, 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 completed prior to licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Guidelines

Burlington MA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Burlington MA can perform a vast array of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly around four to five years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate 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 identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be acquired in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes 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 trade school that you select not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Training Classes in Burlington MA

attending electrician school online in Burlington MA An alternative that you might have looked at is selecting an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, distance learning might be a more practical choice for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Driving expenses from Burlington MA are also reduced and some of the study materials can be available online also. All of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Burlington MA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Burlington MA area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first two that we mentioned 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 factors that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research before choosing an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Many electrician vocational schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Burlington MA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you obtain a superior education, it may assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Also, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order 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 percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate might signify that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It might also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to instruct 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 use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Burlington MA graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Burlington MA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Burlington MA electrical company if they can provide some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Burlington residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to some of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Burlington MA, confirm that the schools you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Burlington MA?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Burlington MA area.

Burlington, Massachusetts

It is believed that Burlington takes its name from the English town of Bridlington, Yorkshire but this has never been confirmed[n 1] . It was first settled in 1641 and was officially incorporated on February 28, 1799; several of the early homesteads are still standing, such as the Francis Wyman House, dating from 1666. The town is sited on the watersheds of the Ipswich, Mystic, and Shawsheen rivers. In colonial times up through the late 19th century, there was industry in the mills along Vine Brook, which runs from Lexington to Bedford and then empties into the Shawsheen River.

Burlington is now a suburban industrial town at the junction of the Boston-Merrimack corridor, but for most of its history it was almost entirely agricultural, selling hops and rye to Boston and supplementing that income with small shoe-making shops. Early railroad expansion passed the town by (although the town was serviced by the Middlesex Turnpike), limiting its early development, and Burlington continued to cure hams for the Boston market and produce milk, fruit, and vegetables.

This picture changed drastically, however, as soon as Route 128 was built. The highway kicked off an enormous expansion, and between 1955 and 1965 Burlington was the fastest growing town in the state. In one five-year period, its population tripled as residential and commercial retail development exploded creating the town's present character.

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Find the Right Electrician Trade School near Burlington MA

Choosing the best electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are examining includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Every program provides different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best means to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you select is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Burlington MA.