Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Cambridge MA 02138

How to Become an Electrician in Cambridge Massachusetts

Cambridge MA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Cambridge MA. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many points to examine. For instance, some prospective students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have found some that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the only factors that must be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your final judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Cambridge MA

Cambridge MA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple options to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Cambridge MA. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to become licensed or if you intend to become certified. Bellow are brief summaries of the 3 most prevalent programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Massachusetts technical and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards students who wish to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to finish and are offered by Massachusetts junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Massachusetts institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Guidelines

Cambridge MA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Cambridge MA can perform a vast array of tasks, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically around 4 to 5 years of experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes three levels of proficiency:

An experience requirement
Passing a written exam
Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Cambridge MA

attending electrician school online in Cambridge MA An option that you might have considered is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, internet learning may be a more practical alternative for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Driving costs from Cambridge MA are also reduced and some of the study materials may be accessed on line also. All of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Cambridge MA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Cambridge MA area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are other factors that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze before choosing an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Many electrician vocational schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Cambridge MA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you obtain a quality education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable 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 schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate may indicate that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It may also mean that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s also essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Cambridge MA graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician vocational programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical companies or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Cambridge MA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Cambridge MA electrical company if they can give you some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Cambridge residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to a few of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Cambridge MA, verify that the programs you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Cambridge MA?

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

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Situated directly north of Boston, across the Charles River, it was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders.[4]:18

Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), two of the world's most prestigious universities, are in Cambridge,[5] as was Radcliffe College, one of the leading colleges for women in the United States until it merged with Harvard on October 1, 1999.

According to the 2010 Census, the city's population was 105,162.[6] As of July 2014[update], it was the fifth most populous city in the state, behind Boston, Worcester, Springfield, and Lowell.[7] Cambridge is one of the two seats of Middlesex County, although the county government was abolished in 1997; Lowell is the other.

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Pick the Right Electrician Trade School near Cambridge MA

Choosing the right electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Each training program provides different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you pick is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Cambridge MA.