Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Dracut MA 01826

How to Become an Electrician in Dracut Massachusetts

Dracut MA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Dracut MA. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are a number of variables to evaluate. For example, many prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their home. When they have identified several that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole things that should be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician training school. We will discuss 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 Dracut MA

Dracut MA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several ways to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Dracut MA. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are short summaries of the three most common programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Massachusetts trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to complete and are offered by Massachusetts junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Massachusetts institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be completed before licensing. Because of that, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements

Dracut MA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Dracut MA can carry out a wide range of services, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally around four to five years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically assess general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be earned in several specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves 3 levels of competency:

An experience requirement
Passing a written exam
Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying organizations include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you select not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might need to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Training Classes in Dracut MA

attending electrician school online in Dracut MA A possibility that you may have considered is selecting an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning may be a more accommodating option for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Driving expenses from Dracut MA are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online as well. Each of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Dracut MA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Dracut MA region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are other factors that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess before selecting an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Dracut MA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you acquire a quality education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some states mandate 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 low completion rate could suggest that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It may also signify that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which may result in more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Dracut MA grads secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Dracut MA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Dracut MA electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Dracut home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with some of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Dracut MA, confirm that the schools you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Dracut MA?

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

Dracut, Massachusetts

Before Europeans arrived in the mid-17th century, Dracut and the surrounding area were known as "Augumtoocooke". Important Pennacook Indian settlements were served by fishing at Pawtucket Falls on the Merrimack River and abundant game in the surrounding marsh areas.[1] From the late 16th to mid-17th centuries, the powerful sachem Passaconaway and his family spent much of their lives on this land.

Europeans began to settle in the area around 1653, and established the town of Chelmsford, incorporated in 1655, on the opposite side of the Merrimack River from modern Dracut. In October 1665, Bess, wife of Nobb How and daughter of Passaconaway, sold the Augumtoocooke land to Captain John Evered, also known as Webb of Draucutt of Norfolk County (the Webb family is associated closely with the town of Dreycott Folliott in Wiltshire, England[2]) for four yards of Duffill and one pound of tobacco.[1] Webb had months earlier sold 11,000 acres (45 km2) of the land — which he did not then own — to Samuel Varnum for 400 four hundred pounds; the deed for "Drawcutt upon Mirrimack" was dated 1664.[3] Webb also sold land to Richard Shatswell, who traded it to Edward Colburn (also spelled "Coburn" or "Colborne") for his home and land in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Colburn and his family were probably the first settlers in Dracut who owned land with the intention of permanently living on it. (Samuel Varnum lived on the Chelmsford side of the Merrimack River.)[4][5][6]

Even though this area, now known to the new settlers as Dracut (Draucutt), was across the Merrimack River from the Chelmsford town center, they agreed to pay taxes and relied on Chelmsford for protection, according to 1667 Middlesex Court documents.[7] By summer 1669, however, protection became too costly and difficult, so the Chelmsford Mayor Henchman declared:

The location could not be found.

Choose the Right Electrician Tech School near Dracut MA

Selecting the best electrical training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are many things that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training program that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Every program offers different possibilities for certification also. Probably The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you choose is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Dracut MA.