Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Lakeville MA 02347

How to Become an Electrician in Lakeville Massachusetts

Lakeville MA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Lakeville MA. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are a number of points to evaluate. For example, some students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their home. After they have identified a few that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are of importance, they are not the only factors that should be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician trade school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are available.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Lakeville MA

Lakeville MA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple approaches to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Lakeville MA. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three options. In many cases these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Bellow are brief explanations of the three most common programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Massachusetts technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards those who want to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees take two years to complete and are offered by Massachusetts community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Massachusetts colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed before licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria

Lakeville MA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Lakeville MA can undertake a wide range of tasks, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be earned in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves three 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you select not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools in Lakeville MA

attending electrician school online in Lakeville MA A possibility that you might have contemplated is choosing an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more practical choice for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Travelling costs from Lakeville MA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be available on line as well. Each of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Lakeville MA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Because there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Lakeville MA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are other variables that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research before choosing an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Lakeville 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 ensure that you acquire a superior education, it may help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, a number of 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 percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate might signify that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It could also indicate that the instructors 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 directory of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Lakeville MA graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician vocational programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Lakeville MA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain 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 already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Lakeville MA electrical contractor if they can give you some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Lakeville residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with some of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to a few of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Lakeville MA, check that the schools you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Lakeville MA?

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

Lakeville, Massachusetts

Lakeville was settled in 1717 as a western parish of Middleborough. It was incorporated as a separate town in 1853. The town's name comes from the system of lakes in the town, including Assawompset Pond, Great Quittacas Pond, Little Quittacas Pond, Pocksha Pond, and Long Pond. Long Pond is the source of the Acushnet River, and Assawompsett Pond is the source of the Nemasket River, which feeds the Taunton River. Ocean Spray is headquartered in Lakeville. Lakeville is also commonly referred to as "The Promised Land."

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 36.1 square miles (93.6 km2), of which 29.6 square miles (76.6 km2) is land and 6.6 square miles (17.0 km2), or 18.17%, is water.[2] Lakeville is irregularly shaped, bordered by Middleborough to the northeast and east, Rochester to the southeast, Freetown to the south and southwest, and Berkley and Taunton to the west. Its borders with Taunton, Berkley and Freetown are also a central section of the western borders of Plymouth County. Lakeville is roughly at the center of what is considered Southeastern Massachusetts, and is approximately 20 miles (32 km) west of Plymouth, 20 miles (32 km) north of New Bedford, 30 miles (48 km) east of Providence, Rhode Island, and 40 miles (64 km) south of Boston.

The town's geography is dominated by its namesake lakes, which are referred to as "ponds" in general usage. In addition to the main bodies of water and their feeder brooks and rivers, there are also several smaller ponds, as well as many brooks and swamps, including the Casual Swamp and the Cedar Swamp, which is protected as a part of the Assonet Cedar Swamp Wildlife Management Area, which is operated by the Massachusetts Audubon Society. There are also several small conservation areas, four country clubs and two parks, including the Ted Williams Camp, which was once the site of a summer baseball camp run by Ted Williams. According to "Lakeville, Massachusetts Gravestone Inscriptions 1711-2003" by Jean Douillette, there are 31 known cemeteries in Lakeville, or almost 1 per square mile.

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Find the Ideal Electrician Vocational School near Lakeville MA

Choosing the best electrician 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 many things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical training that you are examining includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Each program offers different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best way to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Take the time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you pick is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Lakeville MA.