Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Lawrence MA 01840

How to Become an Electrician in Lawrence Massachusetts

Lawrence MA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Lawrence MA. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many variables to consider. For example, many students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their residence. After they have found some that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole qualifications 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 additional qualifications should help mold your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are accessible.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Lawrence MA

Lawrence MA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Lawrence MA. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Frequently these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are brief summaries of the 3 most prevalent programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Massachusetts vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards students who want to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to complete and are offered by Massachusetts community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while supplying 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 preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites

Lawrence MA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Lawrence MA can undertake a wide range of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually 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 differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be obtained in various specialties, 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 organizations include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools in Lawrence MA

attending electrician school online in Lawrence MA An option that you may have considered is choosing an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, internet learning can be a more practical choice for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Commuting costs from Lawrence MA are also reduced and some of the study materials may be accessed on line as well. All of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Lawrence MA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Because there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Lawrence MA area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional factors that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to enrolling in an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Many electrician trade programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Lawrence MA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you get a quality education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, some states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it 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 percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate might indicate that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It might also signify that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which can mean 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 field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Lawrence MA grads obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Lawrence MA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build 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 working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Lawrence MA electrical contracting company if they can give you some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Lawrence home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one 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 observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with some of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Lawrence MA, check that the programs you are considering provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Lawrence MA?

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

Lawrence, Massachusetts

Lawrence is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, on the Merrimack River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 76,377,[2] which had risen to an estimated 78,197 as of 2014.[3] Surrounding communities include Methuen to the north, Andover to the southwest, and North Andover to the southeast. Lawrence and Salem were the county seats of Essex County, until the Commonwealth abolished county government in 1999.[4] Lawrence is part of the Merrimack Valley.

Manufacturing products of the city include electronic equipment, textiles, footwear, paper products, computers, and foodstuffs. Lawrence was the residence of poet Robert Frost for his early school years; his essays and poems were first published in the Lawrence High School newspaper.[5]

Native Americans, namely the Pennacook or Pentucket tribe, had a presence in this area. Evidence of farming at Den Rock Park and arrowhead manufacturing on the site of where the Wood Mill now sits have been discovered.[6]

The location could not be found.

Select the Ideal Electrical Technical School near Lawrence MA

Choosing the ideal electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are several things that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Every training program offers unique options for certification also. Probably The ideal approach to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you choose is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Lawrence MA.