Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Methuen MA 01844

How to Become an Electrician in Methuen Massachusetts

Methuen MA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Methuen MA. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are so many variables to consider. For instance, some potential students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have found a few that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though cost and location are of importance, they are not the only factors that should 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 influence your final judgment when selecting an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are offered.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Methuen MA

Methuen MA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general options to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Methuen MA. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are short descriptions of the three most common programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Massachusetts trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards students who want to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to finish and are provided by Massachusetts community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Massachusetts colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites

Methuen MA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Methuen MA can carry out a multitude of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around four to five years of prior experience is called for before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically assess general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be earned in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you pick not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Training Classes Online in Methuen MA

attending electrician school online in Methuen MA A possibility that you might have considered is selecting an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, distance learning can be a more convenient alternative for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Travelling costs from Methuen MA are also lessened and some of the study materials can be available online also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Methuen MA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Methuen MA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are additional factors that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess before selecting an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Many electrician trade programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Methuen MA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you get a quality education, it may help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Also, many states require 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 reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate may suggest that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It might also signify that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which can produce 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 a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Methuen MA grads acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Methuen MA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Methuen MA electrical company if they can give you some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Methuen residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might 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 difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Talk to several of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Methuen MA, check that the programs you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Methuen MA?

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

Methuen, Massachusetts

Methuen was first settled in 1642 and was officially incorporated in 1726. Methuen was originally part of Haverhill, Massachusetts. In 1724 Stephen Barker and others in the western part of that town petitioned the General Court to grant them permission to form a new town above Hawke's Meadow Brook. Although opposed by their fellow townsmen, the petition was approved the following year (December 8, 1725), and the General Court gave them an act of incorporation under the name of Methuen. The town was named for Sir Paul Methuen, a member of the King's Privy Council and friend of acting Provincial Governor William Dummer. The first town meeting was held March 9, 1726, in the home of a resident. Land was set aside for a meetinghouse, which was erected later in 1726 on what is now Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery.[4]

The residents in the northern part of the new town of Methuen soon petitioned to have their own meetinghouse (a combination of town hall and puritan church), and in 1736 the north parish was set off. Land for a meetinghouse was donated by descendants of the original proprietors of Haverhill, and in 1738 the second Methuen meetinghouse was raised. The structure survives to this day, as the Salem N.H. Historical Society building. In 1741, with the fixing of the Northern boundary of Massachusetts, most of this new north parish was removed from Methuen and placed in New Hampshire. It was incorporated as Salem, New Hampshire in 1750.[4]

Industrial growth in the 1800s influenced Methuen's development. Construction of the Methuen Cotton Mills at the Spicket River falls in the 1820s and the increased manufacture of hats and shoes in small factories along the Spicket spurred the centralization of Methuen's economic, residential and cultural activities within the area around Osgood, Broadway, Hampshire and Pleasant streets. Three wealthy and prominent families—the Nevins, the Tenneys and the Searles—played a significant role in Methuen's history and development. These families were instrumental in the founding of many of Methuen's landmarks, including the Nevins Memorial Library, the Searles building, Tenney Gatehouse, Nevins Home, Spicket Falls, and the Civil War monument between Pleasant and Charles streets.[5]

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Pick the Right Electrical Trade School near Methuen MA

Choosing the right electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are many factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Every training program provides different options for certification as well. Perhaps the best way to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you select is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Methuen MA.