Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Pembroke MA 02359

How to Become an Electrician in Pembroke Massachusetts

Pembroke MA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Pembroke MA. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are a number of points to consider. For example, some potential students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have identified several that are within commuting range, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though location and cost are significant, they are not the only factors that must be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your final judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are available.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Pembroke MA

Pembroke MA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Pembroke MA. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as common as the other three options. In many cases these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you intend to become certified. Bellow are brief explanations of the three most prevalent programs available.

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

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some Massachusetts colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be performed prior to licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites

Pembroke MA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Pembroke MA can carry out a multitude of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally about four to five years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be obtained in various specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves 3 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes in Pembroke MA

attending electrician school online in Pembroke MA An option that you may have considered is selecting an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, internet learning can be a more accommodating choice for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Driving expenses from Pembroke MA are also lessened and some of the study materials may be available online also. All of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Pembroke MA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Pembroke MA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are other factors that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Pembroke MA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you acquire a superior education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, many states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate might signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It may also mean that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, 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 a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Pembroke MA grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician training programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with Pembroke MA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school 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 already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Pembroke MA electrical company if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Pembroke home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with a few of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications 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 Pembroke MA, verify that the schools you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Pembroke MA?

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

Pembroke, Massachusetts

The earliest European settlers were Robert Barker and Dolor Davis, who settled in the vicinity of Herring Brook in 1650. Up until that time, the Wampanoag and the Massachusett were the only residents, fishing and farming along the rivers; they called the area Mattakeesett, which means "place of much fish", because of the annual springtime run of herring in the local rivers. The land was part of the Major's Purchase, a large tract of lands bought from Josias Wampatuck of the Massachusetts by a group of English investors. The area was once a part of Duxbury, before incorporating as a separate town in 1712, and was ultimately named for the town of Pembroke, Wales, the name of Brookfield being rejected because it was already in use by the town in Worcester County that still bears this name.

Most notable of the town's resources are its water resources, which include the North River and Indian Head River; its ponds, Oldham, Furnace, Great Sandy Bottom, Little Sandy Bottom, and Stetson Ponds; and Silver Lake. The town's ponds, streams and marshes are the home of herring that were prized so much that in 1741, the town began regulating the taking and preservation of the fish. The herring are celebrated each year at the town's annual "Grande Old Fish Fry".[2]

The Pembroke Iron Works was established in 1720 and used iron dredged from the bottom of the ponds. Ice was cut from the ponds, stored in icehouses, and used in the summer months for food preservation. The ponds and streams also provided power for various mills, including grist, flour and sawmills. Later, shipbuilding and box manufacturing became important factors in the development of the town.[2]

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Pick the Right Electrician Trade School near Pembroke MA

Selecting the right electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are many things that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical training that you are considering includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide 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 offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you select is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Pembroke MA.