Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Quincy MA 02169

How to Become an Electrician in Quincy Massachusetts

Quincy MA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Quincy MA. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are so many factors to consider. For instance, many students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have found some that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though location and cost are important, they are not the sole things that must be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your final decision when picking an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are available.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Quincy MA

Quincy MA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple approaches to get electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Quincy MA. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Bellow are short descriptions of the three most prevalent programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Massachusetts vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards those who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to finish and are offered by Massachusetts junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Massachusetts colleges, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed before licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines

Quincy MA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Quincy MA can perform a multitude of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge 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 can be obtained in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases involves 3 levels of proficiency:

An experience requirement
Passing a written exam
Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying agencies 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 certification and licensing exams that you may need to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Training Classes Online in Quincy MA

attending electrician school online in Quincy MA An alternative that you may have contemplated is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning can be a more practical choice for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Commuting costs from Quincy MA are also reduced and some of the study materials may be available on line also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Quincy MA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Quincy MA region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we mentioned 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 while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are additional factors that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive 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. Make sure that the Quincy MA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of 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 percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It might also mean that the teachers were not competent to train 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 use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Quincy MA grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician trade programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Quincy MA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes 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 instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Quincy MA electrical company if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Quincy residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk to several of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Quincy MA, verify that the schools you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Quincy MA?

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

Quincy, Massachusetts

Quincy (/ˈkwɪnzi/ KWIN-zee) is the largest city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of Metropolitan Boston and one of Boston's immediate southern suburbs. Its population in 2014 was 93,397, making it the eighth largest city in the state.[1] Known as the "City of Presidents,"[3] Quincy is the birthplace of two U.S. presidents — John Adams and his son John Quincy Adams — as well as John Hancock, a President of the Continental Congress and the first signer of the Declaration of Independence.

First settled in 1625, Quincy was briefly part of Dorchester and Boston before becoming the north precinct of Braintree in 1640. In 1792, Quincy was split off from Braintree; the new town was named after Colonel John Quincy, maternal grandfather of Abigail Adams and after whom John Quincy Adams was also named.[4] Quincy became a city in 1888.

For more than a century, Quincy was home to a thriving granite industry; the city was also the site of the Granite Railway, the United States' first commercial railroad. Shipbuilding at the Fore River Shipyard was another key part of the city's economy. In the 20th century, both Howard Johnson's and Dunkin' Donuts were founded in the city.

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Find the Ideal Electrical Tech School near Quincy MA

Choosing the right electrician trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are examining includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Probably the best way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you pick is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Quincy MA.