Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Strafford NH 03884

How to Become an Electrician in Strafford New Hampshire

Strafford NH electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Strafford NH. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are a number of factors to examine. For example, some prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their home. After they have found several that are within driving distance, they will decide on the one with the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are significant, they are not the sole factors that must be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your final judgment when choosing an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are available.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Strafford NH

Strafford NH electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Strafford NH. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the 3 most typical programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by New Hampshire vocational and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who want to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require two years to complete and are offered by New Hampshire junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain New Hampshire institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed before licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Requirements

Strafford NH electricians working on power lines Electricians in Strafford NH can perform a wide range of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly about four to five years of experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be earned in many specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails 3 levels of competency:

An experience requirement
Passing a written exam
Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician vocational school that you select not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Training Classes in Strafford NH

attending electrician school online in Strafford NH An alternative that you might have considered is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, internet learning can be a more convenient choice for students that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Driving expenses from Strafford NH are also reduced and some of the study materials can be accessed online also. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Strafford NH electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Strafford NH area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are additional factors that need to be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Many electrician technical schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Strafford NH program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you obtain an excellent education, it may help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states require that the electrician training course 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 or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate could suggest that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It may also indicate that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Strafford NH graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Strafford NH area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Strafford NH electrical company if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Strafford home. Take note 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 receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with some of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the teachers and find out 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 reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Strafford NH, confirm that the programs you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Strafford NH?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Strafford NH area.

Strafford County, New Hampshire

Strafford County is a county in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. As of the 2010 census, the population was 123,143.[1] Its county seat is Dover.[2] Strafford County was one of the five original counties identified for New Hampshire in 1769. It was named after William Wentworth, 2nd Earl of Strafford in the mistaken belief that he was the ancestor of governor John Wentworth – although they were distantly related, William had no descendants. The county was organized at Dover in 1771. In 1840, the size of the original county was reduced with the creation of Belknap County. Strafford County constitutes a portion of the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as of the greater Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT Combined Statistical Area.

Strafford County is in southeastern New Hampshire, separated from York County in the state of Maine by the Salmon Falls River. The southern part of the Salmon Falls, from Rollinsford to Dover, is a tidal river that flows into the Piscataqua River.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 384 square miles (990 km2), of which 369 square miles (960 km2) is land and 15 square miles (39 km2) (3.9%) is water.[3] It is the smallest county in New Hampshire by area.

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Pick the Right Electrical Vocational School near Strafford NH

Selecting the best electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrician training program that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each program offers different options for certification as well. Probably The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Strafford NH.