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Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Waterford ME 04088

How to Become an Electrician in Waterford Maine

Waterford ME electrician inspecting circuit panelThe initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Waterford ME. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are a number of factors to consider. For instance, some potential students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their home. When they have found a few that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole things that need to be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are accessible.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Waterford ME

Waterford ME electrician re-wiring power outletThere are three general approaches to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Waterford ME. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Frequently these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most common programs available.

  • Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Maine trade and technical schools and take about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who want to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to finish and are offered by Maine junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain Maine colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out before licensing. For that reason, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites

Waterford ME electricians working on power linesElectricians in Waterford ME can carry out a wide range of duties, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally around four to five years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically assess electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be earned in many specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you pick not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Waterford ME

attending electrician school online in Waterford MEAn alternative that you might have looked at is choosing an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, internet learning might be a more convenient option for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Commuting expenses from Waterford ME are also lessened and some of the study materials may be accessed on line also. All of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Waterford ME electrician re-wiring circuit panelWhen you have made a decision to earn 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 Waterford ME area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are other variables that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze before choosing an electrical trade school.

Accreditation.  Numerous electrician vocational programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Waterford ME school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it may help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, a number of 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate could indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It might also suggest that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to employ 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 Waterford ME grads secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Most electrician technical programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Waterford ME area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Waterford ME electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Waterford residence. Take note that if you decide to attend 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 desirable that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to some of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling.  Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Waterford ME, confirm that the programs you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, ask 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 Waterford ME?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Waterford ME area.

Waterford, Maine

The township was granted on February 24, 1774 by the Massachusetts General Court to Captain Andrew Gardner and his company of soldiers for services under Sir William Phipps during the 1690 expedition against Canada. It replaced a 1735 grant called Toddstown or Township No. 6 (now Henniker, New Hampshire), which was ruled invalid when the state line was redrawn between Massachusetts and New Hampshire in 1741.[4]

The land was surveyed in 1774; in spring of 1775, David McWain of Bolton, Massachusetts arrived with his dog at a lot he bought for $40. He cleared land and built a log cabin, returning to Bolton for two winters until he settled permanently at Waterford in spring of 1777. McWain preferred solitude, and was deeply annoyed when he first saw smoke rising about 12 miles (19 km) away at Paris Hill. "Humph," he said, "I would like to know who is settling over there right under my nose!" Other grantees arrived nevertheless, most from the Massachusetts towns of Bolton, Harvard, Stow, Northborough and Rowley. Indeed, the northwestern part of the plantation was once known as Rowley after the inhabitants' former hometown.[5]

On March 2, 1797, Waterford was incorporated, with land annexed from Albany in 1811. The surface of the town is uneven and somewhat mountainous. It was well-suited for pasturage and orchards, and agriculture became a principal occupation. Sawmills were built at streams to manufacture the region's abundant timber into lumber. Wood products included window sashes, barrel staves, salt boxes and buckets. There was also a gristmill, carriage factory and tannery. Today, Waterford Flat is a resort area, and home to The Lake House, a 1797 inn set among antique buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[6]

The location could not be found.

Choose the Ideal Electrical Technical School near Waterford ME

Choosing the ideal electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world context, 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 need to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Each training program provides unique options for certification as well. Probably the best approach to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the teachers 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 pick is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Waterford ME.

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