How to Become an Electrician in Andover Maine
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Andover ME. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are a number of factors to consider. For instance, many potential students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have located some that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. Even though cost and location are of importance, they are not the only factors that must be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are offered.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Andover ME
There are three general approaches to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Andover ME. You can enroll in 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 first three options. Frequently these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Bellow are short summaries of the three most typical programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Maine technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to finish and are offered by Maine community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Maine institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed before licensing. Therefore, many students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Andover ME can undertake a vast array of duties, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about four to five years of prior experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be earned in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails 3 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician tech school that you choose not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online in Andover ME
A possibility that you might have looked at is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial 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 practical choice for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Travelling expenses from Andover ME are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be accessed online also. Each of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Now that you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Andover ME area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are other variables that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze before choosing an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Andover ME program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive an excellent education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order to qualify 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 program. A lower completion rate might indicate that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It could also suggest that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Andover ME grads secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Andover ME area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Andover ME electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Andover home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Speak with several of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Andover ME, confirm that the programs you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Andover ME?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Andover ME area.
Andover, Maine
Andover is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 821 at the 2010 census. Set among mountains and crossed by the Appalachian Trail, Andover is home to the Andover Earth Station and Lovejoy Covered Bridge.
The land which became known as Andover was originally purchased in 1788 by a group of proprietors mostly from Andover, Massachusetts. The original proprietors were Thomas Poor of Methuen, Massachusetts; Jonathan Abbot, Benjamin Poor, Ebenezer Adams, Ingalls Bragg, Theodore Stevens, Samuel Farnum, Philip Abbott, Samuel Johnson, Abiel Lovejoy, and Eben Poor, Jr. all of Andover, Massachusetts; Joseph Frye of Fryeburg, Maine; and John York, Ezekiel Merrill, and Josiah Bean of Bethel, Maine. The town was first settled in 1789 by Ezekiel Merrill and his family who were transported there from Bethel, Maine in canoes managed by members of the local Pequawket tribe. The first saw-mill was built on the East Branch of the Ellis River by Col. Thomas Poor in 1791 and was used to provide the lumber for the still standing Merrill-Poor House.[4]
Early occupations included agriculture and lumbering. As the town developed, factories made doors, sash, blinds, starch, cheese, boots and shoes, edge-tools, carriages and harness. It also had a tannery. Located on an intervale surrounded by mountains, Andover was noted for "its grand and beautiful scenery," with streams abounding in trout. After the Civil War, the town became a popular destination for sportsmen, especially fishermen attracted by the nearby Richardson Lakes. A hotel was built to accommodate the influx of tourists.[6]
Enroll in the Ideal Electrical Technical School near Andover ME
Picking the ideal electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are many things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a must that any electrician training program that you are considering includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every training program offers different possibilities for certification also. Probably the best approach to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you pick is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Andover ME.
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