Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Biddeford ME 04005

How to Become an Electrician in Biddeford Maine

Biddeford ME electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Biddeford ME. But with so many vocational 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 evaluate. For example, many prospective students will start by searching for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have located several that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the sole factors that should be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your final judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in greater 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, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Biddeford ME

Biddeford ME electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple approaches to receive electrician training in a trade or technical school near Biddeford ME. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are brief explanations of the three most common programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Maine trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who wish to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees take two years to complete and are provided by Maine junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Maine institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. For that reason, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Guidelines

Biddeford ME electricians working on power lines Electricians in Biddeford ME can perform a vast array of duties, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly around four to five years of prior experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be obtained in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes three 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 imperative that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools in Biddeford ME

attending electrician school online in Biddeford ME An option that you might have looked at is selecting an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs have become more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, distance learning might be a more accommodating option for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Commuting expenses from Biddeford ME are also minimized and some of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Biddeford ME electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Biddeford ME area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, 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 assess prior to selecting an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Biddeford ME program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it may help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states mandate 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 finish the program. A low completion rate could signify that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It may also signify that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which can 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 a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Biddeford ME grads acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Biddeford ME area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Biddeford ME electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Biddeford residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized instruction 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 large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with several of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Biddeford ME, check that the schools you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Biddeford ME?

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

Biddeford, Maine

Biddeford is a city in York County, Maine, United States. It is the principal commercial center of York County. The population was 21,277 at the 2010 census. Twin city of Saco, Biddeford includes the resort community of Biddeford Pool, Fortunes Rocks and Granite Point. The town is the site of the University of New England and the annual La Kermesse Franco-Americaine Festival. First visited by Europeans in 1616, it is the site of one of the earliest European settlements in the United States.

Abenaki Indians, whose main village was upriver at Pequawket (now Fryeburg), once hunted and fished in the area. The first European to settle at Biddeford was physician Richard Vines in the winter of 1616-17 at Winter Harbor, as he called Biddeford Pool. This 1616 landing by a European predates the Mayflower landing in Plymouth, Massachusetts, (located 100 miles to the south) by approximately four years, a fact that is overlooked in much of New England lore.[4] In 1630, the Plymouth Company granted the land south of the River Swanckadocke to Dr. Vines and John Oldham. In 1653, the town included both sides of the river, and was incorporated by the Massachusetts General Court as Saco.[5]

Biddeford was first incorporated as the Town of Saco in 1653.[6] Roger Spencer was granted the right in 1653 to build the first sawmill. Lumber and fish became the community's chief exports. In 1659, Major William Phillips of Boston became a proprietor, and constructed a garrison and mill at the falls. During King Philip's War in 1675, the town was attacked by Indians. Settlers withdrew to Winter Harbor for safety, and their homes and mills upriver at the falls were burned. In 1693, a stone fort was built a short distance below the falls, but it was captured by the Indians in 1703, when 11 colonists were killed and 24 taken captive to Canada. In 1688, Fort Mary was built near the entrance to Biddeford Pool.[7] The town was reorganized in 1718 as Biddeford, after Bideford, a town in Devon, England, from which some settlers had emigrated. After the Fall of Quebec in 1759, hostilities with the natives ceased.[5]

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Enroll in the Right Electrician Technical School near Biddeford ME

Selecting the ideal electrical trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new profession. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every training program offers unique possibilities for certification also. Probably The ideal approach to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Take the time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you select is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Biddeford ME.