How to Become an Electrician in Brewer Maine
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Brewer ME. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially because there are so many variables to examine. For instance, many potential students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have found a few that are within commuting range, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole factors that must be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are available.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Brewer ME
There are multiple approaches to obtain electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Brewer ME. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Frequently these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are short descriptions of the three most prevalent programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Maine technical and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require two years to finish and are offered by Maine community colleges, usually 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 accessible at certain Maine colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed prior to licensing. For that reason, many students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Brewer ME can undertake a wide range of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually about four to five years of experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be earned in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases entails 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 trade school that you select not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Brewer ME
An alternative that you may have considered is choosing an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, internet learning can be a more practical option for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Travelling expenses from Brewer ME are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be available online also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Now that you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Brewer ME area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. 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 chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are additional variables that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Brewer ME program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, many states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering 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 may suggest that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It may also indicate that the teachers were not competent to train 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 directory of graduates, which can result in more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Brewer ME students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical 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 inside their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Brewer ME area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm 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 presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Brewer ME electrical contracting company if they can provide some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Brewer home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to some of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Brewer ME, confirm that the schools you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Brewer ME?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Brewer ME area.
Brewer, Maine
Brewer is a city in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. It is part of the Bangor, Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is named after its first settler, Colonel John Brewer.[7] The population was 9,482 at the 2010 census.
Brewer is the sister city of Bangor. The two are at the head of navigation on opposite sides of the Penobscot River estuary and are connected by three bridges. Brewer and Bangor were originally both part of Condeskeag Plantation, though the Brewer part was also called "New Worcester" after John Brewer's birthplace. In 1788 Orrington, Maine was incorporated with Brewer/New Worcester as its major village. The other half of Condeskeag incorporated in 1791 as Bangor. Finally, in 1812 Brewer broke away from Orrington and incorporated as a separate town.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.68 square miles (40.61 km2), of which, 15.23 square miles (39.45 km2) is land and 0.45 square miles (1.17 km2) is water.[4]
Find the Ideal Electrical Tech School near Brewer ME
Choosing the best electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrical training that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world context, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Each training program provides different options for certification also. Perhaps The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Brewer ME.
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