How to Become an Electrician in Calais Maine
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Calais ME. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are so many variables to consider. For example, many students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have found some that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. Although cost and location are significant, they are not the only things that need to be considered. Also important 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 selecting an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are available.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Calais ME
There are several options to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Calais ME. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Frequently these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the three most prevalent programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Maine trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who want to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to complete and are provided by Maine community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Maine colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Calais ME can carry out a wide range of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be obtained in several specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves 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 important that the electrician tech school that you pick not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Calais ME
A possibility that you may have looked at is choosing an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, distance learning might be a more practical choice for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Travelling expenses from Calais ME are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Calais ME area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional factors that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Calais ME school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Also, some states mandate that the electrician training course 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 of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate could suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It could also signify that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list 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 will not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Calais ME grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician training programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Calais ME area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed 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, consult with the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Calais ME electrical company if they can provide some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Calais residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger 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 instructors and students. Talk with several of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise 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 meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Calais ME, check that the schools you are comparing 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, illness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Calais ME?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Calais ME area.
Calais, Maine
Calais /ˈkælɪs/ ( listen) is a city in Washington County, Maine, United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 3,123, making Calais the third least-populous city in Maine (after Hallowell and Eastport).[4] The city has three Canada–US border crossings (also known as ports of entry) over the St. Croix River connecting to St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada.
Calais has been a city of commerce and is recognized as the primary shopping center of eastern Washington County and of Charlotte County, New Brunswick. Retail, service, and construction businesses are the primary components of the Calais economy.
This area was occupied for thousands of years by indigenous peoples. The historic Passamaquoddy, an Algonquian-speaking people of the Wabanaki Confederacy, was predominant in this area at the time of European encounter and settlement.
Choose the Right Electrical Vocational School near Calais ME
Picking the ideal electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world context, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Take the time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you pick is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Calais ME.
Other Cool Cities in Maine
Business Results 1 - 10 of 0
