How to Become an Electrician in Durham Maine

The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Durham ME. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are a number of factors to consider. For instance, some prospective students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have found some that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are of importance, they are not the only factors that need to be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are accessible.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Durham ME

There are multiple approaches to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Durham ME. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Bellow are brief descriptions of the 3 most typical programs available.

• Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Maine vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards those who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
• Associate Degree Programs take two years to complete and are offered by Maine junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Maine colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements

Electricians in Durham ME can undertake a wide range of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly test general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be earned in many specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes three levels of proficiency:

• 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 imperative that the electrician trade school that you choose not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Programs in Durham ME

An option that you may have considered is selecting an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning may be a more accommodating option for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Travelling expenses from Durham 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 trade schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Now that you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Durham ME region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are other factors that need to be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to enrolling in an electrical tech school.

Accreditation.  Many electrician technical schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Durham ME program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it may assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many 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 course. A low completion rate may indicate that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It might also signify that the instructors were not competent to instruct 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 list of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Durham ME students acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs.  A large number of electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Durham ME area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed 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 specialist you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Durham ME electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Durham residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s important that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Speak with some of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling.  Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Durham ME, verify that the schools you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Durham ME?

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

Select the Ideal Electrical Tech School near Durham ME

Selecting the ideal electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are several things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Each program offers different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you pick is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Durham ME.

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