Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Farmingdale ME 04344

How to Become an Electrician in Farmingdale Maine

Farmingdale ME electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Farmingdale ME. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are a number of factors to evaluate. For instance, some students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their home. After they have located a few that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are significant, they are not the only factors that need to be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your ultimate decision when picking an electrician school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are available.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Farmingdale ME

Farmingdale ME electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several ways to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Farmingdale ME. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are short explanations of the three most prevalent programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Maine vocational and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards students who wish to join an apprenticeship more quickly 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 provide a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Maine institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed before licensing. Because of that, many students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements

Farmingdale ME electricians working on power lines Electricians in Farmingdale ME can carry out a wide range of duties, such as installing, replacing and testing 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 length of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be earned in various specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 3 levels of proficiency:

An experience requirement
Passing a written exam
Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying organizations 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 trade school that you enroll in not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Training Classes Online in Farmingdale ME

attending electrician school online in Farmingdale ME A possibility that you might have considered is selecting an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs have become more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, internet learning can be a more convenient choice for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Travelling expenses from Farmingdale ME are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be available online also. All of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Farmingdale ME electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Farmingdale ME area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional variables that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research before selecting an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Many electrician technical programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Farmingdale ME program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you acquire a quality education, it can assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate might suggest that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It may also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which may mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Farmingdale ME graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational 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 companies or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Farmingdale ME area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Farmingdale ME electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Farmingdale home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to some of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Farmingdale ME, check that the schools you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, ask 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 Farmingdale ME?

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

Farmingdale, Maine

In 1852, Farmingdale incorporated as a town,[4] combining parts of South Hallowell, North Gardiner and East/West Gardiner. Many businesses existed in Farmingdale, most of them along the Kennebec River. A major business was harvesting and selling ice worldwide. The Knickerbocker Ice Company (the largest ice company in the country), and the Marshall Ice Company had ice-houses at Bowman's Point.[5] The Knickerbocker Ice Company burned in 1894 or 1895 leaving only the chimney that stood until it was demolished in 1911 to make room for the Central Maine Power Plant.[6] Other businesses on the river in Farmingdale included shipyards, brickyards, pottery, and a glue factory. Commercial growth in ensuing years centered in Gardiner, Hallowell and Augusta, while Farmingdale never developed a town center to compare with those cities. Time, fires, floods and economic forces eventually removed the larger businesses. Today, Farmingdale exists largely as a strong and vibrant residential community whose residents work primarily in other cities. The distinction between the densely developed riverbanks and the open rural back-land remains. Structures that are on the National Register of Historic Places include the Peter Grant House,[7] and the Captain Nathaniel Stone House.[8]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 11.55 square miles (29.91 km2), of which, 11.24 square miles (29.11 km2) of it is land and 0.31 square miles (0.80 km2) is water.[1]

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the town was $51,344, and the median income for a family was $56,415. Males had a median income of $49,643 versus $29,391 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,015. About 18.8% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.5% of those under age 18 and 0% of those age 65 or over.

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Pick the Ideal Electrical Technical School near Farmingdale ME

Selecting the best electrical trade school will probably 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 assess and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrician tech school that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every program offers different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you choose is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Farmingdale ME.