How to Become an Electrician in Greenbush Maine
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Greenbush ME. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are a number of points to examine. For example, some prospective students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their residence. After they have located several that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though location and cost are of importance, they are not the only factors that need to be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are available.
Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Greenbush ME
There are multiple options to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Greenbush ME. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are short descriptions of the three most typical programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Maine technical and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who want to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to finish and are offered 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 previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Maine colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines
Electricians in Greenbush ME can undertake a vast array of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly test general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be obtained in many specializations, 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 organizations include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you select not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools in Greenbush ME
An option that you might have considered is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, distance learning may be a more convenient choice for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Travelling expenses from Greenbush ME are also minimized and some of the study materials can be available on line also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Training Schools
When you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Greenbush ME region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are additional factors that need to 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. Many electrician technical programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Greenbush ME school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you receive a superior education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, a number of 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 considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate might signify that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It may also signify that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also essential 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 utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Greenbush ME graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Greenbush ME area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional 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 using on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Greenbush ME electrical contracting company if they can give you some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Greenbush residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with several of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Greenbush ME, confirm that the programs you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Greenbush ME?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Greenbush ME area.
Greenbush, Maine
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 43.96 square miles (113.86 km2), of which, 43.80 square miles (113.44 km2) of it is land and 0.16 square miles (0.41 km2) is water.[1]
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,491 people, 602 households, and 406 families residing in the town. The population density was 34.0 inhabitants per square mile (13.1/km2). There were 725 housing units at an average density of 16.6 per square mile (6.4/km2). The ethnic makeup of the town was 94.2% White, 0.3% African American, 2.0% Native American, 0.3% Asian, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.3% of the population.
There were 602 households of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.6% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.88.
Pick the Ideal Electrician Technical School near Greenbush ME
Choosing the best electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical tech school that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every training program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best approach to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you select is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Greenbush ME.
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