Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Harrison ME 04040

How to Become an Electrician in Harrison Maine

Harrison ME electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Harrison ME. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are a number of variables to examine. For instance, some potential students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have identified a few that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the only factors that need to be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your final decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are available.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Harrison ME

Harrison ME electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple ways to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Harrison ME. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the three most prevalent programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Maine technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who want to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs take two years to complete and are offered by Maine community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Maine institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria

Harrison ME electricians working on power lines Electricians in Harrison ME can carry out a multitude of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about four to five years of practical experience is called for before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically test general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be obtained in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases involves three 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 imperative that the electrician trade school that you choose not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Programs Online in Harrison ME

attending electrician school online in Harrison ME A possibility that you may have contemplated is selecting an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs have become more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, internet learning may be a more accommodating option for students that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Driving expenses from Harrison ME are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may 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 due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Harrison ME electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Harrison ME area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other variables that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. Many electrician trade programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Harrison ME program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, a number of states require that the electrician training program 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 percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate could indicate that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It could also mean that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to use 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 field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Harrison ME students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician training programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Harrison ME area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Harrison ME electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Harrison residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple 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 opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Harrison ME, check that the schools you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, find 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 Harrison ME?

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

Harrison, Maine

Harrison is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,730 at the 2010 census.[4] A historic resort area, Harrison straddles Long Lake and Crystal Lake. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area.

The Massachusetts General Court granted Otis Field Plantation in 1771 to James Otis and other heirs of Captain John Gorham and his company for their service in the 1690 Battle of Quebec. It replaced a 1736 grant which had been ruled invalid. In 1797, the plantation was incorporated as Otisfield. On March 8, 1805, Harrison was set off and incorporated from portions of Otisfield and Bridgton. It was named after a principal landowner, Harrison Gray Otis of Boston, the heir of James Otis.[5]

In the autumn of 1792, two brothers from Gorham, John and Nathan Carsley, built a camp and cleared land in Harrison. During the winter they returned to Gorham, coming back in March 1793 with their wives. Because John Carsley and his wife remained in Harrison when Nathan Carsley and his wife resumed living in Gorham until 1796, he is considered the town's first permanent settler. More pioneers arrived, living in log houses chinked with moss. The outlet of Crystal Lake into Long Lake provided water power for industry, and James Sampson erected at Harrison village the first sawmill and gristmill. Over the years other industries followed, including a wire-making business, blacksmithy, shingle mill, harness-maker, foundry, carriage maker, clothing maker and shoe shop. Scribner's Mill (now a museum) was built in 1847 on the Crooked River. On the Bear River, in 1867 the Harrison Water Power Company established the Bear River Woolen Mill, destroyed by fire in 1872.[6]

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Choose the Ideal Electrician Trade School near Harrison ME

Choosing the ideal electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every program provides different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you pick is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Harrison ME.