How to Become an Electrician in Kingfield Maine
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Kingfield ME. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are so many factors to consider. For instance, some potential students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have located some that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the sole factors that must be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician trade 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 accessible.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Kingfield ME
There are several approaches to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Kingfield ME. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or earn 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 offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are brief descriptions of the three most typical programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Maine vocational and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards those who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve 2 years to complete and are offered by Maine junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Maine institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out before licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines
Electricians in Kingfield ME can perform a vast array of functions, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around four to five years of prior experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be obtained in several specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you choose not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes in Kingfield ME
An option that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning may be a more convenient alternative for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Commuting costs from Kingfield ME are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be available on line as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
When you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Kingfield ME region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The initial two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. 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 crucial when making your decision, there are other variables that need to be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational schools have received 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 pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Kingfield ME school is 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 superior education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It could also indicate that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s also essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which may result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Kingfield ME students acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Kingfield ME area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Kingfield ME electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Kingfield home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk to a few of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Kingfield ME, confirm that the schools you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, 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 Kingfield ME?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Kingfield ME area.
Kingfield, Maine
Kingfield is a town in Franklin County, Maine, United States. The population was 997 at the 2010 census. Kingfield is the principal gateway to Sugarloaf, a major ski resort, and is headquarters to Maine Huts and Trails.
The first recorded European visitors were John W. Dutton and Nathaniel Kimball in 1805. They returned the following year with their families and began a settlement. In 1807, William King (later to be Maine’s first Governor) purchased the township as part of the Bigham Plantation. In 1816 Kingfield was incorporated as the 210th town in the Maine District of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Salomon Stanley was one of the earliest town settlers. His twin sons, Francis Edgar (F.E.) and Freelan Oscar (F.O.) became famous as manufacturers of Stanley Dry Plate, bought in 1903 by Eastman Kodak, and the Stanley Steamer automobile, manufactured from 1902-1924. Their sister, Chansonetta, became a photographer renowned for her portraits of local rural life. The Stanley Museum celebrates the family and its accomplishments.
Choose the Right Electrician Vocational School near Kingfield ME
Picking the best electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Each training program offers unique possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best means to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you select is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Kingfield ME.
Other Cool Cities in Maine
Business Results 1 - 10 of 12
