Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Lincolnville ME 04849

How to Become an Electrician in Lincolnville Maine

Lincolnville ME electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Lincolnville ME. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially because there are so many variables to consider. For instance, some students will start by looking for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have located some that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are significant, they are not the only qualifications that need to be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Lincolnville ME

Lincolnville ME electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general options to get electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Lincolnville ME. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you want to earn certification. Bellow are short descriptions of the 3 most common programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Maine trade and technical schools and take about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who want to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees involve two years to finish and are provided by Maine junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Maine institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines

Lincolnville ME electricians working on power lines Electricians in Lincolnville ME can perform a wide range of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually test electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be acquired in numerous specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails 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) 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 provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools in Lincolnville ME

attending electrician school online in Lincolnville ME A possibility that you may have contemplated is selecting an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning may be a more convenient option for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Commuting costs from Lincolnville ME are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be accessed online also. All of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Lincolnville ME electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Lincolnville ME region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to selecting an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. Many electrician technical schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Lincolnville ME program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you obtain an excellent education, it can assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it 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 percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate could indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It may also signify that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to employ 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 trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Lincolnville ME students secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician vocational 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 within their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Lincolnville ME area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain 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 currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Lincolnville ME electrical company if they can give you some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Lincolnville home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with several of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Lincolnville ME, verify that the schools you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Lincolnville ME?

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

Lincolnville, Maine

Approximately 10,000 years ago, a glacier covered the area to a depth of several thousand feet, carving irregular landforms that survive today. The earliest artifact of European origin was fragments of a 1650-1660 clay pipe, probably a trade good with the native population. First settled in 1774, the town was incorporated in 1802 from Canaan and Ducktrap plantations. It was named for General Benjamin Lincoln, a Revolutionary War General and friend of Henry Knox.[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 43.65 square miles (113.05 km2), of which, 37.34 square miles (96.71 km2) is land and 6.31 square miles (16.34 km2) is water.[3] Located along the western side of Penobscot Bay, Lincolnville is drained by the Ducktrap River. Principle bodies of water include: Megunticook Lake, Norton Pond (123 acres), Coleman Pond (225 acres), Moody Pond (61 acres) and Levenseller Pond (34 acres).

The town is served by U.S. Route 1, Maine State Routes 173, 52 and 235. It is bordered by Belmont on the north, Northport on the northeast, Penobscot Bay on the east, Camden on the south, Hope on the west and Searsmont on the northwest.

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Select the Ideal Electrician Tech School near Lincolnville ME

Selecting the right electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are examining includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the type of credential provided, so you will have to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy 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 check out each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you choose is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Lincolnville ME.