How to Become an Electrician in Livermore Falls Maine
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Livermore Falls ME. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially because there are so many points to consider. For example, many potential students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their home. After they have found several that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are important, they are not the only qualifications that need to be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician trade 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 accessible.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Livermore Falls ME
There are several options to get electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Livermore Falls ME. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are short descriptions of the three most common programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Maine technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve two years to complete and are provided by Maine junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Maine colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. For that reason, most students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Livermore Falls ME can undertake a multitude of duties, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be obtained in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails three levels of proficiency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying agencies 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 pick not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes in Livermore Falls ME
An alternative that you may have contemplated is choosing an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning might be a more convenient choice for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Driving costs from Livermore Falls ME are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be available on line as well. Each of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
When you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Livermore Falls ME region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The first two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are other factors that must be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Livermore Falls ME program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get a quality education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify 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 or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate might signify that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It could also signify that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Livermore Falls ME students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Livermore Falls ME area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Livermore Falls ME electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Livermore Falls residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to several of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Livermore Falls ME, verify that the schools you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Livermore Falls ME?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Livermore Falls ME area.
Livermore Falls, Maine
Livermore Falls is a town in Androscoggin County, Maine, United States. The population was 3,187 at the 2010 census. It is included in both the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine Metropolitan New England City and Town Area. High school students in Livermore Falls attend Spruce Mountain High School.
The area was once part of the Abenaki Indian territory called Rockemeka, meaning "great corn place." It would be granted by the General Court of Massachusetts in 1871 as Port Royal, awarded to heirs of veterans who served in the campaign against Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo.[4] It was settled in 1886, then incorporated in 1895 as Livermore after Deacon Elijah Livermore, one of the first English settlers. The county line, determined by the Androscoggin River, divided the town. West of the river was Oxford County, and east was Kennebec County. Consequently, East Livermore (which encompassed a quarter of the original Port Royal grant) was set off and incorporated on March 1, 1844. It became part of Androscoggin County on March 31, 1854. In 1930, East Livermore was renamed Livermore Falls.[5]
In the early 19th century, the region was predominantly farmland, with apple orchards and dairies supplying markets at Boston and Portland. It was noted for fine cattle. As the century progressed, gristmills, sawmills, logging and lumber became important industries, operated by water power from falls that drop 14 feet. With the arrival of the Androscoggin Railroad in 1852, Livermore Falls developed as a small mill town. Shoe factories and paper mills were established, including the Umbagog Pulp Company started by Hugh J. Chisholm. In 1897, the Third Bridge was built across the Androscoggin. It measured 800 feet in length, at that time the longest single-span bridge in New England.[6]
Select the Right Electrical Technical School near Livermore Falls ME
Selecting the best electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training program that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Each program offers different options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you pick 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 Livermore Falls ME.
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