How to Become an Electrician in Mattawamkeag Maine
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Mattawamkeag ME. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are so many points to consider. For instance, some students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have found several that are within commuting range, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. While cost and location are significant, they are not the sole qualifications that must be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your final 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 instructional choices that are accessible.
Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Mattawamkeag ME
There are multiple approaches to receive electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Mattawamkeag ME. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as common as the other three options. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are short summaries of the 3 most prevalent programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Maine trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards students who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take two years to finish and are provided by Maine junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Maine institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed before licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines
Electricians in Mattawamkeag ME can undertake a multitude of functions, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly about four to five years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly test electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be obtained in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases entails 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Schools Online in Mattawamkeag ME
An alternative that you may have considered is choosing 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 instance they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, internet learning might be a more accommodating alternative for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Commuting expenses from Mattawamkeag ME are also reduced and some of the study materials may be accessed online as well. Each of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Since there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Mattawamkeag ME area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first 2 that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are additional variables that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to enrolling in an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational schools have acquired 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 an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Mattawamkeag ME school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you get a superior education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, many states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved 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 could suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It may also signify that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list 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 can not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Mattawamkeag ME students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Mattawamkeag ME area electricians or electrical specialists. 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 state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Mattawamkeag ME electrical contractor if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Mattawamkeag home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with several of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Mattawamkeag ME, confirm that the programs you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Mattawamkeag ME?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Mattawamkeag ME area.
Mattawamkeag, Maine
The European & North American Railway built a track up the Penobscot River valley from Bangor and reached Mattawamkeag in 1869. By October 1871 the line was completed from Mattawamkeag to Vanceboro, where it connected through to Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. The Maine Central Railroad leased the Bangor-Vanceboro E&NA in 1882 and purchased it in 1955.
In 1889 the International Railway of Maine was completed between Megantic, Quebec, and Mattawamkeag, where it interchanged with the Maine Central. The parent company of the International Railway, Canadian Pacific, obtained running rights from Maine Central for Mattawamkeag to Vanceboro where it regained CPR trackage in New Brunswick. This placed Mattawamkeag on the transcontinental mainline of the Canadian Pacific, running from Saint John to Vancouver, British Columbia. In 1974, CPR purchased the Mattawamkeag-Vanceboro railway tracks from Maine Central. In 1988, CPR transferred trackage east of Megantic to its subsidiary Canadian Atlantic Railway. In 1994, Canadian Atlantic was sold, with the line running through Mattawamkeag being purchased by J. D. Irving and is now operated as the Eastern Maine Railway.
Maine Central was purchased by Guilford Transportation Industries in 1981 and became part of Guilford Rail System, which is now named Pan Am Railways. Mattawamkeag is the eastern terminus of PAR, running west to upstate New York through the states of Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
Pick the Right Electrical Tech School near Mattawamkeag ME
Choosing the right electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training that you are considering includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Every program offers different options for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school 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 Mattawamkeag ME.
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