How to Become an Electrician in Millinocket Maine
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Millinocket ME. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are so many factors to consider. For example, many potential students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their home. When they have found several that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are important, they are not the only factors that must be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your final decision when choosing an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are available.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Millinocket ME
There are three general ways to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Millinocket 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. Frequently these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the three most prevalent programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Maine technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards students who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require two years to complete and are offered by Maine junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Maine institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Millinocket ME can undertake a wide range of functions, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be earned 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 agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you pick not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Programs in Millinocket ME
An alternative that you might have looked at is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more accommodating alternative for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Travelling expenses from Millinocket ME are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online also. All of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Once you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Because there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Millinocket ME region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional variables that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Millinocket ME program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you acquire an excellent education, it can help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, many 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 percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate might signify that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It might also suggest that the teachers were not qualified 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 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 confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Millinocket ME grads acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Millinocket ME area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Millinocket ME electrical company if they can give you some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Millinocket home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be increased tuition charges 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 see how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to some of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Millinocket ME, verify that the schools you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Millinocket ME?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Millinocket ME area.
Millinocket, Maine
Millinocket was first settled in 1829 by Betsy and Thomas Fowler and their family, who cleared land for a farm. When the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad extended service to Houlton in 1894, the line ran through the area, opening it to development.
Charles W. Mullen, an engineering graduate from the University of Maine, proposed a hydroelectric dam on the Penobscot River. He recognized the falls as an ideal water power source to operate a large pulp and paper mill. Mullen contacted Garret Schenck, vice-president of the International Paper mill at Rumford Falls and an expert in the industry, about building a pulp and paper mill near the dam. Mr. Schenck agreed, and set about obtaining the necessary financial backing.[5]
After securing land rights, the chosen site was at the junction of the West Branch of the Penobscot River and Millinocket Stream, where it stands today. Things moved quickly, and on May 15, 1899, construction began on the new Great Northern Paper Company paper mill. As the location was not near existing towns, it became necessary to build one. Millinocket, meaning "the land of many islands" after all the islands in the Penobscot River, was incorporated on March 16, 1901.[6]
Select the Ideal Electrician Trade School near Millinocket ME
Picking the best electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training program that you are examining includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be small 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. Training programs vary in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each training program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Probably the best approach to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you choose is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Millinocket ME.
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