How to Become an Electrician in Monhegan Maine
The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Monhegan ME. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are so many factors to evaluate. For instance, some potential students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their home. After they have found some that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the only things that need to be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your final judgment when picking an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional choices that are offered.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Monhegan ME
There are multiple options to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Monhegan ME. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you would like to become certified. Bellow are brief explanations of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Maine technical and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards students who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require two years to complete and are provided by Maine community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Maine colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Monhegan ME can carry out a multitude of tasks, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly about four to five years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically assess electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as 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 can be acquired in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes 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 crucial that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools in Monhegan ME
An alternative that you may have considered is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs have become more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning might be a more practical alternative for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Commuting expenses from Monhegan ME are also reduced and some of the study materials may be available online also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
When you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Monhegan ME region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are other factors that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Monhegan ME program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you receive a superior education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some states require that the electrician training program 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 complete the course. A lower completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It might also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Monhegan ME grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician training programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with Monhegan ME area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Monhegan ME electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Monhegan residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience 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 meet your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Monhegan ME, confirm that the schools you are considering provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Monhegan ME?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Monhegan ME area.
Monhegan, Maine
Monhegan /mɒnˈhiːɡən/ is a plantation in Lincoln County, Maine, United States, about 12 nautical miles (22 km) off the mainland. The population was 69 at the 2010 census. The plantation comprises its namesake island and the uninhabited neighboring island of Manana. The island is accessible by scheduled boat service from Boothbay Harbor, New Harbor and Port Clyde. It was designated a National Natural Landmark for its coastal and island flora in 1966.[1]
The name Monhegan derives from Monchiggon, Algonquian for "out-to-sea island." European explorers Martin Pring visited in 1603, Samuel de Champlain in 1604, George Weymouth in 1605 and Captain John Smith in 1614. The island got its start as a British fishing camp prior to settlement of the Plymouth Colony. Cod was harvested from the rich fishing grounds of the Gulf of Maine, then dried on fish flakes before shipment to Europe. A trading post was built to conduct business with the Indians, particularly in the lucrative fur trade.[2] It was Monhegan traders who taught English to Samoset, the sagamore who in 1621 startled the Pilgrims by boldly walking into their new village at Plymouth and saying: "Welcome, Englishmen." [3]
On April 29, 1717, Monhegan was visited by the Anne, a pirate ship of the snow type. The Anne had originally been captured off the Virginia Capes in April by the pirate Samuel Bellamy in the Whydah, which wrecked in a storm on the night of April 26, 1717, off of Cape Cod. The Anne made it through the storm with another captured vessel, the Fisher (which was soon abandoned and the pirates aboard her transferred to the Anne). The pirates, led by Richard Noland,[4] arrived at Monhegan on April 29, and waited for the Whydah, for the pirates had not seen or heard about the Whydah wrecking in the storm of the night of April 26. The pirates eventually realized the Whydah was lost, and proceeded to attack vessels at Matinicus Island and Pemaquid (now Bristol). The pirates outfitted for their own uses a small 25-ton sloop that the pirates had captured off Matinicus, one that formerly belonged to Colonel Stephen Minot. They abandoned all the other vessels (including the Anne) they had captured and most of their prisoners at Matinicus on or about May 9, 1717, on Minot's sloop.[5]
Select the Right Electrical Technical School near Monhegan ME
Picking the right electrician 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 many things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Every program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Probably the best way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you choose is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Monhegan ME.
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