Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Norridgewock ME 04957

How to Become an Electrician in Norridgewock Maine

Norridgewock ME electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Norridgewock ME. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are so many points to evaluate. For example, many prospective students will start by looking for schools that are close to their residence. When they have found several that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are important, they are not the sole things that should be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Norridgewock ME

Norridgewock ME electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple options to get electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Norridgewock ME. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are short summaries of the 3 most typical programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Maine technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who want to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees involve two years to complete and are offered by Maine community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Maine institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be carried out prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements

Norridgewock ME electricians working on power lines Electricians in Norridgewock ME can perform a vast array of functions, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about four to five years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be acquired in several specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases includes 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you select not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Norridgewock ME

attending electrician school online in Norridgewock ME An option that you may have looked at is choosing an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, internet learning might be a more practical choice for students that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Commuting costs from Norridgewock ME are also reduced and some of the study materials can be accessed online also. Each of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Norridgewock ME electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Norridgewock ME area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are other variables that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Norridgewock ME program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it may help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, some states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved 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 program. A lower completion rate may indicate that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It could also mean 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 more extensive directory of alumni, which can result in more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Norridgewock ME students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Norridgewock ME area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional 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 using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Norridgewock ME electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Norridgewock home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with several of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Norridgewock ME, verify that the programs you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Norridgewock ME?

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

Norridgewock, Maine

Situated on the New England and Acadia border, which New France defined as the Kennebec River, the area was once territory of the Norridgewock Indians, a band of the Abenaki nation. Their village was located at Old Point, now part of Madison.[4]

English colonists suspected Father Sebastien Rale (or Rasle), the French missionary at the village since 1694, of abetting tribal hostilities against British settlements during the French and Indian Wars. During Father Rale's War, soldiers left Fort Richmond (now Richmond) in whaleboats until they reached Taconic Falls (now Winslow), then marched quietly to Norridgewock Village, arriving on August 23, 1724. Battle of Norridgewock was "sharp, short and decisive," leaving 26 warriors slain, 14 wounded and 150 survivors fleeing to Quebec, Canada. Father Rale was among the dead.[5]

The town was incorporated on June 18, 1788. It became county seat of Somerset County in 1809,[6] with a courthouse built in 1820 and remodeled in 1847, although the county seat would be moved to Skowhegan in 1871.[7] Wooden logs were floated down the Kennebec River. A sawmill was built to manufacture the region's abundant hardwoods, used in local factories to make carriages and furniture. Norridgewock also had a gristmill and granite works. Built in 1849 and replaced in 1929, the 600-foot (180 m) Norridgewock Covered Bridge across the Kennebec River was the second longest covered bridge in Maine after the 792-foot (241 m) Bangor Covered Bridge, which was built in 1846 across the Penobscot River to Brewer. The Eaton School was organized by Hamlin F. Eaton in 1856 and incorporated in 1874 "...for the promotion of literature, science and morality." Its Second Empire building, designed by architect Charles F. Douglas of Lewiston, later became Somerset Grange #18. In 1988, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[8]

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Pick the Ideal Electrician Technical School near Norridgewock ME

Selecting the best electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrical training program that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Each program provides unique options for certification also. Probably The ideal approach to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you pick is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Norridgewock ME.