How to Become an Electrician in Oakfield Maine
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Oakfield ME. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are a number of points to evaluate. For instance, many prospective students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have identified several that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole factors that must be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your final decision when choosing an electrician 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 educational options that are accessible.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Oakfield ME
There are three general approaches to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Oakfield ME. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are short summaries of the 3 most common programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Maine technical and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who want to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve two years to finish 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 prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Maine institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed before licensing. Because of that, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements
Electricians in Oakfield ME can carry out a multitude of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally about 4 to 5 years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be obtained in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves 3 levels of competency:
- 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 imperative that the electrician trade school that you select not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online in Oakfield ME
An option that you might have contemplated is choosing an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools have become more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, internet learning might be a more practical alternative for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Travelling costs from Oakfield ME are also minimized and some of the study materials may be available on line as well. All of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Once you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Oakfield ME region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are additional variables that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze before choosing an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Oakfield ME program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate may suggest that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It could also indicate that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, 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 an excellent reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Oakfield ME students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most 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 inside their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with Oakfield ME area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure 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 already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Oakfield ME electrical contracting company if they can provide some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Oakfield home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak with several of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to some of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify 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 Oakfield ME, confirm that the schools you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Oakfield ME?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Oakfield ME area.
Oakfield, Maine
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 18.9 square miles (48.95 km2), of which 10.2 square miles (26.42 km2) is land and 8.7 square miles (22.53 km2) is water.[1]
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 737 people, 323 households, and 215 families residing in the town. The population density was 21.0 inhabitants per square mile (8.1/km2). There were 496 housing units at an average density of 14.1 per square mile (5.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.7% White, 0.3% African American, 2.0% Native American, 0.1% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of the population.
There were 323 households of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.4% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.78.
Choose the Right Electrician Vocational School near Oakfield ME
Picking the right electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are several things that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrician training program that you are considering includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each program provides unique options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you choose is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Oakfield ME.
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