Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Raymond ME 04071

How to Become an Electrician in Raymond Maine

Raymond ME electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Raymond ME. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are a number of factors to examine. For example, many students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have found some that are within commuting range, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the only factors that must be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are available.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Raymond ME

Raymond ME electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple ways to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near Raymond ME. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Frequently these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are short explanations of the 3 most typical programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Maine technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who wish to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require two years to finish and are provided by Maine community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Maine colleges, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria

Raymond ME electricians working on power lines Electricians in Raymond ME can carry out a wide range of tasks, such as 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 mandated to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally about four to five years of experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be obtained in many specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you select not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may need to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in Raymond ME

attending electrician school online in Raymond ME A possibility that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, internet learning may be a more accommodating option for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Travelling costs from Raymond ME are also reduced and some of the study materials may be accessed online as well. Each of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Raymond ME electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Raymond ME area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The first 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are other variables that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research before enrolling in an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Raymond ME program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you acquire a quality education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, many states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate may signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It could also mean that the instructors were not qualified to train 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 affirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Raymond ME graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Raymond ME area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Raymond ME electrical contracting company if they can give you some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Raymond residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be higher 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 observe how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Raymond ME, confirm that the programs you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Raymond ME?

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

Raymond, Maine

Raymond is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 4,436 at the 2010 census.[4] It is a summer recreation area and is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area. Raymond Neck is the landing for the ferry to the town of Frye Island in Sebago Lake. The Raymond school system is currently affiliated with the Windham school system in a district known as RSU 14.

Raymondtown Plantation was granted in 1767 by the Massachusetts General Court to the descendants of Captain William Raymond of Beverly, Massachusetts, and his militia. It was the second attempt to repay the troop (or heirs) for service under Governor Sir William Phipps during the Battle of Quebec in 1690. A township had been awarded them in 1735 called Beverly-Canada (now Weare, New Hampshire), but in 1741 descendants of John Mason proved a prior claim.[5]

The township at Sebago Lake was given to the Beverly Proprietors as compensation. It was first settled in 1770 by Captain Joseph Dingley and Dominicus Jordan of Cape Elizabeth, although most families arrived after the Revolutionary War. It was on the stage route to Bridgton. On June 21, 1803, the Raymondtown Plantation was incorporated as Raymond, named in honor of Captain Raymond. In 1829, land was annexed to help form the new town of Naples, and in 1841, Casco was set off and incorporated as a town.[6]

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Find the Ideal Electrician Trade School near Raymond ME

Choosing the right electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every training program offers different options for certification also. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Take the time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you pick is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Raymond ME.