How to Become an Electrician in Rumford Maine
The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Rumford ME. But with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are so many factors to evaluate. For instance, many prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their residence. When they have found a few that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. Although cost and location are significant, they are not the sole things that need to be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your final decision when picking an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are accessible.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Rumford ME
There are several options to obtain electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Rumford ME. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to become licensed or if you intend to become certified. Bellow are short descriptions of the three most typical programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Maine technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards students who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve two years to finish and are provided by Maine junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Maine colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be completed before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Rumford ME can undertake a wide range of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically around four to five years of experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be acquired in several specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases involves 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 trade school that you pick not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online in Rumford ME
An alternative that you might have considered is choosing an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, distance learning can be a more convenient alternative for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Travelling expenses from Rumford ME are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be available on line as well. Each of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Now that you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Rumford ME region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are additional factors that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research before choosing an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive 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 Rumford ME school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it may help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate may suggest that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. 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 an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Rumford ME grads obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Rumford ME area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to form 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 in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Rumford ME electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Rumford residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger 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 teachers and students. Speak to some of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Rumford ME, confirm that the programs you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Rumford ME?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Rumford ME area.
Rumford, Maine
Originally called New Pennacook Plantation, the township was granted in 1779 to Timothy Walker, Jr. and associates of Concord, New Hampshire. Both Pennacook and Rumford are former names of Concord, from which many early settlers arrived. The first pioneers, however, were Jonathan Keyes and his son Francis in 1782 from Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Incorporated in 1800, the town would later annex land from Peru and Franklin Plantation.[4]
Located in the foothills of the White Mountains, Rumford is the site of Pennacook Falls, called by historian George J. Varney "the grandest cataract in New England," where the Androscoggin River drops 177 feet (54 m) over solid granite. Bands of St. Francis Indians once hunted and fished here, where salmon spawn in the 13-acre (5.3 ha) pool below Upper Falls, a barrier that fish cannot pass. The river is home to a large population of the finless brown variety of trout. Indians also came here to trade furs brought from the lakes region. Sawmills and gristmills were built to harness water power from the falls, although Rumford would remain primarily agricultural during its first 100 years.[5]
In 1882, industrialist Hugh J. Chisholm recognized the falls' potential for the manufacture of paper. Chisholm directed construction of the Portland and Rumford Falls Railway connecting Rumford to the national rail network in 1892.[6] The first paper mill began operation in 1893, drawing an infusion of people and money into the sleepy community of about 200 residents. Oxford Paper Company, owned by Chisholm, would dominate Rumford's riverfront and economy.[7]
Find the Ideal Electrical Vocational School near Rumford ME
Picking the right electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each training program offers unique possibilities for certification also. Probably The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you choose is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Rumford ME.
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