Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Shapleigh ME 04076

How to Become an Electrician in Shapleigh Maine

Shapleigh ME electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Shapleigh ME. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are so many factors to consider. For instance, many prospective students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their home. After they have identified some that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. Although location and cost are important, they are not the only factors that must be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your final decision when picking an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are available.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Shapleigh ME

Shapleigh ME electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general options to get electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Shapleigh ME. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are brief summaries of the 3 most typical programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Maine vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards students who wish to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to complete and are offered by Maine junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Maine institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be completed before licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Guidelines

Shapleigh ME electricians working on power lines Electricians in Shapleigh ME can perform a vast array of duties, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about four to five years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically assess electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be earned in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes three levels of competency:

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 imperative that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might need to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Training Classes Online in Shapleigh ME

attending electrician school online in Shapleigh ME A possibility that you might have looked at is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools 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 partial attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning can be a more accommodating option for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Commuting costs from Shapleigh ME are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online as well. Each of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Shapleigh ME electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Shapleigh ME area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The initial two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are additional factors that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. Many electrician technical programs have earned 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 relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Shapleigh ME school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you get a quality education, it can help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, a number of states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it 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 finish the program. A low completion rate might signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It could also signify that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, 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 affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Shapleigh ME grads acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Shapleigh ME area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school 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 tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Shapleigh ME electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Shapleigh residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with some of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Shapleigh ME, verify that the schools you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Shapleigh ME?

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

Shapleigh, Maine

Shapleigh, pronounced "SHAP-lee", is a town in York County, Maine, United States which was incorporated as the state's 43rd town in 1785. The population was 2,668 at the 2010 census. Shapleigh is divided into the villages of North Shapleigh, Shapleigh Corner, Ross Corner and Emery Mills. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area.

In 1668, Chief Captain Sunday (or Wesumbe) of the Newichawannock Abenaki tribe deeded Francis Small the Ossipee Tract, which included Cornish, Parsonsfield, Newfield, Limerick, Limington and Shapleigh. Small, a trader from Kittery, then sold a half interest to Major Nicholas Shapleigh of Eliot.[4] In 1770, heirs discovered the unrecorded deed and made claim. Shapleigh's heirs took Parsonsfield, Shapleigh and one half of Limerick.[5]

First called Hubbardstown, it was settled in 1772 when Simeon Emery erected a sawmill at the foot of Mousam Pond.[6] On March 5, 1785, the town was incorporated as Shapleigh, named for its early proprietor.[7] In 1830, Shapleigh's west half was set off and incorporated as Acton. In 1846, a portion of Shapleigh was annexed by Newfield. Shapleigh annexed an eastern portion of land from Waterboro in 1854.[8]

The location could not be found.

Pick the Ideal Electrical Tech School near Shapleigh ME

Selecting the best electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have discussed in this article, there are several things that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician 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 should 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 type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every training program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best means to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you pick is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Shapleigh ME.