How to Become an Electrician in Stockholm Maine
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Stockholm ME. But with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are so many variables to consider. For instance, some potential students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have identified a few that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that must be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are accessible.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Stockholm ME
There are three general approaches to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Stockholm ME. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are short explanations of the 3 most prevalent programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Maine trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards those who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require 2 years to finish and are offered by Maine community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Maine colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Stockholm ME can undertake a wide range of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly around four to five years of prior experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be obtained in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes three 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 important that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes in Stockholm ME
An alternative that you may have contemplated is selecting an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, distance learning may be a more practical choice for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Driving costs from Stockholm ME are also minimized and some of the study materials can be accessed online as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Now that you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Stockholm ME area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are other factors that need to be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research before choosing an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Many electrician technical schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Stockholm ME program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it may assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, a number of states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order 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 of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It may also mean that the instructors were not qualified to instruct 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 mean 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 a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Stockholm ME grads acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician trade programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Stockholm ME area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. 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 Stockholm ME electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Stockholm residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with a few of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the teachers and find out 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 assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Stockholm ME, confirm that the programs you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Stockholm ME?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Stockholm ME area.
Stockholm, Maine
Starting in 1870, a Swedish-immigrant colony was established by the State of Maine in Aroostook County. The State of Maine had appointed William W. Thomas, Jr., who had served as American Consul in Sweden during the administration of President Abraham Lincoln, to be State Immigration Commissioner. On March 23, 1870 the Legislature passed an Act authorizing a Board of Immigration and Beverly A Benson was named Commissioner of Immigration. Beverly went to Sweden, recruited immigrants and led them first into New Sweden township followed by the townships of Westmanland in 1879 and Stockholm in 1881.
In the late 19th century and early 20th century, the languages of French and Swedish were primary languages of many families living and working in Stockholm. Many French-speaking Acadians migrated to Stockholm to work in the three wood mills Stockholm had at the time.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 34.27 square miles (88.76 km2), of which 34.20 square miles (88.58 km2) is land and 0.07 square miles (0.18 km2) is water.[1]
Select the Ideal Electrical Technical School near Stockholm ME
Selecting the ideal electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are many factors that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrical tech school that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every training program offers unique options for certification also. Probably the best approach to research your short list of schools is to visit 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 sure that you are confident that the training program you pick is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Stockholm ME.
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