How to Become an Electrician in Vassalboro Maine
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Vassalboro ME. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are a number of points to consider. For example, some students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their home. After they have located several that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are significant, they are not the sole factors that should be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your final judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are accessible.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Vassalboro ME
There are three general options to receive electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Vassalboro ME. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are brief summaries of the 3 most common programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Maine vocational and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who want to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take 2 years to finish and are provided by Maine junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Maine colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Vassalboro ME can perform a wide range of functions, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be obtained in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Vassalboro ME
An option that you may have considered is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs have become more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more practical option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Driving costs from Vassalboro ME are also lessened and some of the study materials may be available on line as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Training Schools
When you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Since there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Vassalboro ME region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional variables that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess prior to choosing an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Vassalboro ME school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you obtain an excellent education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order 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 percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It may also signify that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which may result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Vassalboro ME students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Vassalboro ME area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Vassalboro ME electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Vassalboro home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to a few of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Vassalboro ME, check that the schools you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain 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, sickness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Vassalboro ME?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Vassalboro ME area.
Vassalboro, Maine
Vassalboro (originally Vassalborough) is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 4,340 at the 2010 census. Vassalboro includes the villages of Riverside, Getchell's Corner, North Vassalboro, and East Vassalboro, home to the town library and sports field. Vassalboro is included in the Augusta, Maine, micropolitan New England City and Town Area.
The town of Vassalboro was named for one of the proprietors of the Maine settlement, William Vassal (or Vassall), a descendant of one of the original patentees (and later deputy) of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and a wealthy merchant who eventually became a controversial Loyalist.[4] Other historians believe the town derives its name from the original Massachusetts proprietor William Vassal himself, who clashed with John Winthrop so frequently that he removed himself to the town of Scituate,[5] where he soon found himself embroiled in ecclesiastical controversy once again,[6] prompting his move after a decade to Barbados, where he died.[7]
On March 2, 1770, William Vassall, one of Vassalboro's early proprietors, conveyed to his niece Mary Prescott of Nova Scotia Lot Number 5 in Vassalboro, one of the so-called "Proprietor's Lots" reserved for the town's founders.[8] Niece Prescott sold the lot nine months later to a citizen of Hallowell.[9]
Enroll in the Right Electrician Trade School near Vassalboro ME
Selecting the best electrician training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician training program that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Each program offers different options for certification also. Probably The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you choose is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Vassalboro ME.
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