Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Annapolis Junction MD 20701

How to Become an Electrician in Annapolis Junction Maryland

Annapolis Junction MD electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Annapolis Junction MD. But with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are a number of variables to consider. For instance, some students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have identified several that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though location and cost are important, they are not the sole factors that should be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should influence your ultimate decision when picking an electrician training school. We will discuss 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 training options that are offered.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Annapolis Junction MD

Annapolis Junction MD electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general approaches to receive electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Annapolis Junction MD. You can 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 options. Often these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are short summaries of the 3 most typical programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Maryland technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require 2 years to finish and are provided by Maryland community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Maryland institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be performed prior to licensing. For that reason, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria

Annapolis Junction MD electricians working on power lines Electricians in Annapolis Junction MD can perform a wide range of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly around four to five years of prior experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be acquired in numerous specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases entails 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you pick not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in Annapolis Junction MD

attending electrician school online in Annapolis Junction MD An option that you might have considered is selecting an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, distance learning might be a more convenient choice for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Driving expenses from Annapolis Junction MD are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be available online as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Annapolis Junction MD electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Annapolis Junction MD region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are additional variables that need to be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Annapolis Junction MD program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you get a superior education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, some 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 looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate could indicate that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It could also mean that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which may 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 trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Annapolis Junction MD graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Annapolis Junction MD area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Annapolis Junction MD electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Annapolis Junction residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in 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 important that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with some of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Annapolis Junction MD, verify that the programs you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Annapolis Junction MD?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Annapolis Junction MD area.

Annapolis Junction, Maryland

The lands of Annapolis Junction were first settled around 1650. Provincial Assembly of Maryland member and Anne Arundel County Justice Colonel Henry Ridgely (1645-1710) surveyed the land around Annapolis Junction and nearby Savage Mill in 1685 naming the tract "Ridgely's Forrest".[3][4]

Annapolis Junction was established as a rail junction on the north-south mainline of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) when the tracks of the Annapolis and Elk Ridge Railroad terminated here in 1840. Since this provided a rail route to Annapolis from Washington and Baltimore via the B&O, it was, therefore, a junction to Annapolis. On August 26, 1844 the Annapolis Junction post office opened.[5][6]

On May 1, 1844, in a small wooden building along the railroad tracks, the first practical news telegram was sent from Annapolis Junction. The message, from Alfred Vail to Samuel F. B. Morse, announced that the Whig Party candidate would be Henry Clay, and his running mate would be Theodore Frelinghuysen. The candidates left Annapolis Junction by train, and arrived in Washington to find the news was already being announced in the city by the local papers.[7]

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Choose the Right Electrician Vocational School near Annapolis Junction MD

Picking the ideal electrical trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrical training that you are considering includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Each program offers unique possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best approach to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you choose is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Annapolis Junction MD.