Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Athol MA 01331

How to Become an Electrician in Athol Massachusetts

Athol MA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Athol MA. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are so many points to examine. For example, some prospective students will start by looking for schools that are close to their home. Once they have identified a few that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the sole things that need to be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Athol MA

Athol MA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general options to get electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Athol MA. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the three most prevalent programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Massachusetts trade and technical schools and take about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who want to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to finish and are provided by Massachusetts community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Massachusetts institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be completed before licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines

Athol MA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Athol MA can undertake a multitude of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be earned in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 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 vocational school that you select not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Programs in Athol MA

attending electrician school online in Athol MA A possibility that you might have contemplated is choosing an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning may 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 competitors. Driving costs from Athol MA are also lessened and some of the study materials may be accessed on line also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Athol MA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Athol MA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we discussed 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 must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research before selecting an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Athol MA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it may assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, some states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate might indicate that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It might also suggest that the instructors 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 graduates, 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 a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Athol MA students secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational 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 reviewing have referring partnerships with Athol MA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Athol MA electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Athol home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to several of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Athol MA, check that the schools you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Athol MA?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Athol MA area.

Athol, Massachusetts

Originally called Pequoiag when settled by Native Americans, the area was subsequently settled by five families in September 1735. When the township was incorporated in 1762, the name was changed to Athol. John Murray, one of the proprietors of the land, chose the name which means “new Ireland”. Early residents subsisted on agriculture and hunting. By 1791, Athol had four gristmills, six sawmills, a fulling mill, and a shop with a trip hammer, all of which were operated by water power. The Athol Cotton Factory, built in 1811, was one of the first industries to serve a market beyond the local one. Through the 1800s, textile, leather, wood, and metal industries further expanded the market for goods produced in Athol. The construction of the Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad in the 1840s fostered so much industrial growth that a second line connecting Athol and Springfield was constructed in 1870. Construction of the Fitchburg Railroad, an east-west line, came through Athol in 1879, on its way to the Hoosac Tunnel and the Berkshires.

The Athol Machine Company was established in 1868 in order to manufacture a chopping machine invented by Laroy S. Starrett. In 1881, Mr. Starrett established the L. S. Starrett Company, known for making quality precision tools. The company remains the town’s largest employer to this day, and thus does Athol live up to the nickname "Tool Town".

As industries developed along the river valley, homes and stores grew up around the common located on the hill southeast of the factories. This area, today called Uptown, was the location of the first bank. The first trolley lines, established in 1894, ran from Athol to Orange, and additional lines soon provided efficient transportation to surrounding areas. Because of its development of industry, commerce, and transportation, Athol was the center of activity for the entire area at the start of the 20th century.

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Choose the Ideal Electrical Trade School near Athol MA

Selecting the ideal electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are many things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are examining includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses 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. Every training program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Invest some time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Athol MA.