Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Medford MA 02153

How to Become an Electrician in Medford Massachusetts

Medford MA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Medford MA. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are a number of variables to consider. For instance, some potential students will start by looking for schools that are close to their home. When they have identified a few that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though location and cost are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that need to be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Medford MA

Medford MA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several approaches to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Medford MA. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are short descriptions of the three most common programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Massachusetts vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who want to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require two years to finish and are provided by Massachusetts community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some Massachusetts institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements

Medford MA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Medford MA can undertake a multitude 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 concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly around four to five years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be acquired in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 3 levels of proficiency:

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 trade school that you select not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might need to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in Medford MA

attending electrician school online in Medford MA An option that you might have considered is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning can be a more practical option for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Travelling expenses from Medford MA are also reduced and some of the study materials may be accessed online as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Medford MA 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 training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Medford MA region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The initial two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. 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 important when making your decision, there are other factors that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research before enrolling in an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Medford MA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it may assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved 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 course. A lower completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It might also suggest that the instructors 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 more extensive directory of alumni, which may produce more contacts for the school to use 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 industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Medford MA students obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Medford MA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed 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, talk to the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Medford MA electrical contracting company if they can provide some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Medford home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized instruction 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 experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk to several of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with some of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Medford MA, confirm that the schools you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Medford MA?

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

Medford, Massachusetts

Medford is a city 3.2 miles northwest of downtown Boston on the Mystic River in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. In the 2010 U.S. Census, Medford's population was 56,173. It is home to Tufts University.

Medford was settled in 1630 as part of Charlestown.[2] The area was originally called "Mistick" by Thomas Dudley (a name which persisted for many decades), which his party renamed "Meadford".[3] The name may have come from a description of the "meadow by the ford" in the Mystic River, or from two locations in England that Cradock may have known: the hamlet of Mayford or Metford in Staffordshire near Caverswall, or from the parish of Maidford or Medford (now Towcester, Northamptonshire).[4] In 1634, the land north of the Mystic River became the private plantation of former Governor Matthew Cradock; across the river was Ten Hills Farm, which belonged to John Winthrop, Governor of the Massachusetts Bay colony.[5]

In 1637, the first bridge (a toll bridge) across the Mystic River was built at the site of the present-day Cradock Bridge, which carries Main Street into Medford Square.[6] It would be the only bridge across the Mystic until 1787, and as such became a major route for traffic coming into Boston from the north (though ferries and fords were also used).[7] The bridge would be rebuilt in 1880 and 1909.[6]

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Choose the Right Electrical Vocational School near Medford MA

Picking the best electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every program provides different possibilities for certification also. Probably the best approach to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you pick is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Medford MA.