How to Become an Electrician in Andover New Hampshire
The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Andover NH. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are a number of points to examine. For instance, many students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have located some that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. Although cost and location are of importance, 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 job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional choices that are accessible.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Andover NH
There are multiple options to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Andover NH. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are brief descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by New Hampshire vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards students who wish to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to finish and are offered by New Hampshire community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some New Hampshire institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Andover NH can carry out a wide range of duties, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about four to five years of prior experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be acquired in many specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails 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 trade school that you select not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Training Classes in Andover NH
An option that you might have looked at is choosing an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, internet learning might be a more convenient option for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Driving expenses from Andover NH are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be available online as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Now that you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Andover NH region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional factors that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to choosing an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Andover NH program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs 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 could indicate that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It might also signify that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which may mean more contacts for the school to utilize 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 industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Andover NH students secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Andover NH area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date 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 under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Andover NH electrical contracting company if they can provide some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Andover residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with a few of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the instructors and learn 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 evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Andover NH, confirm that the programs you are looking at provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Andover NH?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Andover NH area.
Andover, New Hampshire
Andover is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,371 at the 2010 census.[1] Andover includes the villages of Cilleyville, Potter Place, East Andover, and West Andover, in addition to the town center. The town is home to Ragged Mountain State Forest and Proctor Academy, a private coeducational preparatory school.
Settled in 1761, the town was originally named "Emerisstown".[2] In 1746 it was granted to Edward Brown and others as "New Breton"[3] or "New Britton",[4] having been granted primarily to soldiers who had taken part in the 1745 capture of Cape Breton during hostilities with the French in Canada. Among those soldiers was their regimental surgeon, Dr. Anthony Emery, a friend of Samuel Phillips, Jr., who in 1778 founded the Phillips Andover Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. "New Breton" would be incorporated as "Andover" in 1779, the year Phillips Andover was completed.
In 1822, an academy was established in Andover, although it would close in 1828. Another school was founded in 1848 that would become Proctor Academy, the prestigious institution around which the town's economy is based. Andover is noted for its antique shops, Greek Revival architecture, and two covered bridges. Potter Place Railroad Station, built in 1874 by the Northern Railroad,[5] is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and today serves as a museum for the Andover Historical Society.
Pick the Right Electrician Vocational School near Andover NH
Selecting the ideal electrician trade school will probably be the most critical 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 among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrician training program that you are considering includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Every training program provides different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best approach to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Take the 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 ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Andover NH.
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