How to Become an Electrician in Bennington New Hampshire
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Bennington NH. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are a number of factors to consider. For instance, many prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their residence. When they have identified a few that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole factors that need to be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are available.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Bennington NH
There are three general ways to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Bennington NH. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Frequently these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by New Hampshire vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to complete and are offered by New Hampshire junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain New Hampshire institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be performed before licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Bennington NH can undertake a vast array of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be acquired in various specialties, including 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you select not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Training Classes in Bennington NH
A possibility that you might have considered is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning may be a more convenient choice for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Travelling expenses from Bennington NH are also minimized and some of the study materials may be accessed online also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Once you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Bennington NH area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are other factors that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Bennington NH school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate may suggest that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It could also signify that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Bennington NH graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Bennington NH area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Bennington NH electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Bennington residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger 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 teachers and students. Speak with a few of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Bennington NH, check that the programs you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Bennington NH?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Bennington NH area.
Bennington, New Hampshire
The main village of the town, where 381 people resided at the 2010 census,[1] is defined as the Bennington census-designated place (CDP), and is located on the Contoocook River at the intersection of New Hampshire routes 31 and 47.
Situated in an area once called "Society Land", the town was formed from parts of Deering, Francestown, Greenfield and Hancock.[2] It was named to commemorate the 1777 Battle of Bennington, an American Revolutionary War battle fought in New York near Bennington, Vermont. The Vermont town in turn derived its name from New Hampshire governor Benning Wentworth. The town was incorporated in 1842.[2] The first census, taken in 1850, recorded 541 residents.
Located at the Great Falls of the Contoocook River, which drop 70 feet (21 m) over 1.2 miles (1.9 km), Bennington provided water power for mills. The first gristmill was built in 1782, with a cotton mill in 1810. A tannery and tool manufacturing industry would follow. A factory with paper-making machinery was established in 1835, located at or near the site of the present-day Monadnock Paper Mill. In 1858, the town's industries included a cutlery manufacturer, a gristmill, 2 paper mills and a sawmill. Bennington also had quite a number of farms.
Choose the Ideal Electrical Trade School near Bennington NH
Choosing the best electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are many things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a must that any electrician training program that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every training program offers unique options for certification also. Perhaps The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you select is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Bennington NH.
Other Cool Cities in New Hampshire
Business Results 1 - 10 of 124
1 Reviews 