How to Become an Electrician in Groveton New Hampshire
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Groveton NH. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are so many factors to evaluate. For instance, some potential students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their home. When they have identified a few that are within driving distance, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. Although cost and location are of importance, they are not the only things that must be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should influence your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Groveton NH
There are several ways to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Groveton NH. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are short explanations of the three most typical programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by New Hampshire trade and technical schools and take about a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards students who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take two years to complete and are offered by New Hampshire junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain New Hampshire colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria
Electricians in Groveton NH can perform a wide range of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly about four to five years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be obtained in many specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves 3 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you select not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might need to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online in Groveton NH
An alternative that you may have looked at is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools have become more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, distance learning may be a more convenient option for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Commuting expenses from Groveton NH are also minimized and some of the study materials may be available online also. All of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Once you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Since there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Groveton NH region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The first two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are other factors that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research before choosing an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain 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 Groveton NH program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get a quality education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate might suggest that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It might also mean that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s also essential 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 employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Groveton NH students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Groveton NH area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Groveton NH electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Groveton home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult 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 witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with several of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Groveton 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 permits part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Groveton NH?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Groveton NH area.
Groveton, New Hampshire
Groveton is a census-designated place (CDP) and the primary village in the town of Northumberland in Coos County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,118 at the 2010 census.[1] It is located at the intersection of U.S. Route 3 and New Hampshire Route 110.
Fort Wentworth was a colonial fort built in 1755 at the junction of the Upper Ammonoosuc River and Connecticut River, in Northumberland, New Hampshire, just downstream from the present site of Groveton.
Diamond International Papers was originally the hub of Groveton. Diamond International was replaced by James River Paper Company, which was followed by Wausau Paper. In 2008 Wausau ceased production in its Groveton mill, which in turn precluded the trains from stopping in Groveton any more. There were plans to turn the mill into a biomass plant, but as of January 2012, plans for buying the mill had fallen through.[2] After an interview with former mill employees, the Town of Northumberland has decided to demolish the mill for scrap metals. With the price of metals at an all-time high, the town would make more money with the metals than waiting for the mill to sell. Plans for the future site include a LNG Plant bringing 80 or so vital jobs to the North Country. As of late 2014 the plans are on hold.[citation needed]
Select the Right Electrician Vocational School near Groveton NH
Selecting the ideal electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are many things that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrical training that you are examining includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every program provides unique options for certification also. Perhaps the best means to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you decide on is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Groveton NH.
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