How to Choose the Right Electrician Technical School near Boothbay Harbor Maine
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Boothbay Harbor ME. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are a number of points to consider. For instance, some students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their home. When they have found several that are within commuting range, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though location and cost are significant, they are not the sole qualifications 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 additional qualifications should contribute toward your final decision when picking an electrician trade school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional choices that are accessible.
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Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs
There are multiple options to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Boothbay Harbor ME. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Bellow are short descriptions of the 3 most typical programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Maine technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards those who wish to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require 2 years to finish and are provided by Maine community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Maine institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be completed before licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Boothbay Harbor ME can carry out a wide range of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly around four to five years of experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually test electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be acquired in several specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases involves 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 imperative that the electrician vocational school that you pick not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes
An option that you might have considered is choosing an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, distance learning may be a more convenient option for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Driving costs from Boothbay Harbor ME are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
When 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 Boothbay Harbor ME area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest 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 important when making your selection, there are other variables that need to be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess prior to enrolling in an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Boothbay Harbor ME program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you receive a quality education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, a number of states require that the electrician training course 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 course. A low completion rate could signify that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It may also signify that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Boothbay Harbor ME graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician training programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Boothbay Harbor ME area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Boothbay Harbor ME electrical contractor if they can provide some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Boothbay Harbor residence. Take note 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 individualized training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with some of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Boothbay Harbor ME, check that the programs you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.
School Of Electrical Education Boothbay Harbor Maine
Choosing the right electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in School Of Electrical Education and wanting more information on the topic How Long Is Electrician School. But as we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training program that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each training program offers unique options for certification also. Probably the best means to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Invest some time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Boothbay Harbor ME.
More Electric Locations in Maine
Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Boothbay Harbor is a town in Lincoln County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,165 at the 2010 census. During summer months, the entire Boothbay Harbor region is a popular yachting and tourist destination. ZIP Code is 04538. The community is served by the 633 exchange in Area Code 207.
The area was part of Cape Newagen, where the English established an early seasonal fishing camp. In 1666, Henry Curtis purchased the land from the sachem Mowhotiwormet, commonly known as Chief Robinhood, who lived at what is today Woolwich. But the settlement was attacked and burned during King Philip's War, resettled shortly afterwards, then destroyed again in 1689 during King William's War. It was abandoned for 40 years.[1]
In 1730, Colonel David Dunbar, the superintendent and governor of the Territory of Sagadahock, laid out a new town, named Townsend after Viscount Townshend. Despite predations during the French and Indian Wars, and robberies during the Revolutionary War by marauding British sailors, the settlement was successful, not least because of its large, deep and protected harbor. During the Penobscot Expedition, in 1779 Townsend became a rendezvous point for the American naval fleet prior to its disastrous encounter with the British at Castine.[2]
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