How to Pick the Right Electrician Technical School near Gardiner Maine
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Gardiner ME. But with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many factors to consider. For instance, some prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have identified some that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that need to be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are offered.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs
There are three general approaches to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near Gardiner ME. 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 common as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are short summaries of the 3 most typical programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Maine technical and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who wish to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require two years to complete and are offered by Maine junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Maine colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, most students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Gardiner ME can undertake a vast array of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally around four to five years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be obtained in various specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes three 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online
An alternative that you may have looked at is selecting an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs have become more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning may be a more convenient option for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Travelling expenses from Gardiner ME are also minimized and some of the study materials can be available on line as well. All of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
When you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Because there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Gardiner ME area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other factors that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to enrolling in an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Gardiner ME school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you receive an excellent education, it may assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate may indicate that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It may also signify that the instructors were not qualified to instruct 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 list of alumni, which may result in more contacts for the school to utilize 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 Gardiner ME grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational 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 electrician companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Gardiner ME area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Gardiner ME electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Gardiner home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with a few of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Gardiner ME, check that the programs you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Accredited Electrical Certification Training Gardiner Maine
Selecting the right electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Accredited Electrical Certification Training and wanting more information on the topic Electrical Apprenticeship School. But as we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every training program offers unique options for certification as well. Probably the best means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you decide on is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Gardiner ME.
More Electric Locations in Maine
Gardiner, Maine
Gardiner is a city in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 5,800 at the 2010 census. Popular with tourists, Gardiner is noted for its culture and old architecture. Gardiner is included in the Augusta, Maine micropolitan New England City and Town Area.
Located at the head of navigation on the Kennebec River, Gardiner was founded as Gardinerstown Plantation in 1754 by Dr. Silvester Gardiner, a prominent Boston physician. Dr. Gardiner had made a fortune as a drug merchant, with one apothecary shop in Massachusetts and two in Connecticut, and became a principal proprietor of the Kennebec Purchase within the old Plymouth Patent. He proved a tireless promoter for his development, which once comprised over 100,000 acres (400 km2).[4]
Dr. Gardiner induced a gristmill builder, saw millwright, house carpenter and wheelwright to settle here. Houses, mills, a church and a blockhouse were built. Situated at the confluence of the Kennebec River and Cobbesseecontee Stream, which has falls that drop 130 feet, the location was recognized by him as ideal for water-powered mills. Gardinerstown, set off from Pittston in 1760, became center of the regional economy.[4]
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