How to Choose the Right Electrician Training School near Monmouth Maine
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Monmouth ME. But with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are a number of variables to evaluate. For example, some prospective students will start by looking for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have found some that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. Even though location and cost are significant, they are not the sole qualifications that should be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should influence your final decision when selecting an electrician training 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 becoming an electrician and the instructional choices that are offered.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs
There are several ways to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Monmouth ME. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you want to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the three most prevalent programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Maine trade and technical schools and take about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards students who wish to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to finish and are provided by Maine community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while providing 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 favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. For that reason, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Monmouth ME can undertake a multitude of duties, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically around 4 to 5 years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be acquired in many specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails 3 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you pick not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online
An alternative that you might have contemplated is choosing an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, distance learning may be a more practical alternative for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Commuting costs from Monmouth ME are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be accessed on line as well. All of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
When you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Monmouth ME region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional factors that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research before selecting an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Monmouth ME school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you acquire a superior education, it may help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some states mandate 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 complete the program. A low completion rate could suggest that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It may also suggest that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which may mean more contacts for the school to employ 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 trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Monmouth ME students acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician trade programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Monmouth ME area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Monmouth ME electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Monmouth 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 important that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with several of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm 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 Monmouth ME, verify that the programs you are considering provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Electrician Apprentice School Monmouth Maine
Selecting the right electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Apprentice School and wanting more information on the topic What Education Do You Need To Be An Electrician. But as we have covered in this article, there are many factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical training program that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each training program provides different possibilities for certification also. Probably The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you choose is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Monmouth ME.
More Electric Locations in Maine
Monmouth, Maine
Monmouth is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 4,104 at the 2010 census. A popular summer resort area, with many lakeside cottages, Monmouth is part of the Winthrop Lakes Region.
Part of the Plymouth Patent, it was first settled as Freetown in 1776-1777 by families from Brunswick. It would also be called Bloomingborough and Wales before being incorporated by the Massachusetts General Court on January 20, 1792 as Monmouth,[5] after Monmouth, New Jersey.[6] The name was suggested by landowner General Henry Dearborn, who had fought in the Battle of Monmouth on June 28, 1778.[7]
Monmouth was considered one of the best agricultural towns in the state, producing hay, apples and potatoes, in addition to beef cattle and dairy products.[8] It also had excellent sites for watermills. By 1859, when the population was 1,925, it had two factories for making boot-webbing and binding, a shovel and hoe factory, a tannery, a machine shops, some mechanic shops, some wood turning shops, a sleigh and carriage factory, some boot and shoe shops, a carpet factory, and a sash, blind and door factory. In 1849, the Androscoggin & Kennebec Railroad (later part of the Maine Central Railroad) opened to the town.[7]
Business Results 1 - 10 of 12
2 Reviews 
2 Reviews 1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
3 Reviews 1 Reviews 2 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 