How to Enroll in the Right Electrician Trade School near Blue Hill Maine
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Blue Hill ME. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many variables to evaluate. For instance, many potential students will start by looking for schools that are close to their home. Once they have found some that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though location and cost are significant, they are not the only qualifications that need to be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should influence your final decision when choosing an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are accessible.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options
There are several ways to get electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Blue Hill ME. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated 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 typical programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Maine technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards students who want to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take two years to finish and are offered by Maine community colleges, usually 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 stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Maine institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed before licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Blue Hill ME can undertake a multitude of tasks, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually around four to five years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically assess general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be acquired in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases involves three levels of competency:
- 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 important that the electrician tech school that you select not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Training Classes
A possibility that you may have contemplated is selecting an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning may be a more practical option for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Driving expenses from Blue Hill ME are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be accessed on line also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
When you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Because there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Blue Hill ME region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional variables that must be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze before selecting an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Blue Hill ME program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you receive a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Also, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs 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 program. A low completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It may also mean that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which can produce 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 also that it has the network of contacts to help Blue Hill ME students secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician trade programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Blue Hill ME area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained 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, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Blue Hill ME electrical company if they can give you some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Blue Hill home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with a few of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Blue Hill ME, confirm that the programs you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.
Schooling For Electricians Blue Hill Maine
Picking the right electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Schooling For Electricians and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Training Programs. But as we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are considering 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 instruction needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every training program offers different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best approach to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you select is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Blue Hill ME.
More Electric Locations in Maine
Blue Hill, Maine
Blue Hill is a town in Hancock County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,686 at the 2010 census. It is home to the Blue Hill Public Library, Blue Hill Memorial Hospital, George Stevens Academy, the Blue Hill Harbor School, New Surry Theatre, Kneisel Hall, Bagaduce Music Lending Library, the Kollegewidgwok Yacht Club, the Marine & Environmental Research Institute, and the Blue Hill Country Club. A community on Blue Hill Bay, the town is the site of the annual Blue Hill Fair.
It was one of six townships granted by the Massachusetts General Court to David Marsh and 351 others for their service in the French and Indian War. Called Plantation Number 5, it was first settled in 1762 by Captain Joseph Wood and John Roundy from Andover, Massachusetts, who built homes on Mill Island at the tidal falls. It would then be called Newport Plantation. On January 30, 1789, the town was incorporated as Blue Hill, named after its commanding summit overlooking the region.[4]
The outlets of various ponds provided water power for several sawmills and gristmills. By 1859, 5,000 cords of firewood were sent from the port annually. Other products included lumber, masts and roof shingles, but the predominant industry was shipbuilding. Beginning in 1792, 133 vessels were constructed at Blue Hill, some of them brigs and ships, but most schooners. The town was also noted for the quality of its granite, some of which was used to build the Brooklyn Bridge, New York Stock Exchange building, and the U.S. Custom House at Norfolk, Virginia. In 1876, local quarries employed 300 workers.[5]
Business Results 1 - 10 of 1
1 Reviews 