How to Enroll in the Right Electrician Tech School near Center Lovell Maine
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Center Lovell ME. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are so many variables to examine. For instance, some prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their home. When they have found a few that are within driving distance, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the sole qualifications that must be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your ultimate decision when picking an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are accessible.
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Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options
There are three general approaches to get electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Center Lovell ME. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Frequently these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are brief explanations of the three most prevalent programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Maine technical and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards those who wish to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve two years to finish and are offered by Maine community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Maine institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed prior to licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Center Lovell ME can undertake a multitude of functions, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be earned in several specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases includes 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online
An alternative that you may have considered is choosing an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs have become more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning may be a more practical alternative for students that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Driving expenses from Center Lovell ME are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
When you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Center Lovell 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 tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research before enrolling in an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Center Lovell ME school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some 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 reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate may signify that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It could also indicate that the teachers were not qualified 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 list of graduates, which may result in more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Center Lovell ME graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical companies or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Center Lovell ME area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Center Lovell ME electrical contracting company if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Center Lovell home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk to several of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Center Lovell ME, check that the programs you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.
What Education Do You Need To Be An Electrician Center Lovell Maine
Selecting the right electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in What Education Do You Need To Be An Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Vocational School. But as we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrical training program that you are examining 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 education needs to provide a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Every training program offers different options for certification as well. Probably The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Center Lovell ME.
More Electric Locations in Maine
Lovell, Maine
In 1774, the Massachusetts General Court granted New Suncook Plantation to the officers and soldiers (or their heirs) who fought on May 8, 1725 during Father Rale's War against the Sokokis Abenaki Indians at Pequawket (now Fryeburg). First settled in 1777, the community had 85 inhabitants by 1790. New Suncook Plantation would be incorporated as a town on November 15, 1800, renamed after Captain John Lovewell, the fallen expedition leader.[4]
The Kezar River provided water power for industry. In the 19th century, mills produced spools, long lumber, shooks, axe handles, ox goads, carriages, sleighs, harness, cabinet work and coffins, and boots and shoes. Good soil helped farms prosper. Following the Civil War, the Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad connected to Fryeburg, and tourists discovered the beauty of Kezar Lake. Inns and hotels opened, and the town remains a summer resort.[5]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 47.89 square miles (124.03 km2), of which, 43.15 square miles (111.76 km2) of it is land and 4.74 square miles (12.28 km2) is water.[1] Lovell is drained by the Kezar River, a tributary of the Saco River. Kezar Lake is a significant lake within the town.
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