How to Choose the Right Electrician Vocational School near Farmington Maine
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Farmington ME. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are a number of variables to evaluate. For instance, some prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their home. After they have located some that are within commuting range, they will decide on the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though location and cost are of importance, they are not the only things that should be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your final judgment 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 instructional choices that are accessible.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options
There are three general ways to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Farmington ME. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are brief explanations of the three most common programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Maine technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards students who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve 2 years to complete and are provided by Maine junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Maine institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Farmington ME can perform a multitude of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically around 4 to 5 years of experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be earned in numerous 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online
An alternative that you may have considered is selecting an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning might be a more convenient option for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Commuting expenses from Farmington ME are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be available online also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Now that you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Since there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Farmington ME region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are other variables that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Many electrician technical programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Farmington ME school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain a superior education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are looking at 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 indicate that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It could also mean that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which may result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Farmington ME grads secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Farmington ME area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained 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, consult with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Farmington ME electrical contracting company if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Farmington home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with some of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Farmington ME, check that the schools you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Top Electrician Trade Schools Farmington Maine
Selecting the ideal electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Top Electrician Trade Schools and wanting more information on the topic How To Be Electrician. But as we have discussed in this article, there are several things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrical training program that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world context, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Every training program provides unique options for certification also. Perhaps The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you choose is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Farmington ME.
More Electric Locations in Maine
Farmington, Maine
Farmington is a town in and the county seat of Franklin County, Maine, United States.[4] As of the 2010 census, the town population was 7,760. Farmington is home to the University of Maine at Farmington, the Nordica Memorial Auditorium, the Homestead, and the annual Farmington Fair.
The area was once territory of the Canibas tribe of Abenaki Indians. They had two camps located near Farmington Falls, with fields cleared for cultivation of maize and potatoes. Their fort's stockade enclosed about an acre at the center of what is today Farmington Falls village. A group from Topsham arrived in 1776 to explore the area and lay out a town, called Plantation No. 1 or Sandy River Plantation, but permanent settlement was delayed by the Revolutionary War.[5]
In 1781, the first settlers arrived, the same year a sawmill was established. On February 1, 1794, Sandy River Plantation was incorporated as Farmington, named for its unusually fertile soil. Beginning with a cluster of log houses at Farmington Falls, the town grew quickly and prospered. Agriculture was an important early occupation, with hay a principal product. Orchards yielded apples and other fruit. Farmington became one of the largest wool producing towns in New England, with many herds of sheep grazing the hills and intervales.[6]
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