How to Select the Best Electrician Trade School near Fort Kent Maine
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Fort Kent ME. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are so many points to evaluate. For example, some potential students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have found a few that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that must be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are available.
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Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs
There are several approaches to get electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Fort Kent ME. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the three most typical programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Maine technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards students who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require two years to finish and are provided by Maine community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Maine institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out before licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Fort Kent ME can perform a wide range of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing 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 called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly test electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be acquired in various specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases entails three 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 crucial that the electrician trade school that you select 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 Online Training Classes
A possibility that you may have looked at is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning might be a more practical choice for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Driving costs from Fort Kent ME are also lessened and some of the study materials may be accessed online as well. Each of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Now that you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Fort Kent ME area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional factors that need to be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research before selecting an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Fort Kent ME school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order 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 finish the course. A lower completion rate could signify that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It could also signify that the instructors were not competent 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 broader list of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Fort Kent ME grads secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Fort Kent ME area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed 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, check with the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Fort Kent ME electrical contracting company if they can give you some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Fort Kent residence. Take note 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 important that you get as much personalized training 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 students and instructors. Speak to a few of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Fort Kent ME, confirm that the schools you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be 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, illness or family responsibilities.
Becoming An Electrician Fort Kent Maine
Choosing the right electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Becoming An Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Trade School Cost. But as we have covered in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training program that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Take the time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you choose is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Fort Kent ME.
More Electric Locations in Maine
Fort Kent, Maine
Fort Kent is a town in Aroostook County, Maine, United States. The population was 4,097 in the 2010 census. Fort Kent is home to an Olympic biathlete training center, an annual CAN-AM dogsled race,[5] and the Fort Kent Blockhouse, built in reaction to the Aroostook War and in modern times designated a national historic site. Principal industries include agriculture (particularly potatoes and forestry) and textiles. Fort Kent is the northern terminus of U.S. 1 and the ending point of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail.
Fort Kent was erected in the summer of 1839 as an American border outpost during the undeclared Aroostook War. The blockhouse, the first structure built in what is present-day city of Fort Kent, was named after then-governor of Maine Edward Kent.[6][7][8] The Saint John River was a log driving route from upstream forests to downstream sawmills and paper mills until the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad and trucks began transporting pulpwood.[9]
After receiving nearly 200 inches (510 cm) of snow during the 2007–2008 winter season, the Saint John River began to flood on April 29. Nearly two days of nonstop rain also contributed to the flooding. As the river rose, it poured into the downtown area. More than 600 of Fort Kent's 4,233 residents were evacuated. The river's water level rose to nearly 31 feet (9.4 m), which was 6 feet (1.8 m) above flood stage.[10]
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