How to Find the Best Electrician Tech School near Greenville Maine
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Greenville ME. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are so many factors to evaluate. For example, many students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have found a few that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole qualifications that should be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your final decision when choosing an electrician trade school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are offered.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options
There are three general ways to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Greenville ME. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are short summaries of the three most prevalent programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Maine vocational and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who wish to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take two years to finish and are offered by Maine junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Maine institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Greenville ME can undertake a multitude of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly around 4 to 5 years of experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be acquired in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 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 imperative that the electrician trade school that you choose not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might need to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online
A possibility that you might have looked at is selecting an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more convenient choice for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Commuting costs from Greenville ME are also reduced and some of the study materials can be accessed online also. Each of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Now that you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Greenville ME region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are other variables that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to selecting an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Greenville ME program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you receive a superior education, it may assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, a number of states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate might suggest that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It might also indicate that the teachers were not competent to instruct 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 alumni, which may produce more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Greenville ME graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical companies or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Greenville ME area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Greenville ME electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within driving distance of your Greenville residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak with several of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Greenville ME, check that the programs you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.
Electrician Training Greenville Maine
Choosing the ideal electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Training and wanting more information on the topic Electrical License Classes. 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 tech school that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each training program provides unique options for certification also. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Greenville ME.
More Electric Locations in Maine
Greenville, Maine
Greenville is a town in Piscataquis County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,646 at the 2010 census. The town is centered on the lower end of Moosehead Lake, the largest body of fresh water in the state. Greenville is the historic gateway to the north country and a center for outdoor recreation in the area. Greenville High School, with 89 students, was ranked as the third best high school in Maine and one of the top 1,000 in the US in 2010.[4]
First called T9 R10 NWP (or Township 9, Range 10, North of the Waldo Patent), the land was granted about 1812 by the Massachusetts General Court to Thornton Academy in Saco. In 1824, Nathaniel Haskell of Westbrook bought the Thornton Academy Grant. With Oliver Young and John Smith, he began clearing trees that summer for farming near Wilson Pond, where the Wilson Stream would provide water power for mills.[5]
In 1827, Haskell completed a house, and his family joined him. A sawmill was built on Wilson Stream in 1829, with a gristmill added the following year. In 1835, Henry Gower began clearing land beside Moosehead Lake for what would develop into Greenville village. There he erected the first hotel, a two-story building called The Seboomook House, and the first store. On February 6, 1836, Greenville was incorporated from Haskell Plantation, and named for its green forests. By 1846, Greenville village included two houses, two blacksmith shops and a schoolhouse. On August 10, 1848, the town annexed land from Wilson, the remainder of which was distributed to Shirley and Elliotsville.[5]
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