How to Select the Right Electrician Vocational School near Guilford Maine
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Guilford ME. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are a number of factors to evaluate. For example, some potential students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have found some that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the only factors that must be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your final judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are available.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options
There are multiple approaches to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Guilford ME. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Frequently these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are short summaries of the three most prevalent programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Maine trade and technical schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards students who want to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take two years to finish and are offered by Maine junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain Maine colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out prior to licensing. For that reason, many students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Guilford ME can carry out a multitude of services, such as testing, installing and replacing 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 the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly around four to five years of prior experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be obtained in many specializations, such as 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 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 tech school that you pick not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes
An alternative that you may have looked at is selecting an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools have become more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, internet learning might be a more practical choice for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Travelling costs from Guilford ME are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Once you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Guilford ME region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The first two 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 selection, there are additional factors that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research before enrolling in an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Guilford 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 acquire an excellent education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate may suggest that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It may also mean that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which may result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Guilford ME students obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade 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 electrician contractors or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Guilford ME area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Guilford ME electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Guilford residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might 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 monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to several of the students and get their feedback concerning 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. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Guilford ME, confirm that the programs you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.
Electrician Trade Schools Guilford Maine
Selecting the best electrical trade school 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 Electrician Trade Schools and wanting more information on the topic Online Electrical School. But as we have addressed in this article, there are many things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a must that any electrician training that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every training program offers unique options for certification also. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you choose is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Guilford ME.
More Electric Locations in Maine
Guilford, Maine
In 1803, Rev. Robert Low and Deacon Robert Herring of New Gloucester purchased several thousand acres in the area from Bowdoin College. The town itself was first settled on February 18, 1806. On October 8, 1812, a warrant was issued for the tract to be designated a "plantation," which became effective on November 11, 1806. The town was officially incorporated by the governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on February 8, 1816. It was named after Moses Guilford Low, the first white child born here.[5]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 35.71 square miles (92.49 km2), of which, 34.88 square miles (90.34 km2) of it is land and 0.83 square miles (2.15 km2) is water.[1]
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,521 people, 693 households, and 426 families residing in the town. The population density was 43.6 inhabitants per square mile (16.8/km2). There were 882 housing units at an average density of 25.3 per square mile (9.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.9% White, 0.1% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.7% of the population.
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