How to Select the Best Electrician Trade School near Lincoln Maine
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Lincoln ME. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially because there are so many variables to examine. For example, many potential students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their home. After they have identified some that are within commuting range, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though location and cost are significant, they are not the only qualifications that should be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your final decision when choosing an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional choices that are available.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs
There are several options to obtain electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Lincoln ME. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are brief descriptions of the three most prevalent programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Maine trade and technical schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards those who want to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to complete and are provided by Maine junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Maine institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be performed prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in Lincoln ME can carry out a vast array of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually assess general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be obtained in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases involves 3 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you select not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Programs
An option that you might have considered is choosing an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, internet learning can be a more convenient alternative for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Driving expenses from Lincoln ME are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be accessed online as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
When you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Lincoln ME region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are other factors that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to enrolling in an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Lincoln ME school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify 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 of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate might suggest that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It could also mean that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which may mean 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 trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Lincoln ME graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Lincoln ME area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed 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 expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Lincoln ME electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Lincoln residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with several of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure 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 Lincoln ME, check that the schools you are considering provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.
Electrical Technician Training Lincoln Maine
Selecting the best electrician trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrical Technician Training and wanting more information on the topic Colleges That Offer Electrician Programs. But as we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical training program that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Every program provides unique options for certification as well. Probably the best approach to research your final list of schools is to go to 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 choose is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Lincoln ME.
More Electric Locations in Maine
Lincoln, Maine
Lincoln developed around a water powered sawmill on the east bank of the Penobscot River.[6] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 74.65 square miles (193.34 km2), of which, 67.83 square miles (175.68 km2) of it is land and 6.82 square miles (17.66 km2) is water.[1]Rollins Mountain is located in Lincoln. The town has 13 different ponds.
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 5,085 people, 2,045 households, and 1,415 families residing in the town. The population density was 75.0 inhabitants per square mile (29.0/km2). There were 2,866 housing units at an average density of 42.3 per square mile (16.3/km2). The ethnic makeup of the town was 97.1% White, 0.3% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.0% of the population.
There were 2,045 households of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.8% were non-families. 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.87.
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