How to Pick the Best Electrician Technical School near Sanford Maine
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Sanford ME. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you tackle making sure 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 close to their home. After they have found a few that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are important, they are not the only qualifications that need to be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should influence your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are accessible.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs
There are three general options to receive electrician training in a trade or technical school near Sanford ME. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you intend to become certified. Bellow are brief descriptions of the three most common programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Maine trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve 2 years to finish and are offered by Maine junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some Maine colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed before licensing. Therefore, most students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines
Electricians in Sanford ME can undertake a vast array of duties, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally about 4 to 5 years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be acquired in many specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually 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 imperative that the electrician tech school that you pick not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online
A possibility that you may have looked at is selecting an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning may be a more accommodating choice for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Driving costs from Sanford ME are also minimized and some of the study materials may be available on line also. All of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Training Schools
When you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Sanford ME area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are other factors that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Many electrician technical schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Sanford ME program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you get a quality education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, many states mandate that the electrician training course 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 of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate may indicate that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It could also indicate that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which can 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 a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Sanford ME graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician training programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical companies or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Sanford ME area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area 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 using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Sanford ME electrical contractor if they can provide some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Sanford residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with a few of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Sanford ME, check that the programs you are considering provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.
What Education Do You Need To Be An Electrician Sanford Maine
Picking the right electrical 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 What Education Do You Need To Be An Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Vocational School. But as we have addressed in this article, there are many things that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training program that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every training program offers unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you choose is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Sanford ME.
More Electric Locations in Maine
Sanford, Maine
Sanford is a city in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 20,798 in the 2010 census, making it the seventh largest municipality in the state.[4] Situated on the Mousam River, Sanford includes the village of Springvale. The city features many lakes in wooded areas which attract campers.
On November 6, 2012, Sanford voters approved a new charter to re-incorporate Sanford as a city and replace the town meeting format with a city council/mayor/strong manager form of government, along with other changes. The new charter took effect on January 1, 2013.[5] Sanford's new charter provides that the first mayor would be appointed from the ranks of Sanford's seven city councilors and serve interim for one-year period. On January 8, 2013, Maura A. Herlihy was appointed as Sanford's first mayor.[6]
Sanford is in the western portion of a tract of land purchased in 1661 from Abenaki Chief Fluellin by Major William Phillips, an owner of mills in Saco. First called Phillipstown, it was willed in 1696 by Mrs. Phillips to her former husband's son, Peleg Sanford.[8] Settlement was delayed, however, by hostilities during the French and Indian Wars. In 1724, Norridgewock, an enemy stronghold on the Kennebec River, was destroyed by a Massachusetts militia. Subsequently, the region became less dangerous, and Sanford was first settled in 1739. Incorporated a town in 1768, it was named after Peleg Sanford. Until 1794, Alfred was the town's North Parish.[9]
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