How to Pick the Right Electrician Trade School near Sargentville Maine
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Sargentville ME. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are so many factors to examine. For example, some students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have found several that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though location and cost are important, they are not the only things that must be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your final decision when picking an electrician trade school. We will cover 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 choices that are available.
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Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs
There are three general ways to obtain electrician training in a trade or technical school near Sargentville ME. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are brief descriptions of the three most typical programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Maine vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards those who wish to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to finish and are offered by Maine junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Maine colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be completed before licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Sargentville ME can perform a wide range of duties, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally around four to five years of practical experience is needed before taking 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 means for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be acquired in various specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails 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 crucial that the electrician trade school that you select not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online
An alternative that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools have become more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation 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 rest of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning can be a more practical alternative for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Travelling costs from Sargentville ME are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online as well. All of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Once you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Sargentville ME region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature 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 additional qualifications that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Many electrician technical schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Sargentville ME school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, a number of states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it 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 complete the course. A lower completion rate could signify that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It may also signify that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Sargentville ME students obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Sargentville ME area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Sargentville ME electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Sargentville home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be higher tuition fees 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 some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak with a few of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with a few 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 evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Sargentville ME, check that the programs you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.
What Do I Need To Do To Become An Electrician Sargentville Maine
Selecting the best electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in What Do I Need To Do To Become An Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Class. But as we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrician tech school that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Every program provides different options for certification also. Perhaps The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Sargentville ME.
More Electric Locations in Maine
Sedgwick, Maine
It was one of six contiguous townships, each six miles square, granted by Massachusetts in 1761 to David Marsh and 359 others. Called by its Abenaki name Naskeag, meaning "the end or extremity," its first permanent European settler was Andrew Black in 1759. In 1789, the town was incorporated as Sedgwick, named after Major Robert Sedgwick, who in 1654 captured nearby Fort Pentagouet (now Castine) from the French.
Farmers found the surface broken and ledgy, better suited for grazing than cultivation. Gristmills and sawmills were built along various streams, including the Benjamin River. Because of the geology, for decades Sedgwick had operating many granite quarries, where stone was taken for major public buildings. Most of the quarries have been abandoned. Two companies mined for argentiferous galena, a source of silver. But with two excellent harbors, the town was chiefly occupied by fishing, clam digging, shipbuilding and seafaring. Other businesses included tanning and barrel making.[5]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 31.06 square miles (80.45 km2), of which 26.99 square miles (69.90 km2) is land and 4.07 square miles (10.54 km2) is water.[1] Drained by the Benjamin River, which separates it from Brooklin, Sedgwick overlooks Penobscot Bay. The Deer Isle Bridge spans the Eggemoggin Reach, connecting Sedgwick to the towns of Deer Isle and Stonington.
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