How to Choose the Right Electrician Technical School near Springvale Maine
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Springvale ME. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are so many variables to consider. For instance, some students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have located some that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole factors that need to be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your ultimate decision when picking an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are available.
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Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options
There are several ways to get electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Springvale ME. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you want to earn certification. Bellow are short summaries of the 3 most common programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Maine technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards students who want to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to complete and are offered by Maine junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Maine colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out before licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines
Electricians in Springvale ME can perform a multitude of duties, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally about four to five years of prior experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be obtained in several specialties, 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you select not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes
A possibility that you may have looked at is selecting an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning might be a more convenient choice for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Driving costs from Springvale ME are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
When you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Because there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Springvale ME region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are other factors that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Springvale ME program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you acquire a superior education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, some states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate could signify that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It may also mean that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Springvale ME graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical 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 electrician companies or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with Springvale ME area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Springvale ME electrical company if they can give you some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Springvale residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive 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 observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to some of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Springvale ME, check that the programs you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.
Become Qualified Electrician Springvale Maine
Picking the ideal electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Become Qualified Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Training Schools. But as we have addressed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess 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 instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides unique options for certification also. Probably the best approach to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you pick is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Springvale ME.
More Electric Locations in Maine
Springvale, Maine
Springvale is a village and former census-designated place in the city of Sanford in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 3,292 at the 2010 census.[1] It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area. The CDP was abolished when the town of Sanford reincorporated as a city.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.4 km2), of which 3.1 square miles (8.1 km2) is land and 0.12 square miles (0.3 km2), or 3.69%, is water.[1] Springvale is drained by the Mousam River.
This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Springvale has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.[3]
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