How to Enroll in the Right Electrician Tech School near Easton Massachusetts
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Easton MA. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are a number of points to consider. For example, many prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have found some that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole things that must be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your final judgment when picking an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are available.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options
There are three general ways to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Easton MA. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the three most prevalent programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Massachusetts trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who want to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require two years to complete and are offered by Massachusetts community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Massachusetts colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed before licensing. Because of that, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Easton MA can undertake a multitude of services, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically around four to five years of prior experience is called for before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be acquired in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases involves three 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 tech school that you enroll in not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online
An option that you might have looked at is selecting an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs have become more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning may be a more practical alternative for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Travelling costs from Easton MA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be available online as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Once you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Easton MA region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are other factors that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to selecting an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Easton MA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, some states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved 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 finish the program. A low completion rate may signify that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It could also signify that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to use 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 also that it has the network of contacts to assist Easton MA grads secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Easton MA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Easton MA electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within driving distance of your Easton residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in 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 get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Easton MA, verify that the programs you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Education For Electrician Easton Massachusetts
Choosing the right electrician trade school 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 Education For Electrician and wanting more information on the topic I Want To Become An Electrician. But as we have discussed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Each training program offers unique options for certification as well. Probably The ideal means to research your short 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 school you select is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Easton MA.
More Electric Locations in Massachusetts
Easton, Massachusetts
Easton is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 23,112 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Greater Boston area, but is also part of the 6-county definition of the Providence MSA.
Easton is governed by an elected Board of Selectmen. Open Town Meeting acts as the legislative branch of the town. The Selectman choose a Town Administrator to run the day-to-day operations of the town.
In 1694, the first settler, Clement Briggs, established his home near the Easton Green. In 1711, the Taunton North Purchase area became Norton, and in 1713, the sixty-nine families settled in Easton and hired Elder William Pratt as their first minister. Prior to the settlers' establishment, the area was occupied by Native Americans as a hunting area and a burial ground. During King Philip's War, Metacom, also known as King Philip, used part of Easton as a headquarters for his troops. There was no legal parish in Easton until 1722, when the East Precinct of Norton was recognized. In 1725, the area was incorporated as the Town of Easton; it was so named because it was formerly called the "East End" of the Taunton North Purchase and was shortened by pronunciation to Easton. During the Revolutionary War, General George Washington stayed at the Benjamin Williams Tavern on Bay Road, which is now the second oldest existing house in Easton, while on his way to negotiate for cannonballs at the old Perry Foundry in Taunton.
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