How to Choose the Right Electrician Tech School near Southborough Massachusetts
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Southborough MA. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are so many points to evaluate. For instance, many prospective students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have located a few that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are important, they are not the sole factors that should be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are available.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options
There are three general ways to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Southborough MA. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Bellow are short descriptions of the three most common programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Massachusetts technical and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards those who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require two years to complete and are provided by Massachusetts community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Massachusetts institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out prior to licensing. For that reason, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements
Electricians in Southborough MA can perform a vast array of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly around 4 to 5 years of experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be obtained in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure 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 crucial that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online
An alternative that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs have become more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, distance learning may be a more convenient alternative for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Travelling expenses from Southborough MA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be available online also. All of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Once you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Southborough MA area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are additional factors that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Southborough MA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you get a superior education, it can help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. 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 reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage 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 teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which can result in more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Southborough MA graduates acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Southborough MA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable 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. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Southborough MA electrical contracting company if they can provide some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Southborough home. Remember 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 desirable that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to a few of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the instructors 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 meet your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Southborough MA, check that the schools you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Education For Electrician Southborough Massachusetts
Picking the ideal electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. 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 covered in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training program that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each program offers different options for certification also. Probably The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you select is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Southborough MA.
More Electric Locations in Massachusetts
Southborough, Massachusetts
Southborough is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It incorporates the smaller villages of Cordaville, Fayville, and Southville. Its name is often informally shortened to Southboro, a usage seen on many area signs and maps, though officially rejected by town ordinance. Its population was 9,767 at the 2010 census, in nearly 3,000 households.
Southborough was named Number 31 in the nation on CNN Money's "100 Best Places to Live" in 2009. Southborough consistently ranks #1 as the wealthiest community in Worcester County. It ranked 15th for most million dollar earners among all other Massachusetts communities.[1] Southborough home prices are not only among the most expensive in Massachusetts, but Southborough real estate also consistently ranks among the most expensive in America. Of the town's residents 93.80% are employed in white-collar jobs, well above the nation's average.
First settled in 1660, land use now is primarily residential, with substantial open space. A tenth of the town's area is flooded by the Sudbury Reservoir. Light industrial land use is concentrated along main roads, primarily Massachusetts Route 9, and there are several small business districts in the villages and along Route 9.[2]
Business Results 1 - 10 of 282
18 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
6 Reviews 
7 Reviews 6 Reviews 
24 Reviews 
8 Reviews 
7 Reviews 1 Reviews 
4 Reviews 