How to Choose the Right Trade School Program near Thomaston Maine

Deciding to begin a new occupation and enroll in a trade school near Thomaston ME are important decisions that will greatly influence your long term career. But with numerous trade schools to pick from, exactly how do you go about identifying the right one? Not only do you need to ascertain that you will get the complete training necessary to be successful in your new occupation, but also that the school is highly regarded and reputable. A number of students make the error of selecting a vocational school simply because the campus is nearest to their home or where the work. Others might be attracted to the school that charges the most affordable tuition. Naturally the location and cost of the programs are critical considerations when analyzing vocational school options, but they can not be the sole ones. Added variables including accreditation and the reputation of the schools are important as well. So before you begin evaluating and comparing trade schools, you must know what questions to ask so you can get the information to make a final selection. We will address some of those questions later in this article. But to start with, let’s look at a few of the trade options that are available as well as the accessibility of online programs.

Trade School Training Options near Thomaston ME

There are an abundance of professions to pick from in vocational schools that provide fulfilling and good paying careers. Maybe you have already chosen one that you have long wished to pursue. For example, maybe you have always taken pleasure in working on your car and have given thought to using that talent to make a living as a car mechanic. Or perhaps a member of the family has had a long and successful career in a certain vocation or trade and you would love to follow in her or his footsteps. No matter what your motivation is for entering a trade, there is likely a program available that will give you the training that you require. Following is just a small representation of the trade school programs that are offered in the Thomaston ME area.

• Auto Mechanic
• Heating And Air Conditioning (HVAC) Tech
• Plumber
• Electrician
• Welding
• Truck Driving
• Aircraft Maintenance Tech
• Lab Technician
• Construction Management

Each of the programs will have differing completion times and costs based upon the vocation, type of credential and school. Many of the programs may be completed in a few weeks, while others will necessitate months or even 2 or more years of training. All of these factors need to be considered prior to selecting a trade and a school.

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Online Vocational Schools

Online schools have become very popular with Thomaston ME students and a growing number of accredited programs are being offered. Even though learning online is a very convenient and accessible way to earn a degree or certificate, it may not be the best option for every vocation or trade. For example, training to drive a semi truck is not something that you can do online, nor is learning how to weld. These are skills that must be mastered through practical training and by doing it, not by studying or watching videos. But certain elements of the training may be suitable for online learning, such as studying driving and safety regulations for trucking schools or learning about metallurgy or how to read blueprints for welding schools. A number of programs will blend online education with on campus practical training, for example for electrician or welding schools. So it is essential to ask before enrolling in an online program for any trade if there is an adequate amount of hands-on training devoted to the course of study. One way to help establish est that a trade school program is both appropriate for online studying and delivers in-depth hands-on training is to check that it’s accredited by a nationally acknowledged accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). For those vocations that are appropriate for training online, it can be a convenient way for those with limited time to learn a new vocation.

Points to Ask Vocational Schools

After you have selected the vocation and type of degree or certificate that you desire to acquire, either online or on campus, you can begin to limit your selection of schools. As you are no doubt aware, there are a large number of trade schools in the  Thomaston ME area and across the USA to choose from. That’s why it is very important to have a list of key qualifications when making school assessments. As earlier stated in our opening paragraph, tuition and location will undoubtedly be the initial 2 factors you will take into consideration. Following are several additional ones that you will want to explore before enrolling in your school of choice.

Accreditation.  Numerous Thomaston ME area vocational programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as HVAC technology. Verify that the program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you receive an excellent education, it can assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, many states require that the  training course be accredited for it to be approved for licensing where applicable.

How Long in Business? One clue to help determine the quality of a trade school near Thomaston ME is how long it has been in operation. A negatively reviewed or a fly by night school normally will not be in business very long, so longevity is a big plus. Having said that, even the best of schools had to begin from their opening day of training, so consider it as one of several qualifications.

 Completion Rates.  Ask the vocational 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 low completion rate might indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It might also mean that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which may result in more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help graduates acquire apprenticeships or employment in the Thomaston ME area.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Many training programs are taught together 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 contractors or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Thomaston ME area professionals in the field. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make certain that the school 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 presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the technician you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Thomaston ME contractor if they can give you some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within commuting distance of your home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be higher tuition fees 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 bigger 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 instructors and students. Speak to several of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is in Maine and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling.  Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Thomaston ME, check that the schools you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, 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 due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.

3 Month Trade Schools Thomaston Maine

Enrolling in the ideal trade school near Thomaston ME is a critical first step toward a gratifying career in the vocation of your choice. As we have addressed in this article, you should pick a trade school and a degree or certificate program that are both accredited and have excellent reputations within the trade. Other things to search for are plenty of hands-on training and state-of-the-art facilities. You should visit each of the schools in person that you are most interested in to explore the campus and talk with both the faculty and current students. Attempt to get a feel for the quality of the training and the interaction between them. Additionally, inquire about scheduling choices and whether or not night or weekend classes are available if needed. And remember to ask about financial assistance and student loan options also. You initially came to this website because of your interest in 3 Month Trade Schools and wanting more information on the topic College Of Trades. However, if you ask the right questions as we have detailed in our guidelines for evaluating schools, you’ll be able to filter your choices so that you can make an educated decision. With the appropriate training, hard work and commitment, you can ultimately become a licensed professional in your chosen trade.

Other Maine Hard Working Locations

 

Thomaston, Maine

Thomaston (formerly known as Fort St. Georges, Fort Wharf, Lincoln) is a town in Knox County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,781 at the 2010 census. Noted for its antique architecture, Thomaston is an old port popular with tourists.

As early as 1630, a trading post was established on the eastern bank of the St. George River, then considered the boundary between New England and New France. In 1704, Thomas LeFebvre from Quebec bought a large tract of land along the Weskeag River on which he built a gristmill, with a house on the shoreline at what is now South Thomaston. The area became known as Thomas' Town.[4] In 1719–1720, the old trading post was remodeled into Fort St. George, a stockaded fort protected by two blockhouses. But Abenaki Indian tribes protested the encroachment of an English fort on their territory. Instigated by the French, they attacked the garrison twice during Dummer's War in 1722, then again in 1723 with a siege lasting 30 days. In response to this and other provocations, soldiers destroyed the Abenaki stronghold of Norridgewock in 1724.

During the French and Indian War, to avenge for the fall of Louisbourg, on August 13, 1758 French officer Boishebert left Miramichi, New Brunswick with 400 soldiers for Fort St George (Thomaston, Maine).[5] His detachment reached there on September 9 but was caught in an ambush and had to withdraw. This was Boishébert's last Acadian expedition.[6] They then went on to raid Friendship, Maine, where people were killed and others taken prisoner.[7] Hostilities of the French and Indian Wars ceased with the 1759 Fall of Quebec.

 

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