How to Pick the Best Electrician Tech School near Bridgeport Connecticut
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Bridgeport CT. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are so many factors to consider. For example, some students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have located a few that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole things that should be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your final judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional choices that are offered.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs
There are three general ways to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Bridgeport CT. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Frequently these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the three most common programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Connecticut trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to complete and are offered by Connecticut community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Connecticut institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out prior to licensing. For that reason, many students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Bridgeport CT can carry out a wide range of tasks, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly about four to five years of experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be earned in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves three levels of competency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying organizations 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 enroll in not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Programs
A possibility that you might have considered is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools have become more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, internet learning may be a more practical option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Travelling costs from Bridgeport CT are also minimized and some of the study materials can be accessed online also. Each of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Bridgeport CT region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first two that we discussed 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 other factors that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Bridgeport CT program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive an excellent education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states mandate 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate might signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It might also mean that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, 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 a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Bridgeport CT grads acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician trade programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Check if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Bridgeport CT area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Bridgeport CT electrical contracting company if they can give you some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Bridgeport residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak to some of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Bridgeport CT, check that the programs you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.
Online Electrician Training Bridgeport Connecticut
Choosing the ideal electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Online Electrician Training and wanting more information on the topic Learn How To Be An Electrician. But as we have discussed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each training program offers unique options for certification also. Probably the best means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you pick is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Bridgeport CT.
More Electric Locations in Connecticut
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is a historic seaport city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is in Fairfield County, at the mouth of the Pequonnock River on Long Island Sound, 60 miles from Manhattan and 40 miles from The Bronx. It is bordered by the towns of Trumbull to the north, Fairfield to the west, and Stratford to the east.
As of 2017, Bridgeport had an estimated population of 146,579,[2] which made it the largest city in Connecticut and the fifth-most populous in New England. The Greater Bridgeport area is the 48th-largest urban area in the United States.
The showman P. T. Barnum was a resident of the city and served as the town's mayor in the late 19th century. Barnum built four houses in Bridgeport and housed his circus in town during winter. The first Subway restaurant opened in Bridgeport's North End in 1965.[4] The Frisbie Pie Company was in Bridgeport, and Bridgeport is credited as the birthplace of the Frisbee.[5]
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