How to Pick the Best Electrician Technical School near Lakeside Connecticut
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Lakeside CT. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many points to evaluate. For example, many prospective students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their home. After they have located a few that are within commuting range, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are significant, they are not the only things that need to be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your final judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs
There are multiple approaches to get electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Lakeside CT. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Frequently these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief explanations of the three most common programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Connecticut trade and technical schools and take about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards those who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take two years to complete and are provided by Connecticut community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain Connecticut colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed prior to licensing. For that reason, most students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Lakeside CT can carry out a vast array of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally about four to five years of prior experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be obtained in numerous specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician tech school that you choose not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Training Classes
An alternative that you might have contemplated is selecting an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning may be a more accommodating choice for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Driving costs from Lakeside CT are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Once you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Lakeside CT area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional variables that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Lakeside CT school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you get an excellent education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It may also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which may result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Lakeside CT grads secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical companies or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Lakeside CT area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Lakeside CT electrical contractor if they can give you some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Lakeside home. Take note that if you decide to attend 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 desirable that you receive as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to a few of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Lakeside CT, check that the programs you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.
Electrical Vocational School Lakeside Connecticut
Choosing the right electrical training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrical Vocational School and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Schools Online. But as we have covered in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrical training program that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every training program offers different possibilities for certification also. Probably the best approach to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you decide on is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Lakeside CT.
More Electric Locations in Connecticut
Lakeside Press Building
The Lakeside Press Building is a historic commercial building located at 731 S. Plymouth Ct. in downtown Chicago, Illinois. The building served as a showroom, office, and printing press for the Lakeside Press. The building was built in two stages; the southern half was completed in 1897, while the northern half was finished in 1901. Architect Howard Van Doren Shaw designed the building, his first design of a commercial building. Shaw's design features limestone quoins, piers, and decorations, curtain walls with cast iron spandrels on the floors housing the printing presses, and a projecting cornice.[2]
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