How to Select the Best Electrician Technical School near Montville Connecticut
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Montville CT. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are a number of variables to examine. For example, many potential students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have found some that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the only 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 qualifications should influence your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are accessible.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options
There are three general options to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Montville CT. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are brief descriptions of the three most typical programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Connecticut trade and technical schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards those who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take two years to complete and are offered by Connecticut community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some Connecticut institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be performed before licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines
Electricians in Montville CT can carry out a multitude of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly around four to five years of prior experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be acquired in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails 3 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online
An alternative that you may have considered is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning may be a more practical choice for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Travelling costs from Montville CT are also reduced and some of the study materials may be accessed online as well. Each of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Once you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Because there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Montville CT region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The initial two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional factors that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Montville CT program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you get a quality education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of 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 percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate could indicate that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It could also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which may mean more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Montville CT grads secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Montville CT area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. 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. If not, ask a local Montville CT electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Montville residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with some of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Montville CT, check that the programs you are looking at provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.
What Degree Do You Need To Be An Electrician Montville Connecticut
Selecting the right electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in What Degree Do You Need To Be An Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Degree Requirements. But as we have addressed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should offer a real-world context, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Each program provides different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you select is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Montville CT.
More Electric Locations in Connecticut
Montville, Connecticut
The villages of Chesterfield, Mohegan, Oakdale, and Uncasville are located within the town; the latter two have their own ZIP Codes. Town residents often identify with these villages more than the Town of Montville as a whole, and the Mohegan Sun casino resort is nearby.
In the 17th century, when English settlers arrived, southeastern Connecticut was the scene of rivalry between the Pequot people, the dominant Native American group in the New London area, and the newly independent Mohegan. The latter became friendly to the English. For defense against the Pequot, the Mohegan sachem Uncas had established a fortified village on a promontory above the Thames River within what is now the town of Montville. The Mohegan village, now known as Fort Shantok, was protected on the inland side by palisades first built in about 1636 at the time of the Pequot War, rebuilt during wars with the Narragansett people circa 1653–1657, and rebuilt again at the time of King Philip's War (1675–1676).
When the boundaries of New London (then called "Pequot") were first defined in 1646, the Oxoboxo River formed the northern boundary. Parts of the modern town of Montville lying south of the river were included in New London, while the area north of the river was treated as Mohegan land. Over time the settlers assumed control of Mohegan lands. In 1703 the area between the Oxoboxo River and Norwich (now part of the town of Montville) was annexed by New London.[2]
Business Results 1 - 10 of 81
3 Reviews 
16 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
3 Reviews 
11 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
3 Reviews 