How to Choose the Right Electrician Technical School near Redding Connecticut
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Redding CT. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many points to evaluate. For example, some prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their home. When they have found a few that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the only qualifications that need to be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your final decision when selecting an electrician school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are offered.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options
There are multiple approaches to get electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Redding CT. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are short summaries of the three most prevalent programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Connecticut vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve 2 years to complete and are offered by Connecticut junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Connecticut institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 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 Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Redding CT can perform a wide range of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to 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 around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be earned in numerous specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails 3 levels of proficiency:
- 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 important that the electrician tech school that you choose not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online
An alternative that you might have contemplated is choosing an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning might be a more accommodating choice for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Commuting expenses from Redding CT are also lessened and some of the study materials can be accessed online also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Redding CT area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are other factors that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs have earned 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, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Redding CT school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you acquire an excellent education, it may help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate could suggest that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It may also suggest that the instructors were not qualified 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 more extensive list of graduates, which may mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Redding CT students secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Redding CT area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Redding CT electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Redding residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with several of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Redding CT, check that the programs you are looking at provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.
Electrical Diploma Online Redding Connecticut
Selecting the ideal electrical training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrical Diploma Online and wanting more information on the topic Journeyman Electrician School. But as we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are examining includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Probably The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you choose is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Redding CT.
More Electric Locations in Connecticut
Redding, Connecticut
At the time colonials began receiving grants for land within the boundaries of present-day Redding, Native American trails crossed through portions of the area, including the Berkshire Path running north-south.[2]
In 1639, Roger Ludlow (also referenced as Roger Ludlowe in many accounts) purchased land from local Native Americans to establish Fairfield,[3] and in 1668 Fairfield purchased another tract of land then called Northfield, which comprised land that is now part of Redding.[4]
For settlement purposes, Fairfield authorities divided the newly available land into parcels dubbed "long lots" at the time, which north-south measured no more than a third of a mile wide but extended east-west as long as 15 miles.[5] Immediately north of the long lots was a similar-sized parcel of land known as The Oblong.[6]
Business Results 1 - 10 of 218
2 Reviews 
18 Reviews 
19 Reviews 
16 Reviews 2 Reviews 
3 Reviews 
8 Reviews 
9 Reviews 2 Reviews 
10 Reviews 