How to Pick the Best Electrician Vocational School near Somers Connecticut
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Somers CT. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are a number of points to examine. For example, some potential students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their home. Once they have identified a few that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are significant, they are not the sole things that should be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician trade school. We will talk about 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 Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs
There are several approaches to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Somers CT. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you wish to become certified. Bellow are short summaries of the three most common programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Connecticut vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who would like to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve two years to finish and are offered by Connecticut junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Connecticut institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed before licensing. Because of that, many students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Somers CT can carry out a wide range of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be earned in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you select not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Schools
An alternative that you might have looked at is choosing an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning may be a more convenient alternative for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus many online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Driving expenses from Somers CT are also minimized and some of the study materials can be available online as well. All of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Somers CT area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional factors that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Somers CT program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you receive an excellent education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate might indicate that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It may also indicate that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Somers CT grads secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Somers CT area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain 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 presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Somers CT electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Somers residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to several of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Somers CT, check that the programs you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.
Train As Electrician Somers Connecticut
Picking the best electrical trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Train As Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrical Training School. But as we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrician training that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should offer a real-world perspective, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each program offers different possibilities for certification as well. Probably The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Take the time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you decide on is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Somers CT.
More Electric Locations in Connecticut
Somers, Connecticut
Somers /ˈsʌmərz/ is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut. The population was 11,444 at the 2010 census. The town center is listed by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place (CDP). In 2007, Money Magazine named Somers, Connecticut 53rd on its list of 100 Best Places to Live, based on "economic opportunity, good schools, safe streets, things to do and a real sense of community."
Bordering Massachusetts, Somers is considered part of the City of Springfield, Massachusetts NECTA. Somers is only 9 miles from the City of Springfield, Massachusetts, and considered more oriented toward it than the City of Hartford, Connecticut, which lies 16 miles to the south.
Somers was originally part of the Agawam Plantation in the 17th century. Agawam Plantation became Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1641 and in 1682, the Enfield Parish broke off from the Springfield settlement. In 1689, the first settler, Benjamin Jones, came to Somers in what was then East Enfield about a half mile from the current town center, as it was only a summer house and in the winter, he and his family returned to Enfield for several years though out of fear of the Native Americans. In 1711, several more families settled the Somers area to help start a village. The families of Kibbe, Pease, Root, and Megregory were the first to settle the area. The Village was given the name Wallop but was changed to East Enfield shortly after. In the year 1734, East Enfield became a town and was renamed Somers, after John Somers, 1st Baron Somers.[1] In the year 1749, Somers joined the Connecticut Colony. The Four Town Fair which is usually held after the third weekend in September is one of the oldest fairs in the Country.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 104
12 Reviews 
12 Reviews 
1 Reviews 1 Reviews 
2 Reviews 1 Reviews 2 Reviews 
5 Reviews 1 Reviews 1 Reviews 