Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Lafayette CO 80026

How to Become an Electrician in Lafayette Colorado

Lafayette CO electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Lafayette CO. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are so many variables to examine. For example, some potential students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have found a few that are within commuting range, they will pick the one with the lowest tuition. Even though location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole things that must be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your final judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are accessible.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Lafayette CO

Lafayette CO electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Lafayette CO. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you want to earn certification. Bellow are brief descriptions of the three most prevalent programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Colorado trade and technical schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who want to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require two years to finish and are offered by Colorado community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Colorado institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed prior to licensing. For that reason, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria

Lafayette CO electricians working on power lines Electricians in Lafayette CO can perform a wide range of services, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be earned in many specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails three 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 important that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Lafayette CO

attending electrician school online in Lafayette CO A possibility that you might have considered is selecting an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning might be a more practical choice for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Commuting costs from Lafayette CO are also reduced and some of the study materials can be available on line also. Each of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Lafayette CO electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Lafayette CO region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are other variables that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain 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 Lafayette CO school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive an excellent education, it can help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order 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 or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate might indicate that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It could also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, 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 affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Lafayette CO graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Lafayette CO area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Lafayette CO electrical company if they can give you some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Lafayette home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to a few of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Lafayette CO, confirm that the programs you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Lafayette CO?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Lafayette CO area.

Lafayette, Colorado

Lafayette is located in southeastern Boulder County at 39°59′42″N 105°6′2″W / 39.99500°N 105.10056°W / 39.99500; -105.10056 (39.995, -105.100556).[11] It is bordered by the town of Erie to the north and east, by the city of Broomfield to the east and south, and by Louisville to the southwest. U.S. Highway 287 is the main road through the city, leading north to Longmont and south to Broomfield and Denver. State Highway 7 leads east from Lafayette to Brighton and west to Boulder.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Lafayette has a total area of 9.6 square miles (24.9 km2), of which 9.5 square miles (24.5 km2) is land and 0.15 square miles (0.4 km2), or 1.50%, is water.[10]

Lafayette was founded in 1888 by Mary E. (Foote) Miller. She and her husband, Lafayette Miller, had moved to the area to farm land they had purchased from Denver coal speculators Francis P. Heatly and Edward Chase. The farm also included land acquired by Mary's brother, James B. Foote and father, John B. Foote via the Homestead Act in 1871.[12] In 1874 the Millers moved to Boulder. Lafayette Miller ran a butcher shop and was a town trustee. Lafayette Miller died in Boulder in 1878, after which Mary Miller moved back to the farm with their six small children. In 1884 coal was discovered on the Miller farm, and in 1887 John H. Simpson acquired a coal lease from James B. Foote and sank the first Simpson Mine shaft, thereby starting the coal mining era. In 1888 Mary Miller designated 37 acres (0.15 km2) of the farm for the town of Lafayette, which she named after her late husband. In July 1888 a second mine, the Cannon, went into operation and the first houses were built. Mary Miller submitted a revised 89 acres (0.36 km2) plat for the town in 1889.[12] Also in early 1889, Mary Miller leased the rights to mine coal for 12.5 cents per ton to Charles Spencer and John H. Simpson. The two commenced sinking the Spencer coal mine 200 yards west of the Simpson coal mine.[12] On April 2, 1889,[2] the town of Lafayette was incorporated.[12] As stipulated in the original property deeds for the platting, no alcohol could be sold or distributed east of what is now known as Public Road.[12][13][14] In 1904, the Lafayette Town Board mandated that the "alcohol clause" be added to all platted additions to Lafayette. "Alcohol clause" deed restrictions weren't repealed by the City of Lafayette until the 1980s.

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Enroll in the Ideal Electrical Tech School near Lafayette CO

Selecting the right electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you select is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Lafayette CO.