Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Columbia CT 06237

How to Become an Electrician in Columbia Connecticut

Columbia CT electrician inspecting circuit panelThe initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Columbia CT. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are so many variables to examine. For example, some students will start by searching for schools that are close to their home. After they have found a few that are within driving range, they will select the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole qualifications that need to be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your final judgment when choosing an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Columbia CT

Columbia CT electrician re-wiring power outletThere are three general ways to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Columbia CT. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Bellow are brief summaries of the three most prevalent programs available.

  • Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Connecticut vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards students who would like to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degree Programs involve two years to finish and are offered by Connecticut junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Connecticut institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out before licensing. Because of that, many students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites

Columbia CT electricians working on power linesElectricians in Columbia CT can perform a multitude 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 mandated to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly around four to five years of prior experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly test general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be obtained in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes 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 imperative that the electrician trade school that you select not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools in Columbia CT

attending electrician school online in Columbia CTAn alternative that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more accommodating choice for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Travelling costs from Columbia CT are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be accessed online also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Columbia CT electrician re-wiring circuit panelOnce you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Since there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Columbia CT area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The first two 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 final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are additional factors that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical technical school.

Accreditation.  Numerous electrician trade schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Columbia CT program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate might signify that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It could also indicate that the instructors were not competent 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 can produce more contacts for the school to use 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 additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Columbia CT grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Numerous electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Columbia CT area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed 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, check with the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Columbia CT electrical contracting company if they can give you some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Columbia home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to some of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling.  Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Columbia CT, check that the programs you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Columbia CT?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Columbia CT area.

Columbia, Connecticut

Columbia is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 4,971 at the 2000 census. Originally a part of Lebanon, known as the North Society or Lebanon's Crank,[1] Columbia was incorporated in May 1804. The town was named for patriotic reasons after the national symbol "Columbia".[2] Columbia offers pre-kindergarten through 8th grade education in town at Horace W. Porter School, while high school students have a choice of attending three nearby high schools (Bolton High School, E. O. Smith High School, and Windham Technical High School, part of the Connecticut Technical High School System).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 22.0 square miles (57 km2), of which, 21.4 square miles (55 km2) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2) of it (2.78%) is water.

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 4,971 people, 1,864 households, and 1,463 families residing in the town. The population density was 232.8 people per square mile (89.9/km²). There were 1,988 housing units at an average density of 93.1 per square mile (35.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.43% White, 0.38% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.56% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.69% of the population.

The location could not be found.

Select the Ideal Electrician Trade School near Columbia CT

Selecting the right electrical training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new career. 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 considering. It’s a must that any electrician tech school that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Columbia CT.

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