Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Fairfield CT 06430

How to Become an Electrician in Fairfield Connecticut

Fairfield CT electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Fairfield CT. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are so many points to evaluate. For instance, many prospective students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have identified a few that are within driving distance, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the only factors that should be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your final judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are offered.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Fairfield CT

Fairfield CT electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general approaches to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Fairfield CT. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Bellow are short summaries of the 3 most typical programs offered.

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

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Connecticut institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed before licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements

Fairfield CT electricians working on power lines Electricians in Fairfield CT can perform a vast array of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly about four to five years of experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be acquired in many specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you choose not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Programs Online in Fairfield CT

attending electrician school online in Fairfield CT A possibility that you may have contemplated is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools are becoming more accepted 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 partial attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, internet learning can be a more practical alternative for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Travelling costs from Fairfield CT are also reduced and some of the study materials can be accessed on line also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Fairfield CT electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Fairfield CT region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional variables that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational 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 relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Fairfield CT program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, some states require 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 looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate might signify that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It might also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which can result in 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 industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Fairfield CT students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught together 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 businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Fairfield CT area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Fairfield CT electrical company if they can provide some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Fairfield residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to a few of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Fairfield CT, verify that the programs you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Fairfield CT?

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

Fairfield, Connecticut

Fairfield is an affluent town[4] located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It borders the city of Bridgeport and towns of Trumbull, Easton, Weston, and Westport along the Gold Coast of Connecticut. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 59,404.[5] In September 2014, Money magazine ranked Fairfield the 44th best place to live in the United States, and the best place to live in Connecticut.[6]

In 1635, Puritans and Congregationalists in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, were dissatisfied with the rate of Anglican reform, and sought to establish an ecclesiastical society subject to their own rules and regulations. The Massachusetts General Court granted them permission to settle in the towns of Windsor, Wethersfield, and Hartford which is an area now known as Connecticut.

On January 14, 1639, a set of legal and administrative regulations called the Fundamental Orders was adopted, and established Connecticut as a self-ruling entity. By 1639 these settlers had started new towns in the surrounding areas. Roger Ludlowe, framer of the Fundamental Orders, purchased the land presently called Fairfield, and established the name. The name "Fairfield" is commendatory.[7]

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Enroll in the Ideal Electrical Vocational School near Fairfield CT

Picking the ideal electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have covered in this article, there are many factors that you will need to examine 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 instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each training program provides different options for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Fairfield CT.