How to Become an Electrician in Woodbridge Connecticut

The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Woodbridge CT. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are a number of points to evaluate. For example, many students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their home. When they have located several that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the sole things 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 other qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Woodbridge CT

There are multiple options to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Woodbridge CT. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Bellow are short summaries of the 3 most prevalent programs available.

• Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Connecticut technical and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
• Associate Degrees take 2 years to complete and are provided by Connecticut community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Connecticut colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be completed before licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites

Electricians in Woodbridge CT can perform a vast array of functions, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring 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 duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually around 4 to 5 years of experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be earned in many specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes three levels of competency:

• An experience requirement
• Passing a written exam
• Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying organizations include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician tech school that you choose not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Woodbridge CT

An alternative that you might have looked at is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning may be a more accommodating alternative for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Commuting expenses from Woodbridge CT are also reduced and some of the study materials may be available online also. Each of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

When 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 tech and trade schools in the Woodbridge CT area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are additional factors that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before selecting an electrical tech school.

Accreditation.  A large number of electrician technical schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire 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 Woodbridge CT 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 make certain that you receive a quality education, it may help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Also, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates.  Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate could indicate that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It might also suggest that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have high 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 use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Woodbridge CT students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Numerous electrician trade programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Woodbridge CT area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Woodbridge CT electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Woodbridge residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s desirable that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling.  Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Woodbridge CT, verify that the programs you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Woodbridge CT?

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

Pick the Ideal Electrical Technical School near Woodbridge CT

Choosing the best electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each training program provides unique options for certification as well. Perhaps the best means to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you choose is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Woodbridge CT.

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