Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Colorado Springs CO 80901

How to Become an Electrician in Colorado Springs Colorado

Colorado Springs CO electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Colorado Springs CO. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many variables to consider. For instance, many prospective students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have located a few that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. While cost and location are of importance, they are not the only things that should be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are available.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Colorado Springs CO

Colorado Springs CO electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple approaches to get electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Colorado Springs CO. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Frequently these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are brief summaries of the three most common programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Colorado vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who want to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees involve 2 years to finish and are offered by Colorado community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Colorado institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements

Colorado Springs CO electricians working on power lines Electricians in Colorado Springs CO can undertake a wide range of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly around 4 to 5 years of experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly test electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be obtained in several 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 organizations include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you pick not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in Colorado Springs CO

attending electrician school online in Colorado Springs CO An option that you may have looked at is choosing an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, internet learning can be a more practical choice for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Travelling expenses from Colorado Springs CO are also reduced and some of the study materials may be available on line also. All of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Colorado Springs CO electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Colorado Springs CO region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we mentioned 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 even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional factors that need to be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze before selecting an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Colorado Springs CO program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you obtain an excellent education, it may help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved 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 finish the program. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It could also mean that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s also essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, 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 confirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Colorado Springs CO graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Colorado Springs CO area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Colorado Springs CO electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Colorado Springs residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Speak to several of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Colorado Springs CO, check that the schools you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Colorado Springs CO?

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

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Colorado Springs is a home rule municipality that is the largest city by area in Colorado as well as the county seat and the most populous municipality of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in the east central portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located 60 miles (97 km) south of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver.

At 6,035 feet (1,839 m) the city stands over 1 mile (1.6 km) above sea level, though some areas of the city are significantly higher and lower. Colorado Springs is situated near the base of Pikes Peak, which rises 14,000 feet (4,300 m) above sea level on the eastern edge of the Southern Rocky Mountains. The city is home to 24 national governing bodies of sport, including the United States Olympic Committee, the United States Olympic Training Center, and USA Hockey.

The city had an estimated population of 465,101 in 2016, and a metro population of approximately 712,000,[11] ranking as the second most populous city in the state of Colorado, behind Denver, and the 40th most populous city in the United States.[12] The Colorado Springs, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area had an estimated population of 712,327 in 2016.[13] The city is included in the Front Range Urban Corridor, an oblong region of urban population along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and Wyoming, generally following the path of Interstate 25 in both states.

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Pick the Right Electrician Technical School near Colorado Springs CO

Choosing the best electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician training that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each training program provides different options for certification as well. Perhaps the best approach to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you choose is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Colorado Springs CO.