Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Silverthorne CO 80497

How to Become an Electrician in Silverthorne Colorado

Silverthorne CO electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Silverthorne CO. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are a number of factors to consider. For instance, many prospective students will start by searching for schools that are close to their home. After they have located some that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the least expensive tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the only qualifications that should be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your final decision when choosing an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Silverthorne CO

Silverthorne CO electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several approaches to receive electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Silverthorne CO. You can select 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 offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you want to earn certification. Following are short summaries of the 3 most common programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Colorado trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to complete and are offered by Colorado community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Colorado colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Requirements

Silverthorne CO electricians working on power lines Electricians in Silverthorne CO can undertake a vast array of tasks, 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 become licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically around four to five years of practical experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be obtained in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves 3 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 crucial that the electrician tech 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 be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Programs in Silverthorne CO

attending electrician school online in Silverthorne CO An alternative that you may have considered is selecting an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, internet learning might be a more practical choice for students that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Driving expenses from Silverthorne CO are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be available on line as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Silverthorne CO electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Silverthorne CO region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are other factors that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade schools have earned 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, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Silverthorne CO program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you get a quality education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, many states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it 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 finish the course. A lower completion rate may suggest that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It might also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, which may result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Silverthorne CO graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training 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 businesses or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Silverthorne CO area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain 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 currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Silverthorne CO electrical company if they can provide some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Silverthorne home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with a few of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Silverthorne CO, check that the programs you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, find 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 Silverthorne CO?

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

Silverthorne, Colorado

The town was named for Judge Marshall Silverthorn who served as the judge of the miner's court in Breckenridge. The judge first came to town as a prospector and claimed a section of the Blue River in 1881. After patenting his claim in April 1882, he was disappointed to find the gold to be sparse and the claim a poor bet. The land passed to his daughters on his death in 1887 and was then sold several times to various mining companies. In 1953 Clayton Hill bought the property and subdivided it for homes and stores.[8]

Silverthorne served as a makeshift camp for workers during the construction of the Dillon Reservoir from 1961-1963, and later as a stop along Interstate 70. It was eventually incorporated on April 5, 1967.[2]

Silverthorne is located at 39°38′18″N 106°04′35″W / 39.638391°N 106.076505°W / 39.638391; -106.076505,[9] at 8,730 feet above sea level (2661 meters). The town is situated between the Gore Range to the west and the Continental Divide to the east. The two most visible mountains are Buffalo and Red Mountains. Also surrounding the valley are Ptarmigan, Tenderfoot, and Ten Mile Peaks.

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Find the Right Electrician Trade School near Silverthorne CO

Choosing the right electrical trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training program that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Every program offers different possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you choose is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Silverthorne CO.