Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Lakeville CT 06039

How to Become an Electrician in Lakeville Connecticut

Lakeville CT electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Lakeville CT. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are so many points to evaluate. For instance, some potential students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have identified several that are within driving range, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though location and cost are of importance, they are not the only things that need to be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your final decision when picking an electrician trade school. We will cover 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, Certificate and Diploma Options near Lakeville CT

Lakeville CT electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general approaches to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Lakeville CT. You may choose 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 other three alternatives. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you want to earn certification. Bellow are brief explanations of the three most typical programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Connecticut trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees take two years to finish and are provided by Connecticut community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain Connecticut colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed before licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites

Lakeville CT electricians working on power lines Electricians in Lakeville CT can carry out a vast array of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge 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 differ by state and can be obtained in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails 3 levels of competency:

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 enroll in not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools in Lakeville CT

attending electrician school online in Lakeville CT An option that you may have looked at is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning may be a more convenient alternative for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Driving expenses from Lakeville CT are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be accessed online as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Lakeville CT electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Lakeville CT region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other variables that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to enrolling in an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Lakeville CT program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you receive an excellent education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify 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 of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate may indicate that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It might also indicate that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Lakeville CT graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Lakeville CT area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Lakeville CT electrical contractor if they can provide some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Lakeville residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Talk to several of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Lakeville CT, confirm that the schools you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Lakeville CT?

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

Lakeville, Connecticut

Lakeville is a village in Litchfield County, Connecticut, bordering Dutchess County, New York. It has its own zip code (06039). It is part of the Town of Salisbury but for navigation and mail purposes, it is NOT part of Salisbury. The Streets of Lakeville do not exist in Salisbury. It is southwest of Salisbury Village on U.S. Route 44. The Hotchkiss and Indian Mountain Schools are located in Lakeville.[citation needed]

Until 1846, Lakeville was called "Furnace Village", due to the location there of one of the early blast furnaces of the historic Salisbury iron industry[citation needed] (one of which was established in the 1760s by future Revolutionary War hero Ethan Allen[citation needed]). Benjamin B. Hotchkiss, inventor of the Hotchkiss gun was born in nearby Watertown.[citation needed] A boarding school in his name, the Hotchkiss School, was founded by his widow Maria Bissell Hotchkiss in Lakeville in 1891.[citation needed] It later became coeducational.[citation needed] Lakeville is also the home of Indian Mountain School which is a boarding school for students Pre-K through 9th. It was founded in 1922.[citation needed]

It was also the original home to what would eventually relocate and become the Mansfield Training School, an institution for mentally retarded residents of Connecticut from 1860 to 1993.[citation needed]

The location could not be found.

Enroll in the Ideal Electrical Tech School near Lakeville CT

Choosing the right electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Each training program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you pick is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Lakeville CT.