Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Litchfield CT 06759

How to Become an Electrician in Litchfield Connecticut

Litchfield CT electrician inspecting circuit panelThe first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Litchfield CT. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are so many factors to consider. For instance, many potential students will start by searching for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have located some that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the cheapest 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 job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your final judgment when picking an electrician 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 options that are available.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Litchfield CT

Litchfield CT electrician re-wiring power outletThere are multiple approaches to receive electrician training in a trade or technical school near Litchfield CT. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are short explanations of the 3 most common programs offered.

  • Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Connecticut technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who want to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to complete and are provided by Connecticut junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Connecticut colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements

Litchfield CT electricians working on power linesElectricians in Litchfield CT can perform a wide range 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 required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly about four to five years of practical experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be earned in many specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases involves 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician vocational school that you select not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Litchfield CT

attending electrician school online in Litchfield CTAn alternative that you may have contemplated is choosing an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs have become more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, distance learning can be a more accommodating choice for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Commuting expenses from Litchfield CT are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be available online also. All of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Litchfield CT electrician re-wiring circuit panelNow that you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Litchfield CT region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are additional factors that need to be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess prior to choosing an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation.  Many electrician technical schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Litchfield CT school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you acquire a quality education, it may help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates.  Ask the electrician training programs you are reviewing 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 may suggest that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It could also suggest that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher 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 an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Litchfield CT graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Most electrician vocational 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 labor unions. Check if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Litchfield CT area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Litchfield CT electrical contractor if they can give you some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Litchfield home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s important that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk to several of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with a few of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling.  Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Litchfield CT, check that the schools you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Litchfield CT?

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

Litchfield, Connecticut

Litchfield is a town in and former county seat of Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States.[4] The population was 8,466 at the 2010 census. The boroughs of Bantam and Litchfield are located within the town. There are also three unincorporated villages: East Litchfield, Milton, and Northfield.

Located southwest of Torrington, Litchfield also includes part of Bantam Lake. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 56.8 square miles (147.1 km²), of which, 56.1 square miles (145.2 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.9 km²) of it (1.3%) is water.

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 8,316 people, 3,310 households, and 2,303 families residing in the town. The population density was 148.4 people per square mile (57.3/km²). There were 3,629 housing units at an average density of 64.7 per square mile (25.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.99% White, 0.75% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.56% of the population.

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Enroll in the Right Electrician Tech School near Litchfield CT

Picking the right electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are many things that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a must 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 must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Every program provides different options for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you choose is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Litchfield CT.

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