Find Electrician Schools Near Me in New Britain CT 06050

How to Become an Electrician in New Britain Connecticut

New Britain CT electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near New Britain CT. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are so many variables to examine. For example, some students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have identified several that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are significant, they are not the sole things that must be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your final 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 training options that are accessible.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near New Britain CT

New Britain CT electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near New Britain CT. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are short descriptions of the three most typical programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Connecticut trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards students who would like to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve two years to finish and are provided by Connecticut community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Connecticut institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be carried out before licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria

New Britain CT electricians working on power lines Electricians in New Britain CT can carry out a multitude of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is called for before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be acquired in numerous specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online in New Britain CT

attending electrician school online in New Britain CT An alternative that you might have contemplated is selecting an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning may be a more accommodating alternative for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Travelling expenses from New Britain CT are also minimized and some of the study materials can be accessed online as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

New Britain CT electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the New Britain CT region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional factors that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research before enrolling in an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the New Britain CT school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain a superior education, it may help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, many states mandate that the electrician training program 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate could indicate that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It may also mean that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help New Britain CT graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs 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 referring relationships with New Britain CT area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art 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 under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local New Britain CT electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your New Britain residence. Take note that if you decide to attend 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 get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with some of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near New Britain CT, check that the schools you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near New Britain CT?

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

New Britain, Connecticut

New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located approximately 9 miles (14 km) southwest of Hartford. According to 2010 Census, the population of the city is 73,206.[1]

Among the southernmost of the communities encompassed within the Hartford-Springfield Knowledge Corridor metropolitan region, New Britain is home to Central Connecticut State University and Charter Oak State College.

The city's official nickname is the "Hardware City" because of its history as a manufacturing center and as the headquarters of Stanley Black & Decker. Because of its large Polish population, the city is often playfully referred to as "New Britski."[3]

The location could not be found.

Enroll in the Right Electrical Vocational School near New Britain CT

Choosing the right electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each program offers different possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you pick is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in New Britain CT.