Find Electrician Schools Near Me in New Fairfield CT 06812

How to Become an Electrician in New Fairfield Connecticut

New Fairfield CT electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near New Fairfield CT. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are a number of points to consider. For example, some potential students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their residence. When they have located a few that are within driving distance, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are significant, they are not the only things that must be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician training 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 Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near New Fairfield CT

New Fairfield CT electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several approaches to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near New Fairfield CT. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are short summaries of the 3 most typical programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Connecticut vocational and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards those who wish to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require two years to complete and are offered by Connecticut junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Connecticut colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites

New Fairfield CT electricians working on power lines Electricians in New Fairfield CT can perform a vast array of services, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally about four to five years of prior experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means 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 several specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you select not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in New Fairfield CT

attending electrician school online in New Fairfield CT A possibility that you may have looked at is selecting an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning can be a more convenient alternative for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Driving expenses from New Fairfield CT are also lessened and some of the study materials may be available online as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

New Fairfield CT electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the New Fairfield CT area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are other variables that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the New Fairfield CT school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain a superior education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, some states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It might also suggest that the instructors were not qualified 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 broader list of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist New Fairfield CT students secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with New Fairfield CT area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local New Fairfield CT electrical company if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your New Fairfield residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might 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 challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to some of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the teachers 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 reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near New Fairfield CT, verify that the schools you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, 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 due to work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near New Fairfield CT?

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

New Fairfield, Connecticut

New Fairfield is an affluent town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 13,881 at the 2010 census.[1] New Fairfield is one of five towns that surround Candlewood Lake, the largest lake in Connecticut.

In 1724, colonial settlers from Fairfield, Connecticut received approval from the General Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut to establish a new township. According to one account, they negotiated with Chief Squantz of the Schaghticoke tribe of Algonquian lineage. Alternatively, it is told that they did not negotiate with Chief Squantz because he moved to the north end of Squantz Pond land area and refused to "sell" the township of New Fairfield. They returned in the Spring of 1725, but found that Chief Squantz had died during the winter. His four sons and heirs refused to sign the deeds. It was not until four years later that the white men called "The Proprietors" finally got the drawn marks of several other native people who may not have had authority to sell the land.[3] They "purchased" a 31,000 acre tract of land that is now New Fairfield and Sherman, for the equivalent of about 300 dollars and on April 24, 1729, The deed was recorded on May 9, 1729, and is now deposited in the archives of the state capital in Hartford, Connecticut.

In 1926, Connecticut Light and Power (CL&P) began construction on Candlewood Lake, considered by many to be an engineering wonder. CL&P flooded the valley to control the water flow from the Housatonic and Rocky Rivers and produce hydroelectric power for the region. Candlewood Lake was named for the Native American practice of using stripped wood from pine trees as kindling for fire. The lake shares its shores with the towns of New Fairfield, Sherman, New Milford, Brookfield, and Danbury. [4]

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Pick the Right Electrical Tech School near New Fairfield CT

Selecting the ideal electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrician training that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every program provides different options for certification also. Probably the best means to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you choose is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in New Fairfield CT.