Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Newtown CT 06470

How to Become an Electrician in Newtown Connecticut

Newtown CT electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Newtown CT. But with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are so many variables to consider. For example, many prospective students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have identified several that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole qualifications that should be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are accessible.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Newtown CT

Newtown CT electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Newtown CT. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Frequently these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you want to earn certification. Bellow are brief descriptions of the 3 most typical programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Connecticut technical and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards students who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to finish and are offered by Connecticut community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Connecticut institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed prior to licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Requirements

Newtown CT electricians working on power lines Electricians in Newtown CT can perform a wide range of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly test general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be obtained in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 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 imperative that the electrician vocational school that you select not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Newtown CT

attending electrician school online in Newtown CT A possibility that you may have looked at is choosing an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools have become more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, distance learning might be a more convenient option for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Travelling expenses from Newtown CT are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be available online also. All of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Newtown CT electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Because there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Newtown CT area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are other factors that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Newtown 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 acquire a superior education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order 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 complete the program. A lower completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It might also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s also essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Newtown CT graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Newtown CT area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local 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 already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Newtown CT electrical company if they can give you some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Newtown residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with some of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Newtown CT, check that the programs you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Newtown CT?

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

Newtown, Connecticut

Newtown is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is part of the greater Danbury metropolitan area as well as the New York metropolitan area. Newtown was founded in 1705 and later incorporated in 1711. As of the 2010 census, its population was 27,560.[2]

In 1705, English colonists purchased the Town site from the Pohtatuck Indians, a branch of the Pasgussett. It was originally known as Quanneapague. Settled by migrants from Stratford and incorporated in 1711, Newtown residents had many business and trading ties with the English. It was a stronghold of Tory sentiment during the early Revolutionary War. Late in the war, French General Rochambeau and his troops encamped there in 1781 during their celebrated march on their way to the siege of Yorktown, Virginia, which ended the Revolution.[4]

An important crossroads throughout its early history, the village of Hawleyville briefly emerged as a railroad center. The town's population grew to over 4,000 circa 1881. In the following decades, the population dwindled to a low of 2,635 in 1930 before again growing.[5]

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Enroll in the Ideal Electrical Technical School near Newtown CT

Selecting the best electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world context, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each program offers different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Newtown CT.