Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Ridgefield CT 06877

How to Become an Electrician in Ridgefield Connecticut

Ridgefield CT electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Ridgefield CT. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are a number of factors to evaluate. For example, many potential students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have found a few that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the lowest 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 other qualifiers should help mold your final judgment when selecting an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Ridgefield CT

Ridgefield CT electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general approaches to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Ridgefield CT. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are brief summaries of the 3 most common programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Connecticut technical and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who wish to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require 2 years to finish and are provided by Connecticut junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Connecticut colleges, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed before licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites

Ridgefield CT electricians working on power lines Electricians in Ridgefield CT can undertake a multitude of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually around four to five years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly assess electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be acquired in several specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves 3 levels of competency:

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 enroll in not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Schools Online in Ridgefield CT

attending electrician school online in Ridgefield CT An option that you might have looked at is choosing an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended 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 lower tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Commuting costs from Ridgefield CT are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be available on line also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Ridgefield CT electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Ridgefield CT region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional variables that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze before selecting an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Many electrician vocational schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Ridgefield CT school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get an excellent education, it may assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, many states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate could indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It could also mean that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly 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 use 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 trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Ridgefield CT students secure apprenticeships or employment.

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

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Ridgefield CT electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Ridgefield 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 difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak to several of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with some of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Ridgefield CT, check that the programs you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Ridgefield CT?

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

Ridgefield, Connecticut

Ridgefield is an affluent town[1] in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. Situated in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains, the 300-year-old community had a population of 24,638 at the 2010 census.[2] The town center, which was formerly a borough, is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place.

Ridgefield was first settled by English colonists from Norwalk and Milford in 1708, when a group of settlers purchased land from Chief Catoonah of the Ramapo tribe.[citation needed] The town was incorporated under a royal charter from the Connecticut General Assembly issued in 1709.[3] Ridgefield was descriptively named.[4] The most notable 18th-century event was the Battle of Ridgefield on April 27, 1777. This American Revolutionary War skirmish involved a small colonial militia force (state militia and some Continental Army soldiers), led by, among others, General David Wooster, who died in the engagement, and Benedict Arnold,[5] whose horse was shot from under him. They faced a larger British force that had landed at Westport and was returning from a raid on the colonial supply depot in Danbury. The battle was a tactical victory for the British but a strategic one for the Colonials because the British would never again conduct inland operations in Connecticut, despite western Connecticut's strategic importance in securing the Hudson River Valley.[6] Today, the dead from both sides are buried together in a small cemetery on Main Street on the right of the entrance to Casagmo condominiums: "...foes in arms, brothers in death...". The Keeler Tavern, a local inn and museum, features a British cannonball still lodged in the side of the building. There are many other landmarks from the Revolutionary War in the town, with most along Main Street.

In the summer of 1781, the French army under the Comte de Rochambeau marched through Connecticut, encamping in the Ridgebury section of town, where the first Catholic mass in Ridgefield was offered.[citation needed]

The location could not be found.

Choose the Right Electrician Technical School near Ridgefield CT

Picking the right electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrician training that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world context, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each training program offers unique options for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Take the time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Ridgefield CT.