Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Stamford CT 06901

How to Become an Electrician in Stamford Connecticut

Stamford CT electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Stamford CT. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially because there are so many factors to consider. For example, many students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have found a few that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the lowest tuition. Even though location and cost are important, they are not the only qualifications that must be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your final judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are accessible.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Stamford CT

Stamford CT electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple ways to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Stamford CT. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Frequently these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are brief explanations of the 3 most prevalent programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Connecticut technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards those who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require two years to finish and are offered by Connecticut junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Connecticut colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed before licensing. Because of that, many students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements

Stamford CT electricians working on power lines Electricians in Stamford CT can perform a multitude of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be earned in various specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases involves three 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) as well as 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 prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in Stamford CT

attending electrician school online in Stamford CT An alternative that you might have contemplated is choosing an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools have become more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning can be a more accommodating option for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Driving costs from Stamford CT are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be available online as well. Each of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Stamford CT electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Stamford CT area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are other factors that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Many electrician trade programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Stamford CT school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you get a superior education, it may help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states require 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 reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate could indicate that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It could also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which may result in more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Stamford CT students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Stamford CT area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained 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, check with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Stamford CT electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Stamford home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to several of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Stamford CT, verify that the schools you are looking at provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Stamford CT?

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

Stamford, Connecticut

Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643. As of July 1, 2014, according to the Census Bureau, the population of Stamford had risen to 128,278, making it the third-largest city in the state (behind Bridgeport and New Haven) and the seventh-largest city in New England. Approximately 30 miles (50 kilometers) from Manhattan, Stamford is in the Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk Metro area which is a part of the Greater New York metropolitan area.

Stamford is home to four Fortune 500 Companies,[3] nine Fortune 1000 Companies, and 13 Courant 100 Companies, as well as numerous divisions of large corporations. This gives Stamford the largest financial district in New York Metro outside New York City itself and one of the largest concentrations of corporations in the nation.

Stamford was known as Rippowam by the Native American inhabitants to the region, and the very first European settlers to the area also referred to it as such. The present name is after the town of Stamford, Lincolnshire, England.[4] The deed to Stamford was signed on July 1, 1640 between Captain Turner of the New Haven Colony and Chief Ponus. By the 18th century, one of the primary industries of the town was merchandising by water, which was possible due to Stamford's proximity to New York.

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Choose the Right Electrician Vocational School near Stamford CT

Picking the right electrical trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical training that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every training program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you decide on is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Stamford CT.