Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Waterford CT 06385

How to Become an Electrician in Waterford Connecticut

Waterford CT electrician inspecting circuit panelThe initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Waterford CT. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many variables to evaluate. For example, many prospective students will start by searching for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have found a few that are within driving range, they will select the one with the lowest tuition. Even though location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole qualifications that need to be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are accessible.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Waterford CT

Waterford CT electrician re-wiring power outletThere are three general options to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Waterford CT. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are brief summaries of the three most typical programs available.

  • Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Connecticut vocational and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degrees require two years to finish and are provided by Connecticut junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Connecticut institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria

Waterford CT electricians working on power linesElectricians in Waterford CT can perform a multitude of duties, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be earned in many specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might need to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Waterford CT

attending electrician school online in Waterford CTAn alternative that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning might be a more convenient choice for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Travelling costs from Waterford CT are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online as well. All of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Waterford CT electrician re-wiring circuit panelWhen you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Because there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Waterford CT region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are additional factors that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to enrolling in an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation.  Numerous electrician trade programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Waterford CT school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates.  Ask the electrician training programs you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate could signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It might also mean that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which can result in more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Waterford CT graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Most electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Waterford CT area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make sure 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 presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Waterford CT electrical company if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Waterford residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see 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, talk to some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling.  Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Waterford CT, confirm that the schools you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Waterford CT?

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

Waterford, Connecticut

Waterford is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. It is named after Waterford, Ireland. The population was 19,517 at the 2010 census. [2] The town center is listed as a census-designated place (CDP) and had a population of 2,887 at the 2010 census.[2]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 44.6 square miles (115.4 km2), of which 32.8 square miles (84.9 km2) is land and 11.8 square miles (30.5 km2), or 26.43%, is water.[3] The town center CDP has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2), all land. Waterford is bordered on the west by the Niantic River.

Other minor communities and geographic features are Dufree Hill, East Neck, Fog Plain, Gilead, Goshen, Great Neck, Harrisons, Lake's Pond, Logger Hill, Mago Point, Magonk, Mullen Hill, Oswegatchie, Pepperbox Road, Pleasure Beach, Ridgewood Park, Riverside Beach, Spithead, Strand, West Neck.

The location could not be found.

Find the Ideal Electrician Vocational School near Waterford CT

Choosing the right electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are many things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrician training program that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides unique options for certification also. Perhaps The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to go to 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 program you choose is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Waterford CT.

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