How to Choose the Best Electrician Technical School near Hamden Connecticut
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Hamden CT. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are a number of variables to examine. For example, many potential students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their residence. After they have found several that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though location and cost are significant, they are not the sole things that should be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your final decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are accessible.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options
There are several approaches to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Hamden CT. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or receive 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 offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you want to earn certification. Following are short descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Connecticut trade and technical schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who would like to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to complete and are offered by Connecticut community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Connecticut institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed before licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Hamden CT can perform a multitude of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly test general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be acquired in numerous specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails three levels of proficiency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician tech school that you select not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Programs Online
An option that you may have contemplated is selecting an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs 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 receive hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning can be a more practical alternative for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Travelling costs from Hamden CT are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be available online also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
When you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Because there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Hamden CT area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional factors that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Hamden CT program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you receive a quality education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, some 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate might suggest that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It may also indicate that the instructors were not competent to instruct 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 alumni, 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 additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Hamden CT students secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical 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 businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Hamden CT area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school 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, talk to the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Hamden CT electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Hamden residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger 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 students and teachers. Speak with several of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs 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 Hamden CT, confirm that the schools you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.
Become Certified Electrician Hamden Connecticut
Choosing the best electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Become Certified Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrical Technician Courses Online. But as we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are considering includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every program offers unique possibilities for certification as well. Probably The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you pick is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Hamden CT.
More Electric Locations in Connecticut
Hamden, Connecticut
Hamden is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town's nickname is "The Land of the Sleeping Giant." The population was 60,960 at the 2010 census.[1] Hamden is a suburb of the city of New Haven.
The town of Hamden ranked #53 in the CNN Money list of "America's best small cities" in 2012. In 2008, Fortune Magazine and CNN Money picked Hamden as #33 on their "Best Place to Live and Launch" list, citing Hamden's great blend of urban and suburban lifestyles. The article also pointed out Hamden's exceptional education system as well as its "New England Charm".[2]
Originally settled by Puritans as part of the town of New Haven, Hamden was purchased by William Christopher Reilly and the Reverend John Davenport in 1638 from the local Quinnipiack Native American tribe. It remained a part of New Haven until 1786 when 1,400 local residents incorporated the area as a separate town, naming it after the English statesman John Hampden.[3]
Business Results 1 - 10 of 142
10 Reviews 
15 Reviews 
6 Reviews 1 Reviews 
7 Reviews 
2 Reviews 2 Reviews 3 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
11 Reviews 