Trade Schools
Earning a diploma or degree in Electricity can be the first step toward a rewarding career.
If you live in Connecticut, there are plenty of training options you can choose from.
Two-year programs at community colleges, certificate programs that take up to one year to complete, or apprenticeships that allow you to combine on-the-job paid training with classroom instruction are available at several locations in the state.
On this page, we have compiled information about the top programs in the region.
We invite you to read our selection to gather more information about tuition costs, curriculum, schedules, and other factors that may help you decide what format works best for you.
1Lincoln Tech
About the School
Lincoln Tech offers courses in seven skilled trades programs.
The college’s East Windsor campus spans 40 acres.
This includes 330,000 square feet of training and classroom space.
Housing options are available, so students can enroll from anywhere in the United States.
All the programs are offered in a blended learning format, combining online instruction with on-the-site training.
Courses Offered
The Electrician training program available at Lincoln Tech includes 24 courses that add to 1,200 hours of detailed instruction.
The training begins with three courses: basic math and two electrical theory units.
Afterward, students take courses on:
- Applied Math
- Electrical Codes
- Blueprint Reading
- Residential and Commercial Wiring
- Programmable Logic Controllers
- Photovoltaics
- Industrial Motor Control
- And many other topics
Graduates have completed the state-required classroom training needed for an electrician license.
The next step in their journey toward the electrician profession is to apply for an electrician apprenticeship and complete the on-the-job training hours that will qualify them for the licensure exam.
Contact Information
- Address: 97 Newberry Road, East Windsor, CT 06088
- Phone: (800) 243-4242
- Website: https://www.lincolntech.edu/campus/east-windsor-ct
2Construction Education Center
About the School
A non-profit training organization in Plainville, Construction Education Center provides apprenticeship classes and continuing education courses in a wide range of construction-related topics.
The CEC is approved by the Connecticut Commissioner of Higher Education.
The courses are offered by qualified tradespeople, professionals, and/or professors in construction and management programs.
Courses Offered
The center’s catalog includes an apprenticeship in the electrical field.
The Electrical apprenticeship program offers the required instruction for individuals registered as E2 apprentices in Connecticut.
E2 apprentices are required to complete 720 hours of classroom instruction.
The program spans four years, each year including 180 hours of learning.
The curriculum covers a wide range of related topics, including Safety, Construction Math, Construction Drawings, Electrical Circuits, Electrical Theory, Conduit Bending, Conductor Installations, Cable Tray, Grounding and Bending, Hazardous Locations, Motor Controls, Load Calculations, Motor Operation and Maintenance, and more.
Tuition for the first year of training is $2,029.
The other three years of training cost $1,850 each.
Contact Information
- Address: 35 Robert Jackson Way, Plainville, Connecticut 06062
- Phone: 860.529.5886
- Website: https://www.thinkconstruction.org
3Porter and Chester Institute
About the School
Porter and Chester Institute provides career education and training in Bridgeport.
The programs are designed to provide students with the technical skills needed for employment.
Campus, online, and blended learning formats are available to fit different lifestyles.
Located off Route 1, near I-95 and Route 8, the institute serves students in Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, Fairfield, Trumbull, and Derby.
Courses Offered
The Electrical Technology program provided by Porter and Chester Institute equips students with knowledge of basic electrical theory and technical skills.
This program is also offered at Hamden, New London, Rocky Hill, and Waterbury campuses.
Students can graduate in 12 months and receive a diploma.
The total cost of training is $30,848 and includes tuition, electronic device, books, materials, uniforms, and student fees.’
Financial aid is available for qualifying students.
The program is available in:
- Hybrid format, with labs on campus from 9-3 p.m. two days per week or from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and 30 hours of online instruction per week
- On-the-ground- with classes taking place Monday thru Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The curriculum covers a wide range of topics, including Algebra, OSHA 30, Electrical Theory, Blueprint Reading, Green Technology, Motor Controls, Electrical Code, HVAC Controls, and more.
Contact Information
- Address: 156 Boston Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06610
- Phone: (475) 273-2400
- Website: https://porterchester.edu/campus-locations/bridgeport-ct
4Independent Electrical Contractors of New England
About the School
Independent Electrical Contractors of New England offers apprenticeship and continuing education training, as well as advocacy for electricians.
Courses Offered
An apprenticeship in the Electrical field is available at IEC.
The apprenticeship training program is taught in a state-of-the-art training facility where students learn from committed instructors with knowledge in the field.
The program is approved nationally by the Office of Apprenticeship and Training and by the State Apprenticeship Agency in Connecticut.
The four-year curriculum is upgraded annually by the IEC National Apprenticeship & Training committee.
In total, apprenticeships typically include 720 hours of classroom training and 8,000 hours of on-the-job learning.
Apprentices who completed four years at IEC may receive 40 college credits to use toward a four-year degree program at a college or university.
The association can help prospective apprentices find an employer from their member contractors.
Students will complete the on-the-job training part at the employer’s site and receive a wage for their work.
The school advises the apprentice’s employer mid and end-of-term about their grades and classroom attendance.
Contact Information
- Address: 273 Dividend Road Suite A, Rocky Hill, CT 06067
- Phone: 860-563-4953
- Website: https://www.iecne.org
5Bristol Technical Education Center
About the School
Bristol Technical Education Center offers full-time day programs for high school students in grades 11 and 12 and for adult learners.
Adult education is available in part-time and full-time schedules to accommodate the needs of students who have to keep full-time jobs.
Tuition is free for high school students.
Adult students pay $4,000 per school year and a $50 registration fee.
Students must purchase their uniforms and tools.
Bristol Technical Education Center is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.
Courses Offered
The center’s catalog includes the following programs:
- Automotive Technology
- Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology- a program that combines general topics (electricity, materials and processes, mathematics, maintenance forms and records, and more), airframe and powerplant
- Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering Technology/Technician- a program that combines electronics, mechanics, robotics, computer programming, telecommunications, and more
- Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning- this program also covers the mechanical and electrical knowledge needed to work in this field
- Precision Machining Technology- a program that provides students with instruction on how to work with metal millers, grinders, lathes, and computer numerical-controlled machinery
Contact Information
- Address: 431 Minor Street, Bristol, CT 06010
- Phone: 860-584-8433
- Website: https://bristol.cttech.org
6Platt Technical High School
About the School
Located in Milford, Platt Technical High School is part of the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System.
The high school has a hands-on approach to education.
More than 800 students from 18 towns are enrolled at the high school.
Students are required to take core courses but they can also add electives to complete their credit requirements.
During the junior year, students can take advantage of the work-based learning program which allows them to earn credit while working in their trade.
Courses Offered
Platt Technical High School offers an Electrical pathway.
This program includes the following courses:
- Exploratory and Introduction to Electrical- a three-credit course for 9th-grade students
- Residential Wiring- a three-credit course for 10th-grade students
- Residential and Basic Commercial Wiring- a three-credit course for 11th-grade students
- Residential, Commercial, and Industrial Wiring- a three-credit course available for 12th-grade students
Those who successfully complete this program are ready to pursue a two- or four-year degree in electrical engineering or a related field.
Students can also find entry-level employment in the electrical field.
Contact Information
- Address: 600 Orange Avenue, Milford, CT 06461
- Phone: 203-783-5300
- Website: https://platt.cttech.org
7IBEW Local 35
About the School
IBEW Local 35 provides apprenticeship opportunities.
To qualify for an admissions interview, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be a high school graduate or have a GED
- Have completed at least one year of algebra
- Have official transcripts
- Applicants also need a qualifying score on the NJATC Aptitude test
- Be at least 17 years of age
- Pass a drug screen test to complete the selection process
Courses Offered
IBEW Local 35 offers an apprenticeship in the Electrical field.
The apprenticeship is five years long and consists of 8,000 hours of on-the-job training along with related theory.
Students can transfer up to 60 JATC training credits toward a two or four-year college degree.
Apprentices earn a salary that starts at 40 percent of a Journeyman Worker rate and increases gradually until it reaches 80 percent of a Journeyman wage in the 6th period.
Apprentices also receive Health Insurance and NEBF starting with the first period.
Once they advance their training to the third period they receive all benefits.
Contact Information
- Address: 208 Murphy Rd, Hartford, CT 06114-2107
- Phone: (860) 525-5982
- Website: https://www.ibewlocal35.org
8E.C. Goodwin Technical High School
About the School
E.C. Goodwin Technical High School is part of the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System.
Located in New Britain, the high school enrolls more than 659 students in grades 9-12.
In total, 11 career and technical education programs.
Courses Offered
E.C. Goodwin Technical High School’s career and technical education division includes an Electrical pathway.
The program lasts four years and is structured as follows:
- Exploratory and Introduction to Electrical- a three-credit available course for 9th-grade students
- Residential Wiring- a course for 10th-grade students that includes three credits
- Residential and Basic Commercial Wiring- a three-credit course students take during the 11th grade
- Residential, Commercial, and Industrial Wiring- a three-credit course offered for students in the 12th grade
Programs are also available in other fields, such as Plumbing and Heating, Mechanical Design and Engineering Technology, Mechatronics Technology, and more
Contact Information
- Address: 735 Slater Road, New Britain, CT 06053
- Phone: 860.827.7736
- Website: https://goodwin.cttech.org
9Tunxis Community College
About the School
Tunxis Community College provides courses and programs that prepare students for careers in a variety of industries.
Tuition is $174 per semester hour for in-state students.
Additional costs include college service fees, student activity fees, and transportation fees.
This brings the total cost to $316 per credit hour.
Tunxis Community College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Courses Offered
The following certificate courses are included in the Tunxis Community College’s catalog:
- Advanced Machining- Electro-Mechanical Maintenance Technology- a program that teaches students how to troubleshoot electrical, electronics, and mechanical problems and make repairs to ensure that every manufacturing step runs smoothly
- Electronics Technology- a two-semester program that covers electrical and electronics principles applied to the design and operation of manufacturing and assembly equipment
- Energy Management- this program prepares students for careers in the sector of “clean energy” in Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning or Lighting
- Associate Degree in Technology Studies in Energy Management
- And many other programs
Continuing Education programs are also available in a wide range of industries.
Contact Information
- Address: 271 Scott Swamp Road, Farmington, CT 06032
- Phone: 860.773.1300
- Website: https://tunxis.edu
Regional Salary in Connecticut
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT | 1,280 | $69,940 | $33.62 | $95,610 | $44,290 |
| Danbury, CT | 590 | $66,350 | $31.9 | $90,330 | $42,020 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 2,470 | $68,220 | $32.8 | $92,650 | $38,510 |
| New Haven, CT | 1,090 | $72,100 | $34.66 | $111,820 | $39,540 |
| Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI | 720 | $63,140 | $30.36 | $81,530 | $44,790 |
| Waterbury, CT | 530 | $72,020 | $34.62 | $97,550 | $45,500 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
If you want to become an Electrician, there are many training options available in Connecticut.
Now that you have read our list of top programs in the region, it’s time to continue the research and, depending on your schedule, learning style, and budget, apply for the program that best meets your needs.
