Program Overview
Porter and Chester Institute (PCI) offers Electrical Technology at its Connecticut and Massachusetts campuses; this listing covers Connecticut. The program page says students can finish in as few as 12 months and graduates earn a diploma. The current Connecticut option is blended: lecture online and labs on campus at Bridgeport, Hamden, New London and Waterbury. PCI projects an on-ground version at Hamden, New London and Waterbury for classes beginning October 19, 2026; confirm what is actually running at your campus.
The 2026-2027 catalog says blended students should plan on 25 to 30 hours a week of learning and study. Labs can fall on any weekday, 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM for the day session or 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM for the evening session, with an occasional Saturday lab. PCI also runs a separate Electrician: Industrial, Commercial and Residential program and a Low Voltage Technology program; they are not this diploma.
Curriculum Highlights
The program covers electrical fundamentals, electrical code and safety, installing power distribution systems, wiring and connecting circuitry, and working on motors, transformers, generators and the electronic systems in mechanical tools. Lab time uses real electrical units and industry equipment. Students have the opportunity to earn OSHA-30 certification.
Admission Requirements
Applicants interview with an Admissions Representative, complete an application, and must be reasonably capable of completing the training. Before starting you need proof of high school graduation or the equivalent (GED, HiSET or another state-approved test, or a college degree), must show you can pay the tuition through loans, grants, personal payments or other means, and sign an enrollment agreement. Hamden Electrical Technology applicants also authorize a background check. Instruction is in English only. PCI uses an online application portal for documents and financial-aid steps; processing normally takes about three weeks. New sessions start regularly.
Cost & Financial Aid
The 2026-2027 catalog lists Electrical Technology tuition, at rates dated November 4, 2025, of $5,452 a term for five terms, or $27,260 in total. A program and materials fee adds $3,620: $3,200 in the first term, $100 in each of terms two to four and $120 in the fifth. Payments are due on the first day of each term. Financial aid is available to those who qualify, including federal Direct loans, Pell Grants and FSEOG.
Career Outcomes
PCI presents the program as a first step toward becoming an electrician. The diploma is not an electrician license, and employment is not guaranteed; Career Service Advisors help with job searches, resumes and interviews. Check Connecticut licensing requirements, including any credit for related instruction, with the state Department of Consumer Protection before relying on the school's statements.