How to Select the Right Electrician Trade School near Beardstown Illinois
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Beardstown IL. 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 since there are a number of factors to consider. For example, many potential students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have located a few that are within commuting range, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that must be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are offered.
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Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options
There are three general approaches to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Beardstown IL. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three options. In many cases these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Illinois trade and technical schools and take about a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards those who want to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to complete and are offered by Illinois community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Illinois institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out before licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Beardstown IL can carry out a wide range of duties, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally around four to five years of experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in numerous specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you choose not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may be required to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Schools
An alternative that you may have contemplated is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, internet learning can be a more convenient alternative for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Driving expenses from Beardstown IL are also minimized and some of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. All of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Training Schools
When you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Beardstown IL area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are other factors that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to selecting an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Beardstown IL program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you obtain a quality education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate could suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It could also mean that the teachers were not qualified 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 graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to use 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 industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Beardstown IL students secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Beardstown IL area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides employment 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 trained 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 tech you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Beardstown IL electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Beardstown home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak to a few of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Beardstown IL, confirm that the programs you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.
Study To Be An Electrician Beardstown Illinois
Choosing the best electrician training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Study To Be An Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Trade Schools. But as we have discussed in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Each training program offers unique options for certification also. Perhaps The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Beardstown IL.
More Electric Locations in Illinois
Beardstown, Illinois
According to the 2010 census, Beardstown has a total area of 3.627 square miles (9.39 km2), of which 3.57 square miles (9.25 km2) (or 98.43%) is land and 0.057 square miles (0.15 km2) (or 1.57%) is water.[4]
Beardstown is located on the Illinois River, which plays an important role in the economy and history of the community, and is the site of two grain terminals where farm products are transferred to barges for transport. Hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation along the river contribute to the local economy.
As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 5,766 people, 2,172 households, and 1,437 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,692.1 people per square mile (652.9/km²). There were 2,339 housing units at an average density of 686.4 per square mile (264.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.76% White, 0.87% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 7.01% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.90% of the population.
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