How to Pick the Best Electrician Technical School near Geneva Illinois
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Geneva IL. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are so many factors to evaluate. For example, some students will start by looking for schools that are close to their residence. After they have located some that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are significant, they are not the only factors that should be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should influence your final decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are available.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs
There are several approaches to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Geneva IL. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. In many cases these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the three most typical programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Illinois vocational and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards those who would like to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve two years to finish and are offered by Illinois junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Illinois colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be performed before licensing. Because of that, many students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements
Electricians in Geneva IL can undertake a multitude of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually evaluate 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 identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be obtained in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails 3 levels of competency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you select not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Programs Online
An option that you may have considered is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning may be a more convenient choice for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Travelling expenses from Geneva IL are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be available online as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Once you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Because there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Geneva IL area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional variables that need to be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze before selecting an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Geneva IL school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you receive an excellent education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order 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 program. A lower completion rate might indicate that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It might also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, 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 help Geneva IL graduates acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Geneva IL area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Geneva IL electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Geneva home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk to a few of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Geneva IL, confirm that the programs you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.
Accredited Electrician Trade Schools Geneva Illinois
Picking the ideal electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Accredited Electrician Trade Schools and wanting more information on the topic Certified Electrician School. But as we have covered in this article, there are many factors that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each training program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you choose is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Geneva IL.
More Electric Locations in Illinois
Geneva, Illinois
Geneva is part of a tri-city area, located between St. Charles and Batavia.[5][6] As of the 2010 census it had a population of 21,495,[7] and in 2017 the estimated population was 22,010.[3] The area experienced rapid population growth in the 1980s and '90s as the Chicago suburbs spread to the west.
Geneva is a popular tourist destination with its scenic location along the Fox River and numerous shops and restaurants. There is an extensive bike trail system in Geneva including portions of the Fox River Trail and the Illinois Prairie Path. Geneva has an active historical society, the Geneva History Center, located in downtown Geneva as well as the Fabyan Windmill, an old Dutch windmill dating back to the 1850s. In 2013 it was nominated by Bloomberg Business Week as the best place to raise a kid in Illinois.[8]
According to the 2010 census, Geneva has a total area of 9.994 square miles (25.88 km2), of which 9.75 square miles (25.25 km2) (or 97.56%) is land and 0.244 square miles (0.63 km2) (or 2.44%) is water.[10]
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