How to Pick the Right Electrician Vocational School near Godfrey Illinois
The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Godfrey IL. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are a number of variables to examine. For example, some potential students will start by looking for schools that are close to their home. Once they have identified some that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though cost and location are of importance, they are not the only things that should be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional choices that are available.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs
There are multiple ways to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Godfrey IL. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are short descriptions of the three most typical programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Illinois trade and technical schools and take about a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to complete and are provided by Illinois junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Illinois colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed before licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Godfrey IL can undertake a wide range of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around four to five years of prior experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be earned in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you select not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may be required to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Programs
An alternative that you may have considered is choosing an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more accepted as a way 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 hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, distance learning can be a more accommodating alternative for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Travelling expenses from Godfrey IL are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be available online also. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Godfrey IL area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other variables that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to selecting an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician technical programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Godfrey IL school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it can help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, some states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are reviewing 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 disappointed with the course and quit. It might also signify that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which can result in more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Godfrey IL grads secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Godfrey IL area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain 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 with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Godfrey IL electrical company if they can give you some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Godfrey residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak to several of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm 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 Godfrey IL, verify that the schools you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.
Electrician Vocational School Godfrey Illinois
Picking the best electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Vocational School and wanting more information on the topic Train To Become An Electrician. But as we have covered in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrical tech school that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration 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 different options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you decide on is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Godfrey IL.
More Electric Locations in Illinois
Godfrey, Illinois
According to the 2010 census, Godfrey has a total area of 36.638 square miles (94.89 km2), of which 34.64 square miles (89.72 km2) (or 94.55%) is land and 1.998 square miles (5.17 km2) (or 5.45%) is water.[5]
The southwestern boundary of the village is a wall of limestone bluffs along the Mississippi River. Approximately 12 miles (19 km) upstream is the mouth of the Illinois River. The Missouri River empties into the Mississippi 10 miles (16 km) downstream. Godfrey retains the status of a village and is a mixture of small business, agriculture, and upper middle class housing developments.
The village is named for Captain Benjamin Godfrey,[6] a native New Englander, who arrived in the area in 1832. 1838 saw the establishment of the Monticello Female Seminary, later renamed Monticello College. Captain Godfrey, the father of eight daughters, was an advocate of higher education for women and made a large donation of funds and land for the college. Monticello operated as a two-year college for women until the campus was sold in 1970 to establish Lewis and Clark Community College. Monticello's final class graduated in 1971.
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