How to Select the Best Electrician Trade School near Harvard Illinois
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Harvard IL. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are so many points to consider. For instance, many prospective students will start by searching for schools that are close to their home. When they have found several that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are significant, they are not the only factors that need to be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician trade school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are offered.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs
There are three general options to get electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Harvard IL. You can select 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 other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are short descriptions of the three most prevalent programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Illinois trade and technical schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who want to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve two years to complete and are provided by Illinois community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Illinois institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be performed before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Harvard IL can perform a wide range of duties, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly around four to five years of experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be acquired in several specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases includes 3 levels of proficiency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online
An option that you might have looked at is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning might be a more practical option for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Travelling costs from Harvard IL are also lessened and some of the study materials may be available on line also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Once you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Harvard IL region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The initial two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are other factors that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to enrolling in an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may 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 certain that the Harvard IL school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you obtain an excellent education, it may assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate might signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It could also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which can result in more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Harvard IL students acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician training programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Harvard IL area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Harvard IL electrical company if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Harvard residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk to several of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Harvard IL, check that the programs you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Electrician Online Courses Harvard Illinois
Picking the ideal electrical training program 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 Online Courses and wanting more information on the topic Technical Schools For Electricians. But as we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician training that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Every training program provides different options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you pick is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Harvard IL.
More Electric Locations in Illinois
Harvard, Illinois
Harvard is a city located in McHenry County, Illinois, approximately 7 miles (11 km) south of the Illinois/Wisconsin border. The population was 9,447 at the 2010 census. The city is 63 miles (101 km) from the Chicago Loop, and it is the last stop on the Union Pacific/Northwest Line.
The original owners of the land which came to be Harvard, Illinois, were Abram Carmack and Jacob Davis, who obtained it from the government in 1845 and sold it to Gilbert Brainard shortly afterward. Upon Gilbert Brainard's death, the land was purchased by Amos Page, Otis Eastman, and Eldridge G. Ayer. These three men planned the layout of the town and named it "Harvard" in honor of Harvard, Massachusetts. The plat was signed by Judge J. M. Strode in Woodstock, Illinois, on November 25, 1856. Shortly afterward Amos Page and Otis Eastman sold their shares of the property to Eldridge G. Ayers. Mr.Ayers's involvement came out of his business interest in the extension of the Chicago and North Western Transportation Company railroad west from Cary, toward Janesville, Wisconsin. The newly platted town of Harvard was located directly on the route of the extension, and in April 1856 the railroad accepted Ayers's offer of land to build a station in the town.[4]
In 1856 Mr. Wesley Diggins built a hotel for Mr. H. C. Blackman, who sold it to Mr. Ayer in 1859. Mr. Ayer built additional floors to raise it to a height of three stories and added a wing and a veranda. During the Civil War, sick and wounded soldiers passing through Harvard were lodged at the hotel with no charge for their meals. In 1925 the Ayer Hotel was purchased by Mr. S. J. Noble and renamed the Noble Hotel. When he could not maintain mortgage payments it was purchased in 1937 by Mr. P. G. Allen and renamed the Hub Hotel. The building was destroyed in a fire on December 22, 1960.
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