How to Choose the Right Electrician Training School near Highland Illinois
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Highland IL. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are so many variables to examine. For example, some prospective students will start by looking for schools that are close to their home. When they have identified some that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the sole things that need to be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options
There are several ways to obtain electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Highland IL. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are short summaries of the three most prevalent programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Illinois vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take 2 years to finish and are provided by Illinois community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some Illinois colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Highland IL can undertake a multitude of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly around four to five years of practical experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be obtained in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails 3 levels of proficiency:
- 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 delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online
An alternative that you may have looked at is choosing an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools have become more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, internet learning might be a more practical choice for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Driving costs from Highland IL are also lessened and some of the study materials can be accessed online as well. Each of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
When you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Highland IL area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria 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 must be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional factors that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Highland IL school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you acquire a superior education, it may assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing 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 could signify that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It could also mean that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which can result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Highland IL graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Highland IL area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Highland IL electrical company if they can provide some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Highland residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with several of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Highland IL, verify that the schools you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.
Electrical Training Programs Highland Illinois
Selecting the best electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrical Training Programs and wanting more information on the topic Study Electrician. But as we have discussed in this article, there are many things that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical training that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world context, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the type of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Every training program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Probably the best approach to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you pick is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Highland IL.
More Electric Locations in Illinois
Highland, Illinois
Highland, Illinois was settled in the early 19th century by Swiss-German settlers. The town was founded in 1837 and celebrated its 175th Jubilee in 2012.[3] It was first named Helvetia (pronounced hellveesha) in accordance with the Heritage of the town's Swiss-German founding members. The town voted to change its name to the English version - Highland, in the early 20th century, as well as stopping production of its German language newspaper, in part to avoid negativity towards those of Germanic heritage at the advent of the First World War. Around the same time, a small town in northern Illinois also started calling itself Highland. Eventually, the town in northern Illinois became Highland Park. Highland also has been home to many well-known businesses including Pet Milk and the Wicks Organ Company. For the past 60 years, Highland Supply Corporation has been producing and selling Floral Grass - a traditional decorative product used to line Easter baskets. Highland is also home to The Korte Company (builder of many large and well-known buildings including Universal Studios in Florida). Highland has a rich history including extended visits by such notables as Abraham Lincoln.[4]
On November 21, 1915, the Liberty Bell passed through Highland on its nationwide tour returning to Pennsylvania from the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco. After that trip, the Liberty Bell returned to Pennsylvania and will not be moved again.[5]
According to the 2010 census, Highland has a total area of 7.591 square miles (19.66 km2), of which 6.55 square miles (16.96 km2) (or 86.29%) is land and 1.041 square miles (2.70 km2) (or 13.71%) is water.[8]
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