How to Choose the Right Electrician Trade School near Machesney Park Illinois
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Machesney Park IL. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are so many variables to consider. For example, many students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have located a few that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the only qualifications that must be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should influence your ultimate decision when picking an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are available.
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Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs
There are multiple options to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Machesney Park IL. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Bellow are brief summaries of the three most prevalent programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Illinois trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards those who wish to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take two years to complete and are offered by Illinois community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Illinois institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria
Electricians in Machesney Park IL can perform a vast array of duties, such as 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 most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is called for before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be acquired in several specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes 3 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 important that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Schools Online
An alternative that you may have contemplated is choosing an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning may be a more convenient option for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Driving expenses from Machesney Park IL are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be available online as well. All of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Once you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Machesney Park IL region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional variables that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Machesney Park IL school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you get a quality education, it can assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it 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 percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate could signify that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It could also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Machesney Park IL students secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Machesney Park IL area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Machesney Park IL electrical contracting company if they can give you some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Machesney Park residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be higher 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 bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to some of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Machesney Park IL, check that the programs you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.
How Long Is Electrician School Machesney Park Illinois
Selecting the ideal electrical training program 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 How Long Is Electrician School and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Certification Online Courses. But as we have covered in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrical training that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world perspective, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you pick is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Machesney Park IL.
More Electric Locations in Illinois
Machesney Park, Illinois
Machesney Park is a village located in Winnebago County, Illinois, United States. The population was 23,499 at the 2010 census, up from 20,759 in 2000. Machesney Park is a suburb of Rockford, Il and is part of the Rockford, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.
According to the 2010 census, Machesney Park has a total area of 13.005 square miles (33.68 km2), of which 12.68 square miles (32.84 km2) (or 97.5%) is land and 0.325 square miles (0.84 km2) (or 2.5%) is water.[5]
As of the census[7] of 2010, there were 23,499 people, 9,351 households. The population density was 758 people per square mile (190.1/km²). There were 9,351 housing units at an average density of 301.5 per square mile (115.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 91.47% White, 2.83% African American, 0.24% Native American, 1.55% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.63% from other races, and 2.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.99% of the population.
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