Learn To Be An Electrician Palatine IL

How to Pick the Right Electrician Training School near Palatine Illinois

Palatine IL electrician working on circuit boardThe initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Palatine IL. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are a number of variables to examine. For instance, many potential students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their home. When they have found several that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though location and cost are significant, they are not the only factors that need to be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your final decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will address 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 Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs

Palatine IL electrician on power line poleThere are multiple ways to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Palatine IL. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or obtain 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 in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the three most prevalent programs available.

  • Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Illinois technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards those who want to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degrees take 2 years to finish and are offered by Illinois community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain Illinois institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria

Palatine IL electrician wiring boxElectricians in Palatine IL can undertake a multitude of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually around four to five years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically assess electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be earned in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves three 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 vocational school that you enroll in not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs

Palatine IL student attending electrician school onlineAn alternative that you might have contemplated is selecting an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning might be a more practical option for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Commuting costs from Palatine IL are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be accessed on line as well. All of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Questions to ask Palatine IL electrician schoolsNow that 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 Palatine IL region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other factors that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze before selecting an electrical tech school.

Accreditation.  Many electrician technical schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Palatine IL program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it may help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Also, many 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 complete the program. A lower completion rate might signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It could also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s also essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which may mean more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Palatine IL grads secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Numerous electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Check if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Palatine IL area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Palatine IL electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Palatine residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be increased tuition fees 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 sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to a few of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling.  Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Palatine IL, verify that the programs you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.

Learn To Be An Electrician Palatine Illinois

Palatine IL electricians working on power linesPicking the best electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Learn To Be An Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Courses. But as we have covered in this article, there are many factors that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrician training program that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides unique options for certification also. Perhaps the best means to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you choose is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Palatine IL.

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    Palatine, Illinois

    Palatine (/ˈpælətaɪn/) is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is a northwestern residential suburb of Chicago. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 65,479. In the 2010 census its population had risen to 68,557,[5] making it the seventh-largest community in Cook County[6] and the 18th-largest in the state of Illinois.[7]

    The first European-American to settle in Palatine is generally thought to be George Ela, who built a log cabin in the area now called Deer Grove. Ela was one of the first of a wave of pioneers to migrate to northern Illinois following the Black Hawk War. A road which passes through the western edge of Palatine is called Ela Road in his honor.

    The Village of Palatine was founded in 1866. It was built around a station on the new Chicago and North Western Railway. Joel Wood surveyed and laid out the village, earning him the title of Palatine's founder. One of Palatine's original downtown streets is named after Wood.

     

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