How to Enroll in the Right Electrician Tech School near Rockford Illinois
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Rockford IL. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are so many factors to evaluate. For instance, many prospective students will start by searching for schools that are close to their residence. When they have found some that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the sole things that need to be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are available.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options
There are multiple options to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Rockford IL. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are brief summaries of the 3 most common programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Illinois trade and technical schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who want to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require 2 years to finish and are offered by Illinois community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish 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 offered at some Illinois institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed before licensing. For that reason, most students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Rockford IL can carry out a wide range of duties, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about four to five years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically assess general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be obtained in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes three levels of competency:
- 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 imperative that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs
A possibility that you may have looked at is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, distance learning may be a more accommodating option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Driving costs from Rockford IL are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be available online also. All of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Now that you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Since there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Rockford IL area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional variables that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Rockford IL program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you acquire an excellent education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, 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 schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate could suggest that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It could also suggest that the teachers were not competent 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 may produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Rockford IL students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician vocational programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Rockford IL area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area 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 already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Rockford IL electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Rockford home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized instruction 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 teachers and students. Talk with several of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Rockford IL, check that the schools you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.
Electrician Technical School Rockford Illinois
Selecting the ideal electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Technical School and wanting more information on the topic Training Electrician. But as we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical training that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you select is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Rockford IL.
More Electric Locations in Illinois
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a city in Winnebago County in the U.S. state of Illinois, in far northern Illinois. Located on the banks of the Rock River, Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County (a small portion of the city is located in Ogle County). The largest city in Illinois outside of the Chicago metropolitan area, Rockford is the third-largest city in the state and the 171st most populous in the United States[6] According to 2010 U.S. Census Data, the City of Rockford had a population of 152,871, with an outlying metropolitan area population of 348,360. The City of Rockford's population is 147,051 as of 2017, down 4.1% since 2010.[7]
Settled in the mid-1830s, the position of the city on the Rock River made its location strategic for industrial development. In the second half of the 19th century, Rockford was notable for its output of heavy machinery and tools; by the twentieth century, it was the second leading center of furniture manufacturing in the nation, and 94th largest city. During the second half of the 20th century, Rockford struggled alongside many Rust Belt cities. Since the late 1990s, efforts in economic diversification have led to growth of automotive, aerospace, and healthcare industries, as well as the undertaking of various tourism and downtown revitalization efforts.
Nicknamed the Forest City, Rockford is presently known for various venues of cultural or historical significance, including Anderson Japanese Gardens, Klehm Arboretum, Tinker Swiss Cottage, the BMO Harris Bank Center, the Coronado Theatre, the Laurent House, and the Burpee Museum of Natural History. Its contributions to music are noted in the Mendelssohn Club, the oldest music club in the nation, and performers such as Phantom Regiment and Cheap Trick.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 36
3 Reviews 
15 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
3 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
3 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
5 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
2 Reviews 