How to Find the Best Electrician Trade School near Wilmington Illinois
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Wilmington IL. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are a number of points to consider. For instance, many students will start by searching for schools that are close to their residence. After they have located a few that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are significant, they are not the only factors that should be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your final judgment when picking an electrician trade school. We will talk about 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 choices that are available.
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Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs
There are several approaches to obtain electrician training in a trade or technical school near Wilmington IL. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are short descriptions of the three most prevalent programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by Illinois trade and technical schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who want to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take two years to complete and are provided by Illinois community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Illinois colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be carried out prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in Wilmington IL can carry out a vast array of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about four to five years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be earned in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes three 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you select not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs
A possibility that you might have looked at is selecting an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, internet learning may be a more practical alternative for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Travelling costs from Wilmington IL are also lessened and some of the study materials may be available on line also. All of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
When you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Because there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Wilmington IL region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are additional factors that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Wilmington IL program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs 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 indicate that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It could also mean that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which can 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 industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Wilmington IL graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Wilmington IL area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Wilmington IL electrical contractor if they can give you some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Wilmington residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with some of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Wilmington IL, check that the programs you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Accredited Electrician Technical Schools Wilmington Illinois
Choosing the right electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Accredited Electrician Technical Schools and wanting more information on the topic Electrical Maintenance Training. But as we have discussed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each program offers different options for certification also. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you select is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Wilmington IL.
More Electric Locations in Illinois
Wilmington, Will County, Illinois
Thomas Cox purchased land near Alden's Island in 1834 and built a sawmill, corn cracker, gristmill, and a carding machine facility all of which were powered by water wheels situated on a mill race off of the Kankakee river which runs through Wilmington.
Wilmington was founded by Thomas Cox. It later became famous as a stop on U.S. Route 66, which followed the route of modern-day Illinois Route 53. The only rest-inn within the town is called "Van Duyne's" and is situated right on old Route 66. A notable attraction for travelers along this route is the "Gemini Giant" Muffler Man type statue located next to the former Launching Pad fast food restaurant. Countless photos of travelers, both domestic and foreign, standing at the base of the Gemini Giant are taken each year.
Wilmington is located at 41°18′27″N 88°08′46″W / 41.307515°N 88.146143°W / 41.307515; -88.146143Coordinates: 41°18′27″N 88°08′46″W / 41.307515°N 88.146143°W / 41.307515; -88.146143.[4] It is located on the banks of the Kankakee River, approximately 50 miles (80 km) southwest of Chicago and 15 miles (24 km) south of Joliet.
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