How to Find the Right Electrician Vocational School near Thompsonville Illinois
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Thompsonville IL. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are a number of points to evaluate. For instance, many prospective students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their residence. When they have found some that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the sole factors that should be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are accessible.
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Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options
There are multiple options to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Thompsonville IL. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. In many cases these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are short descriptions of the three most typical programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Illinois vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take two years to complete and are offered by Illinois junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Illinois colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be performed prior to licensing. For that reason, most students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Thompsonville IL can carry out a multitude of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally around four to five years of experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be earned in various 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Programs Online
An option that you might have considered is enrolling in an online electrician 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 case they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more practical choice for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Driving costs from Thompsonville IL are also minimized and some of the study materials can be available 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 cover in our questions to ask checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
When you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Thompsonville IL area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional variables that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research before enrolling in an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may 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. Confirm that the Thompsonville IL program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you receive an excellent education, it can assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, 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 finish the course. A lower completion rate could suggest that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It may also indicate that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to employ 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 help Thompsonville IL grads obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Thompsonville IL area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding 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. Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Thompsonville IL electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Thompsonville residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk to some of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Thompsonville IL, confirm that the schools you are considering provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.
Learn How To Be An Electrician Thompsonville Illinois
Picking the best electrical trade school 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 Learn How To Be An Electrician and wanting more information on the topic How Long Does It Take To Become An Electrician. But as we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are considering includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each training program offers different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you decide on is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Thompsonville IL.
More Electric Locations in Illinois
Thompsonville, Illinois
Thompsonville is located in southeastern Franklin County at 37°54′59″N 88°45′42″W / 37.91639°N 88.76167°W / 37.91639; -88.76167 (37.916443, -88.761564).[4]Illinois Route 34 passes through the village, leading northwest 10 miles (16 km) to Benton, the county seat, and southeast 21 miles (34 km) to Harrisburg. Illinois Route 149 leads west from Thompsonville 9 miles (14 km) to West Frankfort.
According to the 2010 census, Thompsonville has a total area of 2.046 square miles (5.30 km2), of which 2.03 square miles (5.26 km2) (or 99.22%) is land and 0.016 square miles (0.04 km2) (or 0.78%) is water.[5]
As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 571 people, 222 households, and 166 families residing in the village. The population density was 278.6 people per square mile (107.5/km²). There were 243 housing units at an average density of 118.6 per square mile (45.8/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.77% White, 0.35% Native American, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.70% of the population.
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