How to Find the Best Electrician Technical School near Troy Illinois
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Troy IL. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are so many variables to evaluate. For instance, some prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have located a few that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are important, they are not the only qualifications that should be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are offered.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options
There are several options to get electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Troy IL. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Frequently these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are brief explanations of the three most common programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Illinois vocational and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards those who wish to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take 2 years to finish and are provided by Illinois junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Illinois institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be completed before licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Troy IL can undertake a multitude of services, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally about four to five years of experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be earned in numerous specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves 3 levels of proficiency:
- 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 crucial 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 pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes
An option that you may have considered is choosing an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning can be a more accommodating choice for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Commuting costs from Troy IL are also reduced and some of the study materials can be accessed online as well. Each of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
When you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Troy IL region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first 2 that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are additional factors that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire 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 Troy IL program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you get a superior education, it can assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate might indicate that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It may also mean that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which may result in 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 an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Troy IL graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Troy IL area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using 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 Troy IL electrical contracting company if they can give you some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Troy home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak with several of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with some of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Troy IL, verify that the programs you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Electrical Certification Schools Troy Illinois
Selecting the best electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrical Certification Schools and wanting more information on the topic Electrician School Near Me. But as we have covered 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 prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every training program offers different possibilities for certification also. Probably the best means to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Troy IL.
More Electric Locations in Illinois
Troy, Illinois
Troy is part of the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area. Its namesake in Lincoln County, Missouri is also part of this MSA, making it (along with the two O'Fallons in Illinois and Missouri) one of the few pairs of like-named municipalities to be part of the same MSA.
According to the 2010 census, Troy has a total area of 5.349 square miles (13.85 km2), of which 5.29 square miles (13.70 km2) (or 98.9%) is land and 0.059 square miles (0.15 km2) (or 1.1%) is water.[6]
As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 8,524 people, 3,100 households, and 2,356 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,037.6 people per square mile (787.4/km²). There were 3,201 housing units at an average density of 765.2 per square mile (295.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.48% White, 1.48% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.38% from other races, and 1.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.49% of the population.
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