How to Pick the Best Electrician Training School near Westmont Illinois
The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Westmont IL. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are a number of factors to examine. For example, some potential students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have located a few that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the sole qualifications that must be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your final decision when choosing an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs
There are three general ways to obtain electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Westmont IL. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. In many cases these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are short descriptions of the 3 most typical programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Illinois vocational and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards students who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take 2 years to finish and are offered by Illinois junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Illinois institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Westmont IL can carry out a vast array of functions, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be earned in several specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you choose not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Programs Online
An option that you might have considered is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning can be a more convenient choice for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Driving costs from Westmont IL are also minimized and some of the study materials may be accessed 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 cover in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Now 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 vocational and trade schools in the Westmont IL area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. 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 important when making your decision, there are other factors that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Westmont IL program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you get a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, a number of 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 looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate might signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It might also signify 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 more extensive directory of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Westmont IL grads obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Westmont IL area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area 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 on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Westmont IL electrical company if they can give you some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Westmont home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with several of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience 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 at night or on weekends near Westmont IL, confirm 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 permits part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Electrician Certification Schools Westmont Illinois
Picking the right electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Certification Schools and wanting more information on the topic Electrical Degree Online. But as we have discussed in this article, there are many things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrical training that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world perspective, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Each training program provides unique options for certification also. Perhaps the best means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you select is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Westmont IL.
More Electric Locations in Illinois
Westmont, Illinois
Westmont is a village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. Westmont is a community of 5.03 square miles in area. Westmont had a 2000 population of 24,554, a partial special census was conducted 2007 resulting in a population of 26,211, and the census of 2010 put the population at 24,685. It is located approximately 18 miles (29 km) west of the Chicago Loop in the southeastern portion of DuPage County.[5]
The area known as Westmont was inhabited by the Potawatami until the year 1833. After several failed attempts by the U.S. government to persuade the Native Americans to move from the area, in 1833, the Native Americans agreed under coercion to vacate their land for nominal payment.[6]
The development of the Illinois-Michigan Canal, authorized by the State of Illinois in the 1820s but delayed in construction until the 1830s, contributed to Westmont's early growth.[6] When the economic Panic of 1837 halted canal construction, many of the workers turned to farming, and agriculture became the major occupation, with produce sold in nearby Chicago. The area around Westmont became one of the most prosperous sections of the state.
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