Electrician Training Near Me in Atlanta IL 61723 Archives

How to Become an Electrician in Atlanta Illinois

Atlanta IL electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Atlanta IL. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are so many points to consider. For instance, some potential students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their home. Once they have located a few that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the sole things that should be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should influence your ultimate decision when picking an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Atlanta IL

Atlanta IL electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple ways to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Atlanta IL. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are short explanations of the 3 most prevalent programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Illinois vocational and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards students who wish to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require two years to finish and are offered by Illinois community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Illinois colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites

Atlanta IL electricians working on power lines Electricians in Atlanta IL can perform a vast array of duties, including 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 required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about four to five years of prior experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually test electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be earned in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases includes 3 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 important that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Atlanta IL

attending electrician school online in Atlanta IL An option that you might have looked at is choosing an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, internet learning may be a more accommodating option for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Driving costs from Atlanta IL are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be accessed on line also. Each of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Atlanta IL electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Because there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Atlanta IL area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other factors that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research before enrolling in an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Atlanta IL school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it can assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, many states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to qualify 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 or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate could indicate that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It may also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to train 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 mean more contacts for the school to use 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 field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Atlanta IL grads obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Atlanta IL area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Atlanta IL electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Atlanta residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak to some of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to 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 programs you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Atlanta IL, check that the schools you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Atlanta IL?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Atlanta IL area.

Atlanta, Illinois

According to the 2010 census, Atlanta has a total area of 1.268 square miles (3.28 km2), of which 1.26 square miles (3.26 km2) (or 99.37%) is land and 0.008 square miles (0.02 km2) (or 0.63%) is water.[5]

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 1,649 people, 694 households, and 469 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,310 people per square mile (505/km²). There were 734 housing units at an average density of 583.3 per square mile (224.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.58% White, 0.12% Native American, 0.12% from other races, and 0.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.42% of the population.

There were 694 households out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.93.

The location could not be found.

Find the Right Electrical Trade School near Atlanta IL

Selecting the right electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world context, and the training program 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 satisfy your needs. Each training program offers unique options for certification also. Perhaps the best way to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you select is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Atlanta IL.