Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Clay City IL 62824

How to Become an Electrician in Clay City Illinois

Clay City IL electrician inspecting circuit panelThe first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Clay City IL. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are so many factors to evaluate. For example, some potential students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their residence. After they have identified several that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the lowest tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the sole things that must be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your final decision when picking an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional choices that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Clay City IL

Clay City IL electrician re-wiring power outletThere are multiple ways to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near Clay City IL. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to be licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most typical programs available.

  • Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Illinois technical and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who want to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degrees involve two years to finish and are provided by Illinois junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Illinois colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed before licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements

Clay City IL electricians working on power linesElectricians in Clay City IL can carry out a wide range of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally about four to five years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to identify 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 procedure usually involves 3 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 crucial that the electrician trade school that you select not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might need to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Schools in Clay City IL

attending electrician school online in Clay City ILAn option that you may have considered is selecting an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, distance learning can be a more practical option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Commuting expenses from Clay City IL are also lessened and some of the study materials can be available on line as well. Each of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Clay City IL electrician re-wiring circuit panelOnce you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Clay City IL area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional factors that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical technical school.

Accreditation.  Many electrician trade programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Clay City IL school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you get a quality education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, some states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved 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 or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate may signify that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It could also mean that the teachers were not competent to instruct 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 list of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Clay City IL graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs.  A large number of electrician technical programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Clay City IL area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Clay City IL electrical company if they can provide some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Clay City home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added 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 training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how large 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 with a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling.  Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Clay City IL, verify that the schools you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Clay City IL?

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

Clay City, Illinois

Clay City is located in southeastern Clay County at 38°41′13″N 88°21′11″W / 38.68694°N 88.35306°W / 38.68694; -88.35306 (38.686883, -88.353121),[5] about 1 mile (1.6 km) southwest of the Little Wabash River. U.S. Route 50 passes through the southern side of the village, leading west 7 miles (11 km) to Flora and east 15 miles (24 km) to Olney. Louisville, the Clay County seat, is 14 miles (23 km) to the northwest.

As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 1,000 people, 436 households, and 262 families residing in the village. The population density was 561.0 people per square mile (216.9/km²). There were 486 housing units at an average density of 272.7 per square mile (105.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.40% White, 0.20% Native American, 0.10% Asian, and 0.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.40% of the population.

There were 436 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.9% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.98.

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Pick the Right Electrical Technical School near Clay City IL

Selecting the best electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new career. As we have addressed 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 electrician training that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Each training program offers different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best way to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to sit in on 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 right training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Clay City IL.

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