Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Franklin Park IL 60131

How to Become an Electrician in Franklin Park Illinois

Franklin Park IL electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Franklin Park IL. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are so many variables to examine. For example, some prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their residence. After they have found some that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are significant, they are not the only factors that need to be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are accessible.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Franklin Park IL

Franklin Park IL electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general options to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Franklin Park IL. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or obtain 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 offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Bellow are short explanations of the 3 most common programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Illinois technical and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees involve 2 years to finish and are offered by Illinois junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Illinois institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be completed prior to licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites

Franklin Park IL electricians working on power lines Electricians in Franklin Park IL can perform a vast array of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally around 4 to 5 years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving 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 can be acquired in numerous specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes three 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 important that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online in Franklin Park IL

attending electrician school online in Franklin Park IL A possibility that you might have contemplated is selecting an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, distance learning may be a more practical option for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Driving costs from Franklin Park IL are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. All of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Franklin Park IL electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Because there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Franklin Park IL region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first 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 final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional factors that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Franklin Park IL program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify 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 of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate might indicate that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It might also signify that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s also essential 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 can not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Franklin Park IL graduates acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician vocational programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Franklin Park IL area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed 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 technician you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Franklin Park IL electrical company if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Franklin Park residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with a few of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Franklin Park IL, verify that the schools you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make 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.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Franklin Park IL?

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

Franklin Park, Illinois

As of the census of 2010, there were 18,333 people, 6,178 households, and 4,486 families residing in the village. The population density was 3,843.4 people per square mile (1,483.9/km²). There were 6,569 housing units at an average density of 1,377.1 per square mile (529.8/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 74.7% White, 1.3% African American, 0.4% Native American, 3.1% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 18.0% some other race, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 43.1% of the population.[3]

There were 6,178 households, out of which 38.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were headed by married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.4% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.3% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96, and the average family size was 3.51.[3]

In the village, the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.1 males.[3]

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Choose the Ideal Electrical Technical School near Franklin Park IL

Selecting the ideal electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are examining includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Every program provides different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you pick is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Franklin Park IL.