Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Girard IL 62640

How to Become an Electrician in Girard Illinois

Girard IL electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Girard IL. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are a number of variables to consider. For instance, some potential students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have found several that are within driving range, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though cost and location are of importance, they are not the only factors that should be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional choices that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Girard IL

Girard IL electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to get electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Girard IL. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are short explanations of the three most common programs available.

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

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Illinois institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Requirements

Girard IL electricians working on power lines Electricians in Girard IL can undertake a multitude of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically around 4 to 5 years of experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly test electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be acquired in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online in Girard IL

attending electrician school online in Girard IL An alternative that you may have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation 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 can be attended online, distance learning might be a more accommodating option for students that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Commuting expenses from Girard IL are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be available on line as well. All of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Girard IL electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Girard IL region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are other factors that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to enrolling in an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn 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. Verify that the Girard 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. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain an excellent education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states require 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 of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate could signify that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It could also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, 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 validate that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Girard IL students secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician trade programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Girard IL area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment 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 instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Girard IL electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Girard residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Talk to some of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise 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 are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Girard IL, check that the schools you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, 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 Girard IL?

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

Girard, Illinois

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 2,245 people, 864 households, and 565 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,398.9 people per square mile (922.1/km²). There were 926 housing units at an average density of 989.5 per square mile (380.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.93% White, 0.13% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.09% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.11% of the population.

There were 864 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the city, the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.

The location could not be found.

Choose the Ideal Electrician Technical School near Girard IL

Selecting the right electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best approach to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you pick is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Girard IL.