Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Glen Ellyn IL 60137

How to Become an Electrician in Glen Ellyn Illinois

Glen Ellyn IL electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Glen Ellyn IL. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are a number of variables to examine. For instance, many prospective students will start by looking for schools that are close to their residence. When they have found several that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are of importance, they are not the only things that must be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your final judgment when choosing an electrician school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are available.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Glen Ellyn IL

Glen Ellyn IL electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple approaches to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Glen Ellyn IL. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you would like to become certified. Bellow are brief descriptions of the 3 most common programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Illinois technical and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require two years to complete and are offered by Illinois community colleges, typically 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 available at certain Illinois institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed before licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites

Glen Ellyn IL electricians working on power lines Electricians in Glen Ellyn IL can undertake a wide range of services, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically assess general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be earned in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases involves 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 imperative that the electrician trade school that you choose not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online in Glen Ellyn IL

attending electrician school online in Glen Ellyn IL An option that you may have considered is choosing an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more convenient alternative for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Driving costs from Glen Ellyn IL are also reduced and some of the study materials may be available online also. All of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Glen Ellyn IL electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Glen Ellyn IL area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional variables that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to enrolling in an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Many electrician technical schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Glen Ellyn IL school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Also, some states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate may signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It could also indicate that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which may 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 a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Glen Ellyn IL graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Glen Ellyn IL area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing 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 tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Glen Ellyn IL electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Glen Ellyn residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in 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 important that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to some of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Glen Ellyn IL, check that the programs you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Glen Ellyn IL?

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

Glen Ellyn, Illinois

The first landowner in Glen Ellyn was Deacon Winslow Churchill. He and his family moved to Glen Ellyn from New York in 1834. Other newcomers to the area built town necessities such as a tavern and school.[5]

Moses Stacy, a soldier in the War of 1812, arrived here in 1835. His inn, Stacy's Tavern, built in 1846 and his second home, was a halfway stop between Chicago and the Fox River Valley and a probable stop for Galena, Illinois stagecoaches on their way to Rockford, Illinois. Stacy's Tavern, now a historical monument, stands at what is now the intersection of Geneva Road and Main Street.[6]

In 1849, construction of the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad through Glen Ellyn was finished. The area around the railroad became the center of the town. At first, trains running through the town on the railway did not stop there. A local man named Lewey Q. Newton made an offer to the railroad company: Newton would build a depot and water tank out of his own pocket if the railroad would require trains to stop there. The depot that Newton built became known as Newtown Station.[5]

The location could not be found.

Select the Ideal Electrical Tech School near Glen Ellyn IL

Picking the best electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrician tech school that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides different options for certification as well. Probably the best means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you pick is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Glen Ellyn IL.