How to Become an Electrician in Griggsville Illinois
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Griggsville IL. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are so many factors to evaluate. For instance, some prospective students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their residence. When they have located several that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the least expensive tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that should be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should influence your final decision when selecting an electrician school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are accessible.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Griggsville IL
There are multiple ways to obtain electrician training in a trade or technical school near Griggsville IL. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are short summaries of the 3 most common programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Illinois vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards those who wish to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take 2 years to finish and are provided by Illinois community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Illinois institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed before licensing. Therefore, most students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Griggsville IL can perform a vast array of functions, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally about four to five years of prior experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically test general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge 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 vary by state and may be acquired in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases entails 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Griggsville IL
An alternative that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, internet learning may be a more practical option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Travelling expenses from Griggsville IL are also minimized and some of the study materials can be available online also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Now that you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Griggsville IL area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are other factors that must be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze before choosing an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have earned 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 an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Griggsville IL program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, some states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It may also mean that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which may mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Griggsville IL graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician training programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical companies or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Griggsville IL area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Griggsville IL electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Griggsville home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized instruction 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 instructors and students. Talk to some of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the teachers and find out 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 meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Griggsville IL, check that the programs you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Griggsville IL?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Griggsville IL area.
Griggsville, Illinois
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 1,258 people, 500 households, and 360 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,215.0 people per square mile (467.0/km2). There were 548 housing units at an average density of 529.3 per square mile (203.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 99.21% White, 0.16% African American, 0.08% Asian, 0.24% from other races, and 0.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.24% of the population.
There were 500 households out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% 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 2.92.
In the city, the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.
Find the Ideal Electrician Technical School near Griggsville IL
Picking the ideal electrician training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical training program that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Every program offers unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Take the time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you select is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Griggsville IL.
Other Cool Cities in Illinois
Business Results 1 - 10 of 3
2 Reviews 
3 Reviews 
1 Reviews 