Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Hammond IL 61929

How to Become an Electrician in Hammond Illinois

Hammond IL electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Hammond IL. But with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are so many variables to consider. For instance, some students will start by searching for schools that are close to their residence. After they have identified several that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that must be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your ultimate decision when picking an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are accessible.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Hammond IL

Hammond IL electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple options to obtain electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Hammond IL. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are brief explanations of the three most prevalent programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Illinois trade and technical schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards students who wish to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require two years to complete and are offered by Illinois community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Illinois colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed prior to licensing. For that reason, many students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines

Hammond IL electricians working on power lines Electricians in Hammond IL can perform a vast array of services, such as installing, replacing and testing 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 most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be earned in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually 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 important that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Hammond IL

attending electrician school online in Hammond IL A possibility that you might have looked at is choosing an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, internet learning might be a more practical choice for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Commuting costs from Hammond IL are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be available on line as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Hammond IL electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Because there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Hammond IL region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are additional factors that need to be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze before choosing an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. Many electrician trade programs have received 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 relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Hammond IL program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you acquire a superior education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, some states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved 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 percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate may signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It might also mean that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to use 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 industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Hammond IL students acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade 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 businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Hammond IL area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Hammond IL electrical company if they can give you some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Hammond home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with some of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Hammond IL, confirm that the schools you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Hammond IL?

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

Hammond, Illinois

According to the 2010 census, Hammond has a total area of 0.761 square miles (1.97 km2), of which 0.76 square miles (1.97 km2) (or 99.87%) is land and 0.001 square miles (0.00 km2) (or 0.13%) is water.[5]

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 518 people, 225 households, and 141 families residing in the village. The population density was 679.8 people per square mile (263.2/km²). There were 244 housing units at an average density of 320.2 per square mile (124.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.26% White, 0.58% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.58% from other races, and 0.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.19% of the population.

There were 225 households out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.95.

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Enroll in the Ideal Electrician Tech School near Hammond IL

Picking the ideal electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world context, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Every program offers unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best approach to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you choose is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Hammond IL.