How to Become an Electrician in Harrisburg Illinois
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Harrisburg IL. But with so many 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 consider. For instance, many prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have identified a few that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole factors that need to be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your final decision when choosing an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are offered.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Harrisburg IL
There are several options to get electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Harrisburg IL. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you would like to become certified. Bellow are short explanations of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Illinois trade and technical schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards those who wish to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve two years to finish and are provided by Illinois junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Illinois colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed before licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Harrisburg IL can perform a wide range of duties, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be earned in several specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases involves three levels of proficiency:
- 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 imperative that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Programs in Harrisburg IL
An alternative that you might have looked at is selecting an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning can be a more practical alternative for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Commuting costs from Harrisburg IL are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. All of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Once you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Harrisburg IL region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are additional factors that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Harrisburg IL school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you receive a quality education, it can assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, 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 complete the course. A low completion rate might suggest that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It could also mean that the teachers were not qualified 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 can result in more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Harrisburg IL grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous 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 contractors or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Harrisburg IL area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Harrisburg IL electrical company if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Harrisburg home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized 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 see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to a few of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with a few of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Harrisburg IL, check that the programs you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, check 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 Harrisburg IL?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Harrisburg IL area.
Harrisburg, Illinois
Harrisburg (/ˈhærɪsbɜːrɡ/ or /ˈhɛərzbɜːrɡ/) is a city in and the county seat of Saline County, Illinois, United States.[3] It is located about 57 miles (92 km) southwest of Evansville, Indiana and 111 miles (179 km) southeast of St. Louis, Missouri. The 2010 population was 9,017, and the surrounding Harrisburg Township had a population of 10,790, including the city residents. Harrisburg is included in the Illinois–Indiana–Kentucky tri-state area and is the principal city in the Harrisburg Micropolitan Statistical Area with a combined population of 24,913.[4]
Located at the concurrency of U.S. Route 45, Illinois Route 13, Illinois Route 145, and Illinois Route 34, Harrisburg is known as the "Gateway to the Shawnee National Forest",[5] and is also known for the Ohio River flood of 1937, the old Crenshaw House (also known as the Old Slave House), the Tuttle Bottoms Monster, prohibition-era gangster Charlie Birger, and the 2012 EF4 tornado. A Cairo and Vincennes Railroad boomtown, the city was one of the leading bituminous coal mining distribution hubs of the American Midwest between 1900 and 1937.
At its peak, Harrisburg had a population that reached 16,000 by the early 1930s. The city had one of the largest downtown districts in Southern Illinois.[6] The city was the 20th-most populated city in Illinois outside the Chicago Metropolitan Area and the most-populous city in Southern Illinois outside the Metro East in 1930.[7] However, the city has seen an economic decline due to the decreased demand for high-sulfur coal, the removal of the New York Central railroad, and tributary lowlands leaving much area around the city unfit for growth due to flood risks.
Select the Right Electrician Tech School near Harrisburg IL
Picking the best electrician trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical training that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Every training program provides different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you choose is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Harrisburg IL.
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