Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Kankakee IL 60901

How to Become an Electrician in Kankakee Illinois

Kankakee IL electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Kankakee IL. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are a number of variables to examine. For example, some students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have found a few that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are important, they are not the sole things that need to be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate decision when picking an electrician trade school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are accessible.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Kankakee IL

Kankakee IL electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Kankakee IL. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as common 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. Bellow are brief explanations of the three most typical programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Illinois trade and technical schools and take about a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards students who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve two years to complete and are provided by Illinois community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain Illinois colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines

Kankakee IL electricians working on power lines Electricians in Kankakee IL can undertake a vast array of tasks, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be acquired in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Schools in Kankakee IL

attending electrician school online in Kankakee IL An alternative that you may have considered is selecting an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning can be a more accommodating option for students that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Travelling costs from Kankakee IL are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be available online also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Kankakee IL electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Kankakee IL region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are additional variables that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational schools have earned 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. Confirm that the Kankakee IL program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you acquire a quality education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, a number of states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved 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 program. A low completion rate could signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It may also suggest that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to use 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 industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Kankakee IL students secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician training programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Kankakee IL area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain 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, talk to the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Kankakee IL electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Kankakee residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with several of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Kankakee IL, check that the programs you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Kankakee IL?

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

Kankakee County, Illinois

French Canadian Settlers came to Kankakee County in 1834, after the federal government signed the Treaty of Camp Tippecanoe in 1832. They were soon joined by migrants from New York and Vermont who had moved their way west, mostly locating in Momence, Illinois. In the 1840s, most of the migrants were French Canadians or Metis and they settled in such places as Bourbonnais.

An act of the Illinois Legislature created Kankakee County out of the north part of Iroquois County and the south part of Will County on February 11, 1853. The six original townships were: Yellowhead, Rockville, Bourbonnais, Momence, Aroma Park, and Limestone. The population of the new county was about 8,000. It wasn’t until 1855 that the two western townships of Norton and Essex were taken from Vermilion County and added to Kankakee County. The County was named for the Kankakee River.

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Kankakee have ranged from a low of 12 °F (−11 °C) in January to a high of 86 °F (30 °C) in July, although a record low of −29 °F (−34 °C) was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of 107 °F (42 °C) was recorded in August 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.62 inches (41 mm) in February to 4.54 inches (115 mm) in May.[4]

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Select the Right Electrical Technical School near Kankakee IL

Selecting the ideal electrical training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrician training program that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides unique options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you select is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Kankakee IL.