Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Lyons IL 60534

How to Become an Electrician in Lyons Illinois

Lyons IL electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Lyons IL. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are a number of variables to examine. For instance, some potential students will start by searching for schools that are close to their home. After they have identified several that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are important, they are not the only qualifications 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 additional qualifiers should help mold your final decision when picking an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Lyons IL

Lyons IL electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general approaches to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Lyons IL. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three options. In many cases these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you want to earn certification. Bellow are short explanations of the 3 most typical programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Illinois technical and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards students who wish to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees involve two years to complete and are provided by Illinois junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Illinois colleges, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites

Lyons IL electricians working on power lines Electricians in Lyons IL can carry out a vast array of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be obtained in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes three 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you choose not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may need to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Programs Online in Lyons IL

attending electrician school online in Lyons IL An option that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning might be a more convenient alternative for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Travelling costs from Lyons IL are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online as well. Each of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Lyons IL electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Lyons IL area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are other variables that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to choosing an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Lyons 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. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it can help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools 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 could indicate that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It may also signify that the teachers 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 more extensive directory of graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to utilize 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 assist Lyons IL students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Lyons IL area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Lyons IL electrical contracting company if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Lyons home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with several of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Lyons IL, verify that the programs you are looking at provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Lyons IL?

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

Lyons, Illinois

Lyons (also known as Lyons Township) is a village in Lyons Township Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 10,729 at the 2010 census. The Chicago Portage National Historic Site is located in Lyons.

Although first settled in 1888, Lyons remained as a large unincorporated area of Cook County for several years, before becoming a census-designated place in 2009. The community is greatly steeped in earlier historical roots. In 1673 French Explorer Louis Joliet and Jesuit missionary Father Pierre Marquette left Green Bay, Wisconsin, by canoe in search of a western passage to the Pacific. As they traveled into the Spanish controlled area of Louisiana, they realized that the mighty Mississippi River drained into the already well known Gulf of Mexico. With winter approaching, they headed north as quickly as possible. To save time, the Potawatomi Indians who were with them encouraged changing their route to the Illinois River. The short cut led to the Des Plaines River and caused the French travelers to discover “Le Portage.” This half-mile wide area of land connecting the Chicago River and the Des Plaines River, over which they could carry their canoes and supplies, was to become the discovery for which they would both become famous. Later known as the Chicago Portage, this small area became the “Gateway to the West” and was used by thousands of early settlers and traders traveling both east and west. The discovery of “Le Portage” was part of the impetus that led to Chicago becoming a center for the world trade.

Louis Joliet conceived the idea of constructing a canal to connect the two waterways. This idea was to become a reality 200 years later with the opening of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. In time, the part of the I&M Canal that connected the south branch of the Chicago River with the Des Plaines River was replaced with the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, which was completed in 1900. Today, a statue stands in Lyons at the Chicago Portage National Historic Sight just north of Interstate 55 along Harlem Avenue, commemorating this historic National Heritage Corridor which stretches southwest through La Salle, Illinois.

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Find the Ideal Electrical Tech School near Lyons IL

Selecting the ideal electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Every program offers unique options for certification also. Perhaps The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you pick is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Lyons IL.