How to Become an Electrician in Meredosia Illinois
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Meredosia IL. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are so many factors to evaluate. For instance, many potential students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their home. After they have found a few that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are important, they are not the sole factors that should be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your final judgment when picking an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are available.
Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Meredosia IL
There are three general approaches to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Meredosia IL. You can select 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. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are brief descriptions of the three most typical programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Illinois vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve two years to finish and are offered by Illinois community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Illinois colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed before licensing. For that reason, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Meredosia IL can undertake a vast array of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be obtained in many specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes 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 crucial that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online in Meredosia IL
A possibility that you may have looked at is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning might be a more practical choice for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Travelling expenses from Meredosia IL are also minimized and some of the study materials may be accessed on line as well. All of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Once you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Meredosia IL area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are additional variables that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess before selecting an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Meredosia IL school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you get a quality education, it may assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, many states mandate 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 considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate may signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It may also signify that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which may result in 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 field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Meredosia IL grads secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with Meredosia IL area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Meredosia IL electrical contractor if they can give you some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Meredosia residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak to a few of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with a few of the instructors 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 reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Meredosia IL, confirm that the programs you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Meredosia IL?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Meredosia IL area.
Meredosia, Illinois
According to the 2010 census, Meredosia has a total area of 0.867 square miles (2.25 km2), of which 0.83 square miles (2.15 km2) (or 95.73%) is land and 0.037 square miles (0.10 km2) (or 4.27%) is water.[3]
In 2011 Ameren Energy Resources Company, LLC announced the closure of the its power station in Meredosia. The closure caused the loss of over 50 jobs, a major economic hit for the small community. The plant closure was related to the cost of meeting environmental regulations. The plant may reopen at some point as a facility to test clean coal technology according to Ameren.[4]
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 1,041 people, 450 households, and 301 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,130.3 people per square mile (436.9/km²). There were 486 housing units at an average density of 527.7 per square mile (204.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.90% White, and 0.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.10% of the population.
Choose the Ideal Electrician Technical School near Meredosia IL
Selecting the ideal electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a must that any electrician training program that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Every program provides different options for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you pick is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Meredosia IL.
Other Cool Cities in Illinois
Business Results 1 - 10 of 0
