Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Mount Prospect IL 60056

How to Become an Electrician in Mount Prospect Illinois

Mount Prospect IL electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Mount Prospect IL. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially because there are a number of factors to examine. For instance, many students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their residence. When they have located several 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 only qualifications that should be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your final judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Mount Prospect IL

Mount Prospect IL electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near Mount Prospect IL. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain 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 mandated by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are short summaries of the three most typical programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Illinois technical and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require two years to finish and are offered by Illinois junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Illinois colleges, but are less preferred at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed prior to licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines

Mount Prospect IL electricians working on power lines Electricians in Mount Prospect IL can perform a multitude of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be acquired in several 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 crucial that the electrician tech school that you choose not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Schools in Mount Prospect IL

attending electrician school online in Mount Prospect IL A possibility that you may have looked at is selecting an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning may be a more accommodating option for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Travelling expenses from Mount Prospect IL are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be available on line as well. Each of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Mount Prospect IL electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Mount Prospect IL area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are other variables that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to choosing an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Mount Prospect IL program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you acquire an excellent education, it may assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate may signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It might also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, 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 validate that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Mount Prospect IL graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Mount Prospect IL area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Mount Prospect IL electrical company if they can provide some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Mount Prospect residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to several of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Mount Prospect IL, verify that the programs you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Mount Prospect IL?

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

Mount Prospect, Illinois

Mount Prospect is a village in Elk Grove and Wheeling Townships in Cook County, Illinois, about 22 miles (35 km) northwest of downtown Chicago, and approximately 4 miles north of O'Hare International Airport. As of the 2010 census, the village had a total population of 54,167.

According to the 2010 census, Mount Prospect has a total area of 10.374 square miles (26.87 km2), of which 10.34 square miles (26.78 km2) (or 99.67%) is land and 0.034 square miles (0.09 km2) (or 0.33%) is water.[5] At 665 ft (203 m) above sea level, Mount Prospect is 35 ft (11 m) lower than neighboring Arlington Heights 700 ft (213 m).[6][better source needed]

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Mount Prospect lies within the Humid continental climate zone (or Dfa) in the warm summer type. The village experiences warm to hot and humid summers and frigid, snowy winters. The village lies within U.S.D.A Hardiness zone 5b, along the fringe of zone 6a.

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Find the Right Electrical Tech School near Mount Prospect IL

Selecting the right electrician training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Every training program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Invest some time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Mount Prospect IL.