Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Mundelein IL 60060

How to Become an Electrician in Mundelein Illinois

Mundelein IL electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Mundelein IL. But with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are a number of variables to consider. For example, some students will start by searching for schools that are close to their residence. After they have found some that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are significant, they are not the only things that need to be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician trade school. We will discuss 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 educational options that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Mundelein IL

Mundelein IL electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several ways to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Mundelein IL. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are brief descriptions of the three most prevalent programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Illinois technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards students who would like to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require 2 years to complete and are provided by Illinois community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Illinois institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria

Mundelein IL electricians working on power lines Electricians in Mundelein IL can undertake a vast array of functions, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually assess general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be obtained in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes three levels of competency:

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 trade school that you pick not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may need to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Mundelein IL

attending electrician school online in Mundelein IL An alternative that you may have considered is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning can be a more practical option for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Commuting expenses from Mundelein IL are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be available online also. All of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Mundelein IL electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Because there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Mundelein IL region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The initial two that we mentioned 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 critical when making your decision, there are additional factors 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 technical school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Mundelein IL program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you obtain an excellent education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some states require 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 percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It may also signify that the teachers were not competent to train 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 may mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Mundelein IL graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools 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 Mundelein IL area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date 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 regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Mundelein IL electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Mundelein home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk to several of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Mundelein IL, verify that the programs you are looking at provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Mundelein IL?

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

Mundelein, Illinois

Mundelein is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States and a northern suburb of Chicago. As of the 2010 census, the village population was 31,064.[4] It is approximately thirty-five miles northwest of Chicago.

The community now known as Mundelein has been inhabited since at least 1650, when the Potawatomi people were known to have been trading with French fur traders. The first European inhabitants reached the area in the early 19th century. Peter Shaddle (for whom a street is named) was the first known settler, building a log cabin in the area now owned by St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in 1835.[5]

The next settlers were tradesmen escaping from England's industrial depression, who became farmers in the Mundelein area. In honor of their former professions, they named the city "Mechanics Grove", and built schools, churches, and businesses. The community grew and (while still unincorporated) changed its name to "Holcomb", in honor of John Holcomb, a person who was active in the area's development. As Holcomb, the community added a railway station and a post office. The Holcomb area incorporated in February 1909 under a new name, "Rockefeller", a reference to businessman John D. Rockefeller.

The location could not be found.

Pick the Right Electrical Trade School near Mundelein IL

Choosing the ideal electrician trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are examining includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world context, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Every program offers different possibilities for certification also. Probably the best approach to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you select is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Mundelein IL.