How to Become an Electrician in Niantic Illinois
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Niantic IL. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are a number of factors to evaluate. For instance, many prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their residence. When they have located a few that are within commuting range, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the only qualifications that need to be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are offered.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Niantic IL
There are several ways to get electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Niantic IL. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are short descriptions of the 3 most typical programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Illinois trade and technical schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards those who wish to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to complete and are provided by Illinois community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Illinois colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines
Electricians in Niantic IL can perform a vast array of functions, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally around four to five years of experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be earned in many specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves 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 tech school that you choose not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Programs Online in Niantic IL
A possibility that you may have considered is selecting an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning can be a more practical option for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Driving expenses from Niantic IL are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be accessed on line also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Once you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Since there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Niantic IL area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Niantic IL program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it may assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify 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 of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate may suggest that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It might also mean that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Niantic IL grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Niantic IL area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Niantic IL electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Niantic 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 personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak to some of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Niantic IL, confirm that the schools you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Niantic IL?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Niantic IL area.
Niantic, Illinois
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 738 people, 269 households, and 200 families residing in the village. The population density was 686.7 people per square mile (266.3/km²). There were 299 housing units at an average density of 278.2 per square mile (107.9/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.59% White, 0.14% Native American, and 0.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.68% of the population.
There were 269 households out of which 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.3% were non-families. 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the village, the population was spread out with 31.2% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.6 males.
Select the Right Electrician Vocational School near Niantic IL
Picking the best electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides different options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you pick is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Niantic IL.
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