Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Niles IL 60714

How to Become an Electrician in Niles Illinois

Niles IL electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Niles IL. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are a number of factors to evaluate. For example, some potential students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their home. When they have identified a few that are within driving range, they will select the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the only factors that need to be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your final judgment when choosing an electrician school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are available.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Niles IL

Niles IL electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple approaches to get electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Niles IL. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you want to earn certification. Following are short summaries of the three most typical programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Illinois technical and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees take 2 years to complete and are offered by Illinois junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Illinois institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites

Niles IL electricians working on power lines Electricians in Niles IL can perform a multitude of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually about four to five years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be acquired in various specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves 3 levels of proficiency:

An experience requirement
Passing a written exam
Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying organizations include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you select not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might need to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes in Niles IL

attending electrician school online in Niles IL An alternative that you might have contemplated is selecting an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning can be a more practical choice for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Driving costs from Niles IL are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be accessed on line as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Niles IL electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Niles IL area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are additional factors that need to be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational schools have attained 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 a specific program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Niles IL school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate may suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It might also indicate that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Niles IL students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Niles IL area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Niles IL electrical company if they can provide some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Niles residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with a few of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Niles IL, verify that the programs you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Niles IL?

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

Niles, Illinois

Joseph Curtis settled in what became Niles in 1827, and John Dewes followed in 1831.[7] The settlement was originally called "Dutchman's Point", referring to German immigrants who followed, including John Plank of Hesse-Darmstadt (who sold whiskey to passing travelers and remaining Native Americans) and the Ebinger brothers of Stuttgart, as well as John Schadiger, Julius Perren, John-Jackson Ruland (d. 1880) and Revolutionary war soldier John Ketchum.

Many people of Native American ancestry lived in the area; Chief Blackhawk reportedly often smoked a peace pipe with Christian Ebinger. Article 4 of the Second Treaty of Prairie du Chien, signed on July 29, 1829 between the United States government and several chiefs of the Chippewa, Ottawa, and Potawatamie left particular tracts of land to individuals of mixed-Native American ancestry. Among them were Billy Caldwell, Victoria Pothier, and Jane Miranda. Land titled to these individuals eventually established part of the border of Niles.[8] During the 1832 Black Hawk War, one band of Native Americans may have reached Billy Caldwell's property as part of an attempt to reclaim land lost to the United States. Hostilities ended in 1833, and most Native Americans immediately left, moving west of the Mississippi River[8]

The Ebingers settled near Milwaukee and Touhy Avenues in the early 1830s. John Ebinger had been the head gardener for King William in Württemberg, Germany, but moved to the United States (initially Ann Arbor, Michigan) when he was 62. His eldest son Frederick had traveled to Chicago and worked on the pier or harbor by 1832, and was soon joined by his brother John Jr. and their wives, as well as John Plank. John Ebinger and his youngest son Christian (at 21 newly married to orphaned Barbara Reuhle of Stuttgart in 1834; both of whom walked the route to enable their elders to ride) packed and traveled to join them, but found Chicago too swampy to farm.[8] After their horse stepped on a rattlesnake and died shortly after crossing the North Branch of the Chicago River on an Indian trail leading towards Milwaukee, the Ebingers built a cabin at Milwaukee and Harlem Avenues, and laid claim to 80 acres of land. The older Ebinger brothers (one of whom married the sister of Fort Dearborn's commanders' wife) soon joined them, as did the Planks. John Plank soon sold his house to Mr. Phillips, who opened a store and became the area's first postmaster. Christian Ebinger or his son of the same name (born 1835 and the first white child born in the area, d. 1879), became the first minister to be ordained in their German Evangelical Association, and served as the Village Collector, Township Assessor and Overseer of the Poor (from 1852-1865) and Highway Commissioner, as well as left seven surviving children.[9]

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Select the Right Electrical Technical School near Niles IL

Choosing the ideal electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every program provides different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you select is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Niles IL.