Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Normal IL 61761

How to Become an Electrician in Normal Illinois

Normal IL electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Normal IL. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are a number of factors to examine. For instance, many students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have found a few that are within driving range, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are significant, they are not the only qualifications that must be evaluated. Also critical 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 decision when picking an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are offered.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Normal IL

Normal IL electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several ways to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Normal IL. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Bellow are brief descriptions of the 3 most common programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Illinois technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards those who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve two years to finish and are offered by Illinois junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying 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 favored at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed before licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria

Normal IL electricians working on power lines Electricians in Normal IL can perform a wide range of functions, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally about four to five years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly evaluate 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 identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be obtained in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves three levels of proficiency:

An experience requirement
Passing a written exam
Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying agencies 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 select not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may need to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Programs in Normal IL

attending electrician school online in Normal IL An alternative that you might have looked at is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools have become more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not completely 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, internet learning may be a more accommodating option for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Travelling expenses from Normal IL are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. All of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Normal IL electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Normal IL area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are additional factors that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze before choosing an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Normal IL program and school are 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 receive a superior education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, many states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate might signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It could also signify that the teachers were not competent to instruct 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 mean more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Normal IL students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Normal IL area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Normal IL electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Normal home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be difficult 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 students and teachers. Talk with some of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the teachers and find out 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 meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Normal IL, confirm that the schools you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Normal IL?

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

Normal, Illinois

Normal is a town in McLean County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town's population was 52,497.[4] Normal is the smaller of two principal municipalities of the Bloomington–Normal metropolitan area, and Illinois' seventh most populous community outside the Chicago metropolitan area. Normal's mayor is Chris Koos.

The main campus of Illinois' oldest public university, Illinois State University, a fully accredited four-year institution, is in Normal, as is Heartland Community College, a fully accredited two-year institution. There is also a satellite campus of Lincoln College, which offers associate degrees as well as four-year programs.

The town was laid out with the name North Bloomington on June 7, 1854 by Joseph Parkinson.[5] From its founding, it was generally recognized that Jesse W. Fell was the force behind the creation of the town. He had arranged for the new railroad, which would soon become the Chicago and Alton Railroad, to pass west of Bloomington then curving to cross the Illinois Central Railroad at a point where he owned or controlled land. Most of the original town lies south of these tracks, with Beaufort Street as its northern limit, and some blocks west of the Illinois Central and north of the tracks.[6] Fell, his brothers, and associates quickly laid out many additions to the original town.

The location could not be found.

Choose the Right Electrical Technical School near Normal IL

Picking the best electrician trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training program that you are considering includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each training program offers unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you pick is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Normal IL.