Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Park Ridge IL 60068

How to Become an Electrician in Park Ridge Illinois

Park Ridge IL electrician inspecting circuit panelThe initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Park Ridge IL. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many points to examine. For instance, many potential students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their home. After they have found several that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the lowest tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the only qualifications that should be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your final judgment when choosing an electrician school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are available.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Park Ridge IL

Park Ridge IL electrician re-wiring power outletThere are multiple options to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near Park Ridge IL. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are short summaries of the 3 most prevalent programs available.

  • Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Illinois trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degrees take 2 years to complete and are offered by Illinois junior or community colleges, commonly 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 Degree programs are available at certain Illinois colleges, but are less popular 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 before licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites

Park Ridge IL electricians working on power linesElectricians in Park Ridge IL can undertake a vast array of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about four to five years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be obtained in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails 3 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Park Ridge IL

attending electrician school online in Park Ridge ILAn alternative that you might have contemplated is selecting an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, distance learning may be a more practical choice for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Commuting costs from Park Ridge IL are also reduced and some of the study materials may be accessed on line also. All of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Park Ridge IL electrician re-wiring circuit panelWhen you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Because there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Park Ridge IL region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are other variables that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze before enrolling in an electrical technical school.

Accreditation.  A large number of electrician trade schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Park Ridge IL program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you acquire a superior education, it may assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some 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 reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It might also signify that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which can result in more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Park Ridge IL students secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs.  A large number of electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Park Ridge IL area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Park Ridge IL electrical contracting company if they can provide some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within driving distance of your Park Ridge residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

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

Flexible Scheduling.  Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Park Ridge IL, verify that the schools you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Park Ridge IL?

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

Park Ridge, Illinois

Park Ridge is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States, and a Chicago suburb. The population was 37,480 at the 2010 census.[2] It is located 15 miles (24 km) northwest of downtown Chicago. It is close to O'Hare International Airport, major expressways, and rail transportation. It is a part of the Chicago metropolitan area, bordering three northwestern neighborhoods of Chicago's Far North Side (Edison Park, Norwood Park, and O'Hare.)

As its name suggests, Park Ridge lies on a ridge. The soil is abundant with clay deposits, which made it a brick-making center for the developing city of Chicago. Park Ridge was originally called Pennyville to honor George Penny, the businessman who owned the local brickyard along with Robert Meacham. Later it was named Brickton.[4] The Des Plaines River divides Park Ridge from neighboring Des Plaines, Illinois, which is west of Park Ridge. Chicago is south and east of Park Ridge, and Niles and unincorporated Maine Township are to its north.[5]

The area of Park Ridge was inhabited by the Potawatomie until they were removed in 1833. The area was a convenient portage between the Des Plaines and Chicago rivers for the French explorers and in the early 1830s, the first settlers arrived from New England and New York. In 1854 George Penny established a brickworks in the area. In 1910 Park Ridge had a population of 2,009. In 1930 the population was 10,417. In 1950 the population was 16,602. In 1960 the population was 32,625, with 99.9% of the population white. There were five African-Americans and 31 people classed other than black or white. By 1970, the population had risen to 42,466.[6] In 2016, Hillary Rodham Clinton campaigned as the Democratic candidate for President of the United States. She was a graduate of the first class of Park Ridge's Maine Township High School South (1965).[7]

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Select the Right Electrician Tech School near Park Ridge IL

Selecting the ideal electrical training program will probably 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 schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Every program provides different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you pick is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Park Ridge IL.

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