How to Become an Electrician in Pittsfield Illinois
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Pittsfield IL. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are a number of points to consider. For instance, many potential students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their home. After they have identified a few that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are significant, they are not the only qualifications that should be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are accessible.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Pittsfield IL
There are multiple options to get electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Pittsfield IL. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Bellow are short summaries of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Illinois trade and technical schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who wish to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require two years to complete and are offered by Illinois junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Illinois colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in Pittsfield IL can perform a wide range of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings 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 typically around four to five years of experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be acquired in numerous specialties, including 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 crucial that the electrician tech school that you choose not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in Pittsfield IL
An option that you may have contemplated is choosing an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning can be a more convenient alternative for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Driving costs from Pittsfield IL are also lessened and some of the study materials may be available on line as well. All of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Training Schools
When you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Since there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Pittsfield IL area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The initial two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other factors that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Pittsfield IL school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you acquire a quality education, it can help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states mandate 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 reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate might suggest that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It could also signify that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which may produce 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 an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Pittsfield IL graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Check if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Pittsfield IL area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build 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 state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Pittsfield IL electrical contracting company if they can give you some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Pittsfield home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with some of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Pittsfield IL, verify that the schools you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Pittsfield IL?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Pittsfield IL area.
Pittsfield, Illinois
Pittsfield was initially settled by settlers from New England. These settlers were of old Yankee stock, that is to say they were descended from the English Puritans who had founded and settled New England in the 1600s. A group of settlers from Pittsfield, Massachusetts headed west and settled this region of Illinois in 1820. When they arrived the area was a virgin wilderness, they constructed farms, roads and government buildings.[4][5] Pittsfield was home to John Hay, Lincoln's personal secretary, ambassador to England under President William McKinley, later Secretary of State for Theodore Roosevelt and creator of the Open Door Policy. As county seat, the town was one of the various places in central Illinois where Abraham Lincoln practiced law as part of the circuit court, working on 34 cases between 1839 and 1852. One local newspaper, now known as the Pike Press, was then owned by another of Lincoln's future secretaries, John Nicolay, and featured an editorial containing one of the first known suggestions of Lincoln as the Republican nominee for the presidency.
Pittsfield is the self-proclaimed "Pork Capital" of the Midwest, owing to the long history of pork production in the region, which fed into the large meat-packing industry of Chicago. Though agriculture in the region is no longer so dependent on pork, the town still hosts a yearly "Pig Days" festival.
The local high school football team, the Saukees, still holds the record for longest winning streak in the state. Starting with their season opening 6-0 win over North Greene in 1966, the Pittsfield Saukees reeled off 64 consecutive wins, which included 15 straight shutouts between 1969 and 1971. The streak extended all the way through to the second game of the 1973 season, when Pittsfield dropped a 12-0 decision to Winchester, Illinois.[6]
Select the Ideal Electrician Vocational School near Pittsfield IL
Choosing the ideal electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrician tech school that you are considering includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Each training program offers different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Pittsfield IL.
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