How to Become an Electrician in Prophetstown Illinois
The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Prophetstown IL. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are so many points to examine. For example, many students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their residence. After they have identified a few that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though location and cost are important, they are not the sole qualifications that should be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your final decision when choosing an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are accessible.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Prophetstown IL
There are several options to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Prophetstown IL. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Bellow are short explanations of the three most typical programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Illinois trade and technical schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who want to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take two years to finish and are provided by Illinois junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Illinois colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Prophetstown IL can undertake a multitude of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally around four to five years of experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be acquired in several specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases entails 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) and also 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 certification and licensing exams that you might be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes in Prophetstown IL
A possibility that you might have looked at is selecting an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools have become more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning may be a more accommodating choice for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Commuting expenses from Prophetstown IL are also reduced and some of the study materials may be accessed online as well. All of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Now that you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Since there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Prophetstown IL region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional factors that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to choosing an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Prophetstown IL program and school 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 assist in obtaining 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 program be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate might indicate that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It could also indicate 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 alumni, which may result in 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 industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Prophetstown IL students secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician training programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Prophetstown IL area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Prophetstown IL electrical contractor if they can give you some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Prophetstown home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak to some of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Prophetstown IL, check that the programs you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Prophetstown IL?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Prophetstown IL area.
Prophetstown, Illinois
According to the 2010 census, Prophetstown has a total area of 1.394 square miles (3.61 km2), of which 1.37 square miles (3.55 km2) (or 98.28%) is land and 0.024 square miles (0.06 km2) (or 1.72%) is water.[4]
Prophetstown occupies the site of the village of the winnebago prophet, which the Illinois volunteers destroyed on may 10, 1832 in the first act of hostility in the black hawk war.[5] Prophetstown was named for Wabokieshiek (White Cloud), the prophet who lived upon the land. Wabokieshiek served as an advisor to Black Hawk and took part in the Black Hawk War. Wabokieshiek and his followers, the Sauk Indians, resided where the current Prophetstown State Park (of Illinois) is now located. They left the land in 1832 as the Black Hawk War ended, when Wabokieshiek was taken captive by the United States. This area is now a state park, but at one time it held a community of 14 villages.
Prophetstown once held community events such as Cruise Night and showcased many classic cars. Eventually that event faded and Eclipse Park was replaced with a memorial to honor those who served in the Armed Forces. Prophetstown is still held in high esteem for having one of the largest Fourth of July fireworks shows in the area. Prophetstown also hosts a Lighted Christmas Parade as the highlight of the start of the holiday season the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Prophetstown is an Illinois Main Street Community. The downtown features a series of historical murals and Eclipse Square Park as well as an interesting selection of stores and dining possibilities.
Choose the Ideal Electrician Technical School near Prophetstown IL
Choosing the best electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new profession. 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 looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training program that you are considering includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world context, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Each training program offers unique options for certification as well. Probably The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you decide on is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Prophetstown IL.
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