Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Thornton IL 60476

How to Become an Electrician in Thornton Illinois

Thornton IL electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Thornton IL. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are so many factors to examine. For example, some prospective students will start by searching for schools that are close to their residence. After they have located some that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole qualifications 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 other qualifiers should help mold your final decision when picking an electrician school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Thornton IL

Thornton IL electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple options to get electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Thornton IL. You may select 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 together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most typical programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Illinois trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards students who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require two years to finish and are provided by Illinois community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Illinois institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed before licensing. For that reason, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements

Thornton IL electricians working on power lines Electricians in Thornton IL can carry out a wide range of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with 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 normally about 4 to 5 years of experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be acquired in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases includes 3 levels of competency:

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 important that the electrician trade school that you select not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes in Thornton IL

attending electrician school online in Thornton IL An option that you may have considered is choosing an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning may be a more convenient option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Driving costs from Thornton IL are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be available online also. All of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Thornton IL electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Because there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Thornton IL area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are other variables that need to be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Many electrician technical programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Thornton IL school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you receive an excellent education, it may help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It could also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Thornton IL grads secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Thornton IL area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Thornton IL electrical contracting company if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Thornton home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can 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 sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with some of the students and get their feedback 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 hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Thornton IL, confirm that the schools you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Thornton IL?

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

Thornton, Illinois

According to the 2010 census, Thornton has a total area of 2.376 square miles (6.15 km2), of which 2.35 square miles (6.09 km2) (or 98.91%) is land and 0.026 square miles (0.07 km2) (or 1.09%) is water.[6]

As of the census of 2010, there were 2,338 people, 956 households, and 621 families residing in the village. The population density was 994.9 people per square mile (383.3/km²). There were 1,027 housing units at an average density of 437.0/sq mi (168.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 83.0% White, 9.6% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.04% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 3.3% some other race, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.8% of the population.[4]

There were 956 households out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were headed by married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.4% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44, and the average family size was 3.03.[4]

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Enroll in the Right Electrical Technical School near Thornton IL

Choosing the best electrical training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are several things that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every program provides different options for certification as well. Perhaps the best way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Take the time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you choose is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Thornton IL.