Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Troy IL 62294

How to Become an Electrician in Troy Illinois

Troy IL electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Troy IL. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are a number of points to evaluate. For instance, many students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have found some that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the sole factors that must be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your final decision when picking an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are offered.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Troy IL

Troy IL electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to get electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Troy IL. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or receive 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 mandated by the majority of states to become licensed or if you want to earn certification. Following are short explanations of the three most prevalent programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Illinois technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs take two years to complete and are provided by Illinois junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Illinois institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed prior to licensing. For that reason, many students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Guidelines

Troy IL electricians working on power lines Electricians in Troy IL can undertake a vast array of tasks, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally around 4 to 5 years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically assess general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be obtained in several specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails three levels of proficiency:

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 important that the electrician tech school that you select not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might need to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Programs in Troy IL

attending electrician school online in Troy IL A possibility that you may have looked at is selecting an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools have become more prevalent as a means 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 obtain practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning might be a more accommodating option for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Commuting costs from Troy IL are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line also. Each of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Troy IL electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Because there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Troy IL area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are other factors that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research before choosing an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Many 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 pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Troy IL school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you acquire an excellent education, it may assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases 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 indicate that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It might also signify that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, 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 trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Troy IL grads obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Troy 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 form relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Troy IL electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Troy residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to several of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with some of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Troy IL, verify that the programs you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Troy IL?

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

Troy, Illinois

Troy is part of the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area. Its namesake in Lincoln County, Missouri is also part of this MSA, making it (along with the two O'Fallons in Illinois and Missouri) one of the few pairs of like-named municipalities to be part of the same MSA.

According to the 2010 census, Troy has a total area of 5.349 square miles (13.85 km2), of which 5.29 square miles (13.70 km2) (or 98.9%) is land and 0.059 square miles (0.15 km2) (or 1.1%) is water.[6]

As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 8,524 people, 3,100 households, and 2,356 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,037.6 people per square mile (787.4/km²). There were 3,201 housing units at an average density of 765.2 per square mile (295.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.48% White, 1.48% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.38% from other races, and 1.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.49% of the population.

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Pick the Ideal Electrical Tech School near Troy IL

Choosing the right electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are several things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world context, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every training program provides unique options for certification as well. Perhaps the best means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you pick is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Troy IL.