How to Become an Electrician in Versailles Illinois

The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Versailles IL. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are so many variables to evaluate. For example, many students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have found a few that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the only qualifications that must be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your final judgment when choosing an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Versailles IL

There are several options to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Versailles IL. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to be licensed or if you wish to become certified. Bellow are brief summaries of the three most prevalent programs offered.

• Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Illinois trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
• Associate Degree Programs require two years to finish and are provided by Illinois community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Illinois institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be performed before licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Requirements

Electricians in Versailles IL can carry out a wide range of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually around four to five years of prior experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually test electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be obtained in many specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes three 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) 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 delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Schools in Versailles IL

An alternative that you might have contemplated is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, distance learning may be a more convenient option for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Driving expenses from Versailles IL are also minimized and some of the study materials may be available online as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Now that you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Since there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Versailles IL region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical technical school.

Accreditation.  A large number of electrician trade schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Versailles IL program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you acquire an excellent education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved 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 percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate could suggest that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It could also mean that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also imperative 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 employ 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 also that it has the network of contacts to help Versailles IL students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Numerous electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Versailles IL area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained 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 with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Versailles IL electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Versailles residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging 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 teachers and students. Speak with a few of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling.  Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Versailles IL, confirm 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 permits part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Versailles IL?

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

Pick the Right Electrical Tech School near Versailles IL

Picking the ideal electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have discussed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each program offers different options for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure 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 outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Versailles IL.

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