Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Wheeling IL 60090

How to Become an Electrician in Wheeling Illinois

Wheeling IL electrician inspecting circuit panelThe first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Wheeling IL. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are a number of factors to consider. For instance, some potential students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their home. After they have identified a few that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. While location and cost are significant, they are not the only things that must be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your final judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are available.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Wheeling IL

Wheeling IL electrician re-wiring power outletThere are three general ways to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Wheeling IL. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs available.

  • Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Illinois vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards students who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degrees take two years to complete and are offered by Illinois junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Illinois institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria

Wheeling IL electricians working on power linesElectricians in Wheeling IL can undertake a wide range of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around 4 to 5 years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be obtained in many specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves 3 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you choose not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Schools Online in Wheeling IL

attending electrician school online in Wheeling ILAn alternative that you may have looked at is selecting an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning may be a more practical option for students that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Commuting costs from Wheeling IL are also lessened and some of the study materials can be available online also. All of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Wheeling IL electrician re-wiring circuit panelNow that you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Because there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Wheeling IL area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional variables 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 tech school.

Accreditation.  Numerous electrician technical programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Wheeling IL school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Also, many states require 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 or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate may suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It might also signify 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 more extensive directory of graduates, which can result in more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Wheeling IL graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  A large number of electrician trade 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 contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Wheeling IL area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Wheeling IL electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Wheeling home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be increased 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 larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with several of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling.  Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Wheeling IL, verify that the schools you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, 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 Wheeling IL?

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

Wheeling, Illinois

Wheeling is a village in Cook and Lake counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. A suburb of Chicago, it is primarily in Cook County. The population was 37,648 at the 2010 census.[3] Wheeling is named for Wheeling, WV.[4]

According to the 2010 census, the village has a total area of 8.74 square miles (22.6 km2), of which 8.74 square miles (22.6 km2) (or 97.26%) is land and 0.24 square miles (0.62 km2) (or 2.74%) is water.[6]

As of the census[8] of 2010, there were 34,496 people, 13,280 households, and 8,459 families residing in the village. The population density was 4,106.5 people per square mile (1,585.6/km²). There were 13,697 housing units at an average density of 1,630.5 per square mile (629.6/km²). The racial make-up of the village was 76.68% White, 2.44% African American, 0.23% Native American, 9.26% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 9.18% from other races, and 2.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.68% of the population.

The location could not be found.

Choose the Ideal Electrician Tech School near Wheeling IL

Choosing the best electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have addressed 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 must that any electrician training that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world context, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each training program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you choose is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Wheeling IL.

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