Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Winnebago IL 61088

How to Become an Electrician in Winnebago Illinois

Winnebago IL electrician inspecting circuit panelThe initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Winnebago IL. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are a number of variables to examine. For example, many students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their residence. When they have located several that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the sole things that should be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your final judgment when picking an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional choices that are accessible.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Winnebago IL

Winnebago IL electrician re-wiring power outletThere are multiple options to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Winnebago IL. You can select a diploma or certificate 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. Frequently these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are brief explanations of the 3 most prevalent programs available.

  • Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Illinois trade and technical schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to complete and are provided by Illinois junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Illinois institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites

Winnebago IL electricians working on power linesElectricians in Winnebago IL can carry out a multitude of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly around four to five years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method 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 various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves three 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 tech school that you enroll in not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Schools in Winnebago IL

attending electrician school online in Winnebago ILAn alternative that you might have contemplated is selecting an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, internet learning may be a more convenient choice for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Driving expenses from Winnebago IL are also reduced and some of the study materials can be available online as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Winnebago IL electrician re-wiring circuit panelNow that you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Winnebago IL region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The first two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional variables that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze before choosing an electrical tech school.

Accreditation.  A large number of electrician vocational schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Winnebago IL school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a superior education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, a number of states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates.  Ask the electrician training programs you are reviewing 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 suggest that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It may also mean that the instructors were not qualified 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 graduates, which may mean 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 an excellent reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Winnebago IL graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  A large number of electrician vocational programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Winnebago IL area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional 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, check with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Winnebago IL electrical contracting company if they can provide some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Winnebago home. Take note 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 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 large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with some of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling.  Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Winnebago IL, check that the programs you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Winnebago IL?

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

Winnebago, Illinois

The Galena and Chicago Union Railroad, encouraged by Chicago merchants in all the urban communities, arrived in Rockford on the east side of the Rock River in August 1852. Each town at the west end of the line as it continued west became a magnet of growth, motivated by the massive leverage of farmers arriving with their livestock, or wagonloads of produce ready for delivery to market. In 1853, then the Galena and Chicago Union extended to the west from Rockford to Freeport. This track forged through both Elida (later called Winnebago), and Pecatonica, igniting local growth. In October 1854 the village's train station was laid out, and by rights was the center of attention. The depot attracted commercial development, warehouses and stockyards emerged near the tracks. In January 1855, Joseph D. Warner, who was the first railroad station agent, finished his house on South Elida Street.

Then from 1903 through 1930, the village was served by the Rockford and Interurban Railway, an electric interurban line with frequent passenger service from Rockford or Pecatonica and Freeport. This line also brought electrical power into Winnebago. At this time laborers started commuting to work at an ever-growing Rockford, and many more residents did their shopping in Rockford rather than locally. Rides from Winnebago to Rockford were $.25.

The community was first settled in 1835. The first settlement was actually at Westfield corners because that was where the stagecoach route passed through. The first settler in the Winnebago Township was David Adams Holt in 1835. The first school in Winnebago Township was established at Westfield in 1839. Elijah Holt built a house in 1840 that is still standing in Winnebago Township on Montague Rd. which is now part of the Severson Dells Forest Preserve; a marker was placed there by the D.A.R. in 1981.

The location could not be found.

Select the Ideal Electrical Tech School near Winnebago IL

Selecting the ideal electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training that you are assessing includes a good deal 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 provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses 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. Each training program provides different possibilities for certification also. Probably the best way to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you choose is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Winnebago IL.

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