Things to Ask Electrician Training Schools<\/strong><\/h3>\nOnce you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Galena IL area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are other factors that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research before selecting an electrical vocational school.<\/p>\n
Accreditation. <\/strong>A large number of electrician trade programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Galena IL school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you receive an excellent education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.<\/p>\nHigh Completion and Placement Rates. <\/strong>Ask the electrician schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate might indicate that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It might also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and\/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory 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 confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Galena IL graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.<\/p>\nApprenticeship Programs. <\/strong>Numerous electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Galena IL area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.<\/p>\nModern Facilities. <\/strong>Confirm that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Galena IL electrical company if they can give you some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Galena residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.<\/p>\nSmaller Classes. <\/strong>It’s important that you get as much individualized 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 see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk to some of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.<\/p>\nFlexible Scheduling. <\/strong>Confirm 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 Galena IL, confirm that the programs you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.<\/p>\nConsidering Attending an Electrician School near Galena IL?<\/h3>\n
Following is a little bit of background information about the Galena IL area.<\/p>\n
Galena, Illinois<\/h3>
Galena is the largest city in and the county seat of Jo Daviess County, Illinois,[7] with a population of 3,429 at the 2010 census.[7][8] A 581-acre (235\u00a0ha) section of the city is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Galena Historic District. The city is named for the mineral galena, which was mined by Native Americans in the area for over a thousand years. Owing to these deposits, Galena was the site of the first major mineral rush in the United States. By 1828, the population was estimated at 10,000, rivaling the population of Chicago at the time. The city emerged as the largest steamboat hub on the Mississippi River north of St. Louis, Missouri. Galena was the home of Ulysses S. Grant and eight other Civil War generals. Today, the city is a tourist destination known for its history, architecture, and resorts.\n<\/p>
The city is named for galena,[9] the natural form of lead sulfide (PbS) and the most important lead ore.[10]Native Americans mined the ore for use in burial rituals.[11] The Havana Hopewell first traded galena in the area during the Middle Woodland period (c. 1\u2013400 CE). However, the use of galena in the Havana territory is uncertain; very little has been identified in burial mounds.[12] During the Mississippian period (900\u20131500 CE), galena saw use as body paint.[13]<\/p>
The French, probably via contact with the Sioux, first noted lead deposits in the Upper Mississippi Valley in 1658. A 1703 French map identified the northwestern Illinois area as mines de plumb.\u201d [14] Northwestern Illinois was inhabited by Sac and Fox when the French arrived.[2] In the 1690s, French trappers discovered the area and began mining the lead.[1][15] However, conflicts with the Sioux prevented large-scale mining until Julien Dubuque's Mines opened across the river in 1788.[14]\n<\/p><\/div>\n