Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Addison IL 60101

How to Become an Electrician in Addison Illinois

Addison IL electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Addison IL. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially because there are so many variables to examine. For instance, many prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their home. Once they have located several that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the lowest tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the only things that must be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your final decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Addison IL

Addison IL electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple ways to get electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Addison IL. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Frequently these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are short explanations of the 3 most prevalent programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Illinois vocational and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards those who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to finish and are offered by Illinois community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Illinois institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites

Addison IL electricians working on power lines Electricians in Addison IL can perform a multitude of duties, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly about four to five years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be earned in several specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes 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 vocational school that you enroll in not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Schools in Addison IL

attending electrician school online in Addison IL An option that you may have considered is selecting an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, distance learning can be a more practical alternative for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Commuting costs from Addison IL are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be available online as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Addison IL electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Addison IL region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are additional factors that need to be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Addison IL school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you get a superior education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, some states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate might indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It could also signify that the teachers were not competent to instruct 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 directory of graduates, which may result in 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 trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Addison IL students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Addison IL area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools 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 technician you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Addison IL electrical company if they can give you some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Addison home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Addison IL, confirm that the schools you are considering provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Addison IL?

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

Addison, Illinois

The community itself was originally named Dunkley's Grove after the settler Hezekiah Dunklee,[5] and was renamed after a town in England[5] or Addison, New York.[6]Adventureland amusement park was located in Addison (Lake and Medinah) during the 1960s and 1970s. The Addison Industrial District was the proposed location for the reconstruction of Comiskey Park in the late 1980s before this was voted down.[7]

The Village of Addison lies on Salt Creek, a tributary of the Des Plaines River. Addison is located at 41°55′54″N 88°0′8″W / 41.93167°N 88.00222°W / 41.93167; -88.00222 (41.931573, -88.002221).[8]

According to the 2010 census, Addison has a total area of 9.98 square miles (25.85 km2), of which 9.77 square miles (25.30 km2) (or 97.9%) is land and 0.21 square miles (0.54 km2) (or 2.1%) is water.[9]

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Enroll in the Right Electrical Trade School near Addison IL

Choosing the best electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrician training that you are examining includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should offer a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Each training program offers unique options for certification also. Probably The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you choose is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Addison IL.