Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Dekalb IL 60115

How to Become an Electrician in Dekalb Illinois

Dekalb IL electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Dekalb IL. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are a number of points to examine. For example, some prospective students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their home. When they have located some that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are significant, they are not the only qualifications that should be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate decision when picking an electrician training school. We will cover 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 accessible.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Dekalb IL

Dekalb IL electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general options to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Dekalb IL. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Bellow are brief explanations of the 3 most typical programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Illinois vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards students who wish to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require two years to complete and are offered by Illinois community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Illinois institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed 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 educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria

Dekalb IL electricians working on power lines Electricians in Dekalb IL can undertake a multitude of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly around four to five years of experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be obtained in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails three levels of competency:

An experience requirement
Passing a written exam
Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying organizations include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician tech school that you pick not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in Dekalb IL

attending electrician school online in Dekalb IL An option that you might have considered is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs have become more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, distance learning can be a more practical choice for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Travelling costs from Dekalb IL are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be available online as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Dekalb IL electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Dekalb IL area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first 2 that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, 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 variables that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Dekalb IL school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for example 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 assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, a number of states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate might suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It could also indicate that the teachers were not competent 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 more extensive list of alumni, which may result in more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Dekalb IL graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Dekalb IL area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to build 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 up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Dekalb IL electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Dekalb residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Dekalb IL, confirm that the schools you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Dekalb IL?

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

DeKalb, Illinois

DeKalb /dɪˈkælb/ is a city in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. The population was 43,862 according to the 2010 census, up from 39,018 at the 2000 census. The city is named after decorated German American war hero Johann de Kalb, who died during the American Revolutionary War.

DeKalb was originally called Huntley’s Grove,[4] and under the latter name was platted in 1853.[5] The name is for Baron Johann de Kalb, a major general in the American Revolutionary War.[6] A post office has been in operation at DeKalb since 1849.[7] The development of barbed wire is key in the history of DeKalb. Joseph Glidden, who developed barbed wire, was a historic citizen of DeKalb. Glidden would ultimately be known as the “Father of Barbed Wire”. Glidden began to mass produce his invention, and eventually sold half of the company to Isaac L. Ellwood. Together, the two formed the Barb Fence Company.[4]

The city of DeKalb is located in northern Illinois, United States. Roughly 65 miles west of downtown Chicago and roughly 30 miles southeast of Rockford, IL. The Kishwaukee River flows northward through the city of DeKalb.

The location could not be found.

Find the Ideal Electrician Tech School near Dekalb IL

Picking the best electrician training program will probably 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 examine and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Each training program offers different options 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 instructors. Take the time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you select is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Dekalb IL.