How to Become an Electrician in Lawrenceville Illinois

The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Lawrenceville IL. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are a number of points to consider. For example, some students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have identified some that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though location and cost are significant, they are not the sole qualifications that need to be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are accessible.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Lawrenceville IL

There are multiple ways to obtain electrician training in a trade or technical school near Lawrenceville IL. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are short explanations of the three most prevalent programs available.

• Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Illinois technical and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who wish to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
• Associate Degrees take two years to complete and are offered by Illinois community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Illinois institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out before licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria

Electricians in Lawrenceville IL can undertake a multitude of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically around four to five years of prior experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in many specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases involves three 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you pick not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Schools in Lawrenceville IL

An option that you might have looked at is selecting an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, distance learning may be a more convenient option for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Travelling expenses from Lawrenceville IL are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be accessed online also. All of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Once you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Since there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Lawrenceville IL region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are additional factors that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to enrolling in an electrical technical school.

Accreditation.  A large number of electrician vocational schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Lawrenceville IL program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it may help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates.  Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It may also suggest that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s also essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, which can mean 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 a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Lawrenceville IL graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Numerous electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Lawrenceville IL area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also supplies job 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 state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Lawrenceville IL electrical company if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within driving distance of your Lawrenceville residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s important that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling.  Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Lawrenceville IL, verify that the schools you are considering provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Lawrenceville IL?

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

Choose the Ideal Electrical Vocational School near Lawrenceville IL

Selecting the right electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Each training program offers different options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you choose is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Lawrenceville IL.

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