Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Streamwood IL 60107

How to Become an Electrician in Streamwood Illinois

Streamwood IL electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Streamwood IL. But with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially because there are so many factors to evaluate. For instance, many students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their home. Once they have found a few that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole things that must be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician trade school. We will cover 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 training choices that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Streamwood IL

Streamwood IL electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Streamwood IL. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you want to earn certification. Bellow are short summaries of the 3 most common programs available.

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

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain 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 more typically 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria

Streamwood IL electricians working on power lines Electricians in Streamwood IL can perform a multitude of duties, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally about four to five years of practical experience is called for before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be acquired in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases involves 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you select not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Training Classes in Streamwood IL

attending electrician school online in Streamwood IL A possibility that you may have contemplated is choosing an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs are becoming more popular 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 partial attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning might be a more convenient option for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Driving expenses from Streamwood IL are also reduced and some of the study materials can be accessed online also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Streamwood IL electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Streamwood IL region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. 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 critical when making your decision, there are other variables that need to be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze before choosing an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Streamwood IL program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you acquire a superior education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved 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 or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate might signify that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It might also mean that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which may produce 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 field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Streamwood IL students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician vocational programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Streamwood IL area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently 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 Streamwood IL electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Streamwood residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Streamwood IL, verify that the schools you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Streamwood IL?

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

Streamwood, Illinois

A major retail sector has developed in recent years at the intersection of Illinois Route 59 and Illinois Route 19 called Sutton Park. In addition to the Sutton Park Shopping Center, stores and businesses in the area include Super Target, Marshall's, Discovery Clothing, Famous Footwear, Yankee Candle, Wendy's, Chili's, Panera Bread, Chase Bank, America's Best, CVS Pharmacy, T Mobile, Bank of America, Steak 'n Shake, Pearle Vision, Starbucks Coffee, Hair Cuttery, UPS Store, Subway Sandwiches, GameStop, Jimmy John's, Taco Bell, Arby's, 5/3 Bank, and Great Clips.

According to the 2010 census, Streamwood has a total area of 7.854 square miles (20.34 km2), of which 7.82 square miles (20.25 km2) (or 99.57%) is land and 0.034 square miles (0.09 km2) (or 0.43%) is water.[5]

As of the census of 2010, there were 39,858 people, 13,034 households, and 9,945 families residing in the village. The population density was 5,096.9 people per square mile (1,963.4/km²). There were 13,629 housing units, at an average density of 1,742.8 per square mile (671.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 66.0% White, 4.5% African American, 0.9% Native American, 15.0% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 10.6% some other race, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 28.2% of the population.[3]

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Pick the Ideal Electrical Vocational School near Streamwood IL

Picking the best electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are several things that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training program that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world context, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each training program provides different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Streamwood IL.