Illinois Archives - Trade Schools

How to Choose a Vocational School near Wheaton Illinois

Wheaton IL plumber installing sink Choosing to begin a new profession and enroll in a vocational school near Wheaton IL are serious decisions that will greatly affect your long term career. But with numerous vocational schools to select from, exactly how do you approach finding the ideal one? Not only do you need to make certain that you will receive the extensive training needed to be successful in your new profession, but also that the school is highly regarded and reputable. Some students make the error of enrolling in a trade school simply because the campus is nearest to their residence or place of employment. Others might gravitate to the one that has the lowest tuition. Of course the cost and location of the programs are critical factors when assessing trade school options, but they can not be the sole ones. Added factors such as accreditation and the reputation of the schools are critical also. So prior to beginning your evaluations and comparing trade schools, you must know what questions to ask in order to get the information to make a final choice. We will address some of those questions shortly in this post. But first, let’s talk about a few of the trade options that are available including the availability of online programs.

Vocational School Training Options near Wheaton IL

Wheaton IL electrician wiring new home There are a number of trades to select from in vocational schools that offer rewarding and good paying careers. Maybe you have already decided on one that you have long wished to pursue. For example, perhaps you have always taken pleasure in working on your car and have thought about utilizing that skill to make a living as an auto mechanic. Or maybe a member of the family has had a long and successful career in a specific vocation or trade and you would love to follow in his or her footsteps. No matter what your motivation is for entering a trade, there is likely a program offered that will give you the training that you need. Following is just a modest representation of the vocational training programs that are available in the Wheaton IL area.

Automotive Technician
Heating And Air Conditioning (HVAC) Tech
Plumber
Electrical Technician
Welder
Truck Driving
Aircraft Maintenance Tech
Lab Tech
Construction Manager

All programs will have varying costs and completion times based upon the trade, credential earned and school. Some of the programs may be completed in just weeks, while others will require months or even two or more years of instruction. All of these aspects should be considered prior to choosing a vocation and school.

Learning a Vocation Online

man attending trade school online in Wheaton IL Trade Schools online have become very popular with Wheaton IL students and a growing number of accredited programs are becoming available. Although online learning is a readily available and practical way to acquire a certificate or degree, it might not be the ideal option for every vocation or trade. For example, learning to drive a semi truck is not something that you can accomplish online, nor is training how to weld. These are skills that must be mastered through practical training and by doing it, not by studying or watching videos. But certain aspects of the training can be suitable for online learning, for example studying driving and safety guidelines for truck driving schools or studying metallurgy or how to read blueprints for welding schools. Some programs will combine online education with on campus practical training, such as for HVAC or plumbing schools. So it is very important to determine before choosing an online program for any vocation if there is an appropriate amount of hands-on training devoted to the course of study. One means to help establish est that a trade school program is both suitable for online learning and provides comprehensive practical training is to check that it’s accredited by a nationally acknowledged accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). For those trades that are appropriate for online training, it can be a convenient way for individuals with limited time to acquire a new vocation.

Things to Ask Vocational School Programs

Once you have chosen the vocation and type of certificate or degree that you would like to attain, either online or on campus, you can begin to decrease your list of schools. As you are no doubt aware, there are many technical schools in the Wheaton IL area and throughout the United States to pick from. That’s why it is essential to have a list of key qualifications when making school evaluations. As earlier mentioned in our opening paragraph, location and tuition will probably be the initial 2 aspects you will look at. Following are some additional ones that you need to investigate before enrolling in your school of choice.

Accredited. A large number of Wheaton IL area vocational programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as HVAC technology. Make sure that the school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you acquire a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states require that the training program be accredited for it to be approved for licensing where applicable.

How Long in Business? One clue to help evaluate the quality of a trade school near Wheaton IL is how long it has been in operation. A poorly rated or a fly by night school normally will not stay in business very long, so longevity is a big plus. However, even the top schools had to begin from their first day of training, so consider it as one of several qualifications.

Completion Rates. Ask the tech schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate could indicate that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It could also suggest that the instructors were not competent 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 broader directory of alumni, which can result in more contacts for the school to employ 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 help graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs in the Wheaton IL area.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous vocational programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Wheaton IL area contractors in the field. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained 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, talk to the tech you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Wheaton IL contractor if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak to a few of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is in Illinois and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Wheaton IL, confirm that the programs you are looking at provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, 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 because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering a Trade School near Wheaton IL?

If you are looking at a trade school near Wheaton IL, following is some interesting and relevant information regarding the location of your future school campus that may help you in making your decision.

Wheaton, Illinois

Wheaton is a suburban city in Milton and Winfield Townships and is the county seat of DuPage County, Illinois.[4] It is located approximately 30 miles (48 km) west of Chicago. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 52,894,[5] which was estimated to have increased to 53,469 by July 2012.[6]

The city dates its founding to the period between 1831 and 1837, following the Indian Removal Act, when Alex Tomasik laid claim to 790 acres (320 ha) of land near present-day Warrenville.[7][8] The Wheaton brothers arrived from Connecticut, and in 1837, Warren L. Wheaton laid claim to 640 acres (260 ha) of land in the center of town. Jesse Wheaton later made claim to 300 acres (120 ha) of land just west of Warren's.[8][9] It was not long before other settlers from New England joined them in the community. In 1848, they gave the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad three miles (5 km) of right-of-way, upon which railroad officials named the depot Wheaton.[7][9] In 1850, ten blocks of land were platted and anyone who was willing to build immediately was granted free land. In 1853, the lots were surveyed and a formal plat for the community was filed with the county. The community was then incorporated as a village on February 24, 1859, with Warren serving as its first President.[10] The village was later incorporated as a city on April 24, 1890, when the first mayor of the city was selected, Judge Elbert Gary, son of Erastus Gary and founder of Gary, Indiana.[10]

In 1857, the Illinois state legislature authorized an election to be held to decide the question of whether the DuPage county seat should remain in Naperville or be moved to the more centrally located Wheaton, which was on the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad. Naperville won the election by a vote of 1,542 to 762. Hostility between the two towns continued for the next decade and another election was held in 1867, in which Wheaton narrowly won by a vote of 1,686 to 1,635. At a cost of $20,000, the City of Wheaton quickly built a courthouse to house a courtroom, county offices, and a county jail. The building was dedicated on July 4, 1868.[11]

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Pick the Right Trade School

Selecting the right trade school near Wheaton IL is a crucial beginning toward a fulfilling career in the vocation of your choice. As we have discussed in this post, you need to pick a trade school and a degree or certificate program that are both accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. Other features to search for are plenty of practical training and state-of-the-art facilities. You need to go to each of the schools in person that you are most interested in to explore the campus and talk with both the current students and faculty. Try to get a feel for the quality of the teaching and the interaction between them. Also, ask about scheduling options and if night or weekend classes are offered if needed. And don’t forget to inquire about financial aid and student loan options too. If you ask the right questions as we have laid out in our guidelines for evaluating schools, you’ll be able to filter your options so that you can make an educated decision. With the right training, hard work and dedication, you can ultimately become a licensed professional in your chosen trade.