Skilled Trades Careers Can Ease Transition to Civilian Life

Skilled Trade Career - Coyne College

In honor of this past Memorial Day, we’d like to take a moment to share with you our commitment to men and women in uniform. At Coyne College, we know the transition to civilian life after years of military service can be a challenging one. Fortunately, a career in skilled trades can help smooth it out. We’re dedicated to providing top-tier training programs that can help veterans establish meaningful, in-demand careers.

In many ways, the skilled trade professions embody similar traits to being in the military. For example, in electrical construction, you have the opportunity to work with other electricians to supply the wiring and conduit needed to power a building. Skilled trades work also requires using highly specialized skills to get the job done. While it may take time to foster a strong bond with your fellow trades workers and the task may not be as high-stakes as it is fighting to preserve our freedom, these aspects of skilled trades jobs can help you get acclimated to civilian life once more.

Coyne College offers six different skilled trade programs that provide training in electrical work, HVAC and refrigeration, as well as select allied health professions. Our programs include:

  • HVAC Refrigeration
  • Electrical Construction & Planning
  • Electrical Construction & Maintenance
  • Medical Assistant
  • Medical Billing & Coding Specialist
  • Pharmacy Technician

 

Many of these fields are expected to experience continued growth in employment in the coming years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projections. At Coyne, you’ll receive stellar instruction from professionals with valuable real-world experience.

Skilled Trade Careers in Chicago

You’re also not alone once you’re in classes at Coyne College. We offer academic assistance to help you stay on pace to graduate, should you need it. Additionally, our Career Services team can help you navigate the job search process with resources such as resume help, mock interviews and more. Be sure to check out our Resource Center page to learn more.

Some of Coyne’s programs can be completed in as little as 42 weeks from your start day. This means you’ll be able to get to work and apply your skills sooner than you would by enrolling at a traditional four-year college or university. With day and night class options available, you can fit a skilled trade’s education into your schedule.

Skilled Trade Profession in Demand

Paying for training to improve your return to civilian life shouldn’t cost a fortune for those who have already made the greatest sacrifice. A variety of scholarships are available to veterans, including the Military Award Program (MAP) provided by the Imagine America Foundation – Adult Program. You can also apply for federal aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

For more information or to speak with one of our helpful admissions representatives, call us today at 800-720-3990.

Coyne College’s Medical Assistant Program: Classroom Training with Hands-on Skills

Medical Assistant Program

Medical assistants are the unsung heroes of the healthcare industry. Without them, doctors and nurses could not provide the quality of care to the number of people they see on a daily basis. Medical assistants handle important tasks like updating patients’ medical charts, taking vitals and even answering phones and scheduling appointments. They are the utility knives of medical facilities that rely on them to keep things running smoothly.

Are you eager to start your career as a multifaceted healthcare professional in a booming industry? Coyne College’s Medical Assistant program can help you get there. At Coyne College in Chicago, our program combines the essential knowledge found in textbooks with the practical hands-on experience in skills you’ll use from day one. Our experienced instructors are committed to helping you master the information and skills necessary for you to be a competent medical assistant.

Medical Assistant Program With Hands on Skills

In our program, we cover a wide variety of subjects relevant to the medical assisting profession. Such courses include:

  • Medical Terminology
  • Pharmacology
  • Anatomy and Pathophysiology
  • Basic Insurance and Billing
  • Medical Office Procedures
  • Law and Ethics
  • And more!

To best prepare you for the world of electronic health records (EHRs), we even dedicate six weeks of the program to learning EHRs.

As a student in Coyne College’s Medical Assistant program, you will complete an externship that will allow you to use the skills you’ve learned to work in a real-world medical assisting environment. The best way to get good at something is to do it, which is why the externship is such a crucial part of our curriculum.

Did we mention medical assistants are among the most in-demand professionals in the workforce today? The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 29 percent increase in medical assistant jobs through 2026. Coyne College’s Medical Assistant program and Career Services staff can help you take full advantage of the numerous opportunities available in this in-demand field.

Medical Assistant Program at Coyne College Chicago

With day scheduling options available, you can earn a diploma in as little as 54 weeks and capitalize on the bounty of jobs sooner.

At Coyne College, we have over 120 years of experience preparing students for meaningful careers with a combination of classroom and hands-on learning. Come see for yourself everything Coyne College’s Medical Assistant program has to offer. Call us at 800-720-3990, or visit our homepage at www.coynecollege.edu. We can’t wait to hear from you!

15 Terms to Know Before Enrolling in an Electrician Program

Electrical Terms to Know - Coyne College

Becoming an electrician is an excellent career choice. There is a demand for skilled professionals in the trade, and you can earn good wages doing electrical work. Before you enroll in an electrical training program that teaches you what you need to know to be successful in the industry, it would certainly help to have some knowledge of key terms under your belt. Many of the following terms are ones you may have learned in your high school physics class. If that’s the case, this list will serve as a refresher. If you’re learning this electrical vocabulary for the first time, it will be just as helpful. Let’s dive in.

Circuits

AC – Alternating currents, commonly referred to as AC, are currents that are always changing direction. Most circuits used by electricians today are alternating currents, as they are most common in residential and commercial buildings.

Direct currents, or DC, are currents that only flow in one direction, unlike alternating currents. These are not as common in the daily workings of electricians.

Parallel circuit – Parallel circuits feature multiple paths for currents to flow. Each path is parallel to the others and the voltage is the same for each path. A current’s strength differs depending on the resistance of each path.

Series circuit  – While a parallel circuit has multiple parallel paths, a series circuit has only one path. The current is the same for all resistors within the circuit, while the voltage is dependent on the resistance.

Short circuit – Short circuits occur when the electric current cannot run the full length of the circuit. The current does not go where it is supposed to go and, as a result, excessive heat is created. The extra heat can damage the circuit’s components.

Tools and Substances

Electrical Equipment - Coyne College Chicago

Digital multimeter – Digital multimeters take a variety of measurements, from current, voltage, resistance frequency and others related to electricity. They are essential tools to have because they eliminate the need for separate devices to take different measurements.

Ammeter – Whereas a digital multimeter can take multiple measurements, an ammeter solely measures the amperage of a circuit’s current. The measurement is taken by placing a clamp on the circuit. Multimeters are more commonly used by electricians because they can do the job of an ammeter, making a separate ammeter redundant.

Insulator – Insulators offer sturdy opposition to electrical currents; they have more ohms than conductors. They are often used to coat conductive wires and circuits both to contain the circuit and prevent electric shock. Rubber is one of the best insulators.

Conductor – A conductor is a substance that offers little resistance to electricity; conductors have far fewer ohms than insulators. Currents flow quickly through conductors. Metals are the best conductors, with copper being the most popular for electrical work due to its cost efficiency.

Units

Electrical Components to Use

 

The following units are related as they pertain to the measurement of electricity and the strength of currents.

Ampere (A) – An ampere, or amp, is a unit of measurement for electrical currents. The amperage is the volume of the electricity flowing through the circuit.

Volt (V) – A volt is a measurement of force with which the current is ready to flow through a circuit. This is the force with which electrons move through the medium. It is the pressure on the electricity in the circuit.

Ohm – An ohm is a unit of resistance that the medium through which the current is passing offers against the current. Different substances resist current more than others. Conductors offer less resistance than insulators.

Watt (W) – Watts are units of electrical power over a period of time (more specifically, one joule per second). Kilowatts are also commonly used, which are 1000 Watts. W = A x V

Electrical Conduit

Electrician Trade Programs in Chicago

Hand bender – A hard bender is a tool used to manually bend electrical conduit. Conduit is metal tubing that protects electrical wiring. Conduit often needs to be bent to fit where it has to go within the frame of a building. Hard benders come in multiple sizes to accommodate different tasks.

Four bend saddle – A four bend saddle is a structure that allows conduit, and the wiring inside it, to go around square and rectangular obstacles. The four bends create a trapezoid shape up and over the obstruction. There is also a three-bend saddle that is used to maneuver around round obstacles, such as other conduits.

Now that you have a better grasp of some of common electrical terms, you can show up to your first day of your electrician training program with confidence. All that is left for you to do is find the right program. If you live in the Chicago area, there’s no better choice than Coyne College in Chicago.

Power your electric career with a Coyne education

Lineman in Chicago - Coyne College

Coyne College offers two programs for aspiring electrical workers: electrical construction and planning program and electrical construction and maintenance program. The former can be finished in as few as 78 weeks, whereas the latter takes 42 to 56 weeks to complete. Both programs will teach you the essentials of electrical work and prepare you for entry-level roles in the field.

As a student in either of Coyne College’s electrical programs, you will take classes in relevant topics such as:

  •      Electrical and Electronic Principles
  •      Electrical Test and Equipment Safety
  •      Electrical Construction – Residential
  •      Electrical Theory and Applications

You’ll learn from Coyne’s highly knowledgeable instructors in a setting that fosters your personal growth as an electrical worker. What’s more, both programs are available days and nights to help you fit your a career education into your busy schedule.

Coyne College career services department can help students with job placement, including apprenticeships. Coyne College has more than 110 years of experience in helping transform students with dreams into qualified, skilled trade professionals.

Plug yourself into a new career today. To learn more about Coyne College and its electrical programs, visit us online at Coynecollege.edu

Alumni Spotlight: Apryl Raggs – Electrical Construction and Maintenance

Electrical Program Alumni - Coyne College

“I chose Coyne College because it was close and I heard only good things about it”, stated graduate Apryl Raggs. Interested in a career in Electrical Construction and Maintenance? Hear from Electrical Program grad April Raggs on her experience at Coyne College and her advice to students.

With a 120 years of teaching experience Coyne College gives you the hands-on training you’ll need to get the job done.

 

April Raggs: My name is April Raggs and the program I graduated from was Electrical Construction and Maintenance

I chose Coyne College because it was close and I heard only good things about it, so I figured I should come. The thing I liked most about it was mainly the teachers and how good they were able with explaining stuff and helping you out and making sure that you figure things out. They were just really helpful throughout the whole thing.

Some classes where you just sit in class and you just do math, where you have classes where you’re actually doing hands-on stuff like the little boards and doing wires with lights and stuff or a big lab where you do actual construction work and you bend pipes. My short term goals are to get my associate’s degree in electrical construction and maintenance and my long term goals are to just have a good career in doing electrical work. I’ll give a student advice, I would tell them to make sure that they study and just pay attention in class because as long as you study and pay attention, then you always be good.

An Electrician’s Role in Addressing Climate Change

Electricians Role in Climate Change - Coyne College

The energy that powers our homes and businesses is a contributor to climate change. Fortunately, some of the things electricians commonly do can help combat the effects of our energy usage on the future of the planet.

As an electrician, you, too, can help people save money and the planet by offering your expertise in electrical work. One of the best ways to get started down a path to becoming an electrician in Chicagoland is by enrolling in one of Coyne College’s electrician programs.

Coyne College offers two programs: Electrical Construction and Maintenance and Electrical Construction and Planning. Both will teach you the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful electrical worker. For more information on Coyne College and their electrical programs, log on to Coynecollege.edu.

Coyne Electrical Climate Change