Jasmin K

Top 5 Most Extreme Jobs for Electricians

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Extreme Jobs for Electricians

Working as an electrician is an occupation that is not without its own set of dangers. Depending on the setting in which electricians work, they face conditions with the potential of bodily injury. With this in mind, below are five of the most extreme jobs electricians perform and the dangers those jobs pose to their health.

Get your hands-on training at Coyne College, located in the loop of Chicago! For more information visit us at https://www.coynecollege.edu/!

Check out this infographic on the top five most extreme jobs for electricians.

Faculty Spotlight: Ted Polowsky – Electrician

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Electrician Faculty Spotlight

Faculty Spotlight

“I became interested in teaching because I like to help students reach their full potential in their career.” Learn more about Programmable Logic Controllers Instructor Ted Polowsky by our electrician faculty spotlight!  For more information on our electrical programs visit us at www.coynecollege.edu. Get your career started as an electrician by getting your hands-on training at Coyne College! Get details with the Electrician Faculty Spotlight 

Find out more details on Electrical Programs at Coyne College.

Read our other Electrical Blogs Here..

faulty-electrical-wiring-signs-coyne-college

Warning Signs of Faulty Electrical Wiring

August 17, 2020 No Comments

Faulty wiring can be very dangerous. In the United States, wiring problems are responsible for tens of thousands of house fires every year. Fortunately, the majority of wiring-related accidents could be prevented by inspecting for faulty wiring and fixing it before a major issue emerges. The following faulty electrical wiring signs will help you find

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home-electrical-wiring-installation-guide

Learn the Basics of Home Electrical Wiring

June 29, 2020 No Comments

Electrical wiring can be tricky—especially for the novice. That’s why it’s usually best to hire a professional for anything other than a simple job. Otherwise, you could risk injury, damage or fire. If you do plan to complete a DIY project that has an electrical component, there are some basic things to know about wiring

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Electrical Linemen Program Coyne College

Essential Traits of Electrical Linemen

August 30, 2018 No Comments

  What if we didn’t have access to the electricity that most of us take for granted? Thanks in part to electrical linemen, we don’t have to, save for the occasional power outage due to stormy weather. Electrical linemen are America’s unsung heroes. They are the ones who install power lines and restore electricity in

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When you’re from Chicago, you’re not afraid of a hard day’s work. It’s how you were raised. It’s what’s expected. Chicago’s own Coyne College offers an Electrical Construction and Planning degree for men and women who want to be challenged every day on the job.

Chicago’s own Coyne College is looking for a few tough men and women who aren’t afraid of a challenge. Coyne College offers Electrical Construction and Maintenance career training programs that will put you to the test every day.

There isn’t much you can do in today’s world without electricity in one form or another. Electricity is the driving force behind technology and the conveniences of today’s world. It’s no surprise that technology in the modern home has opened the door wide open for skilled trades such as electricians. So it should come as no shock that electricians are in high demand.

An electrician is a tradesperson specializing in electrical wiring of buildings, stationary machines, and related equipment. Electricians may be employed in the installation of new electrical components or the maintenance and repair of existing electrical infrastructure.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, employment of electricians is expected to grow by 20%, much faster than the average for all occupations through 2022.

Alumni Spotlight: Austin Rudnicki – Electrician

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Electrician Alumni Spotlight

Austin Rudnicki’s belt buckle is a constant reminder of where he came from, what he has achieved and what he has yet to accomplish. To him, the buckle passed down from his great-grandfather says “electrician.” Rudnicki is a 2016 graduate of Coyne College’s Electrical Construction and Maintenance program and now proudly wears that belt. 

“My great-grandfather was a good electrician all his life,” Rudnicki says. “I’m sad I didn’t get a chance to pick his brain.” Even so, Rudnicki did well on his own, graduating at the top of his class at Coyne – a place, he says, that changed his life.

Rudnicki felt uninspired in high school and was confused when he graduated. “I knew my potential, but I wasn’t headed in the right direction,” he says. That changed when he saw pictures of the old Coyne building on Green Street. “I thought they were beautiful, so I had to go check it out for myself.” When he visited the school, he felt a drastic change in the way he viewed the future. He particularly loved the main staircase. “The vision I had put in my head was that one day I’ll be walking down these stairs GRADUATED and on the path of success.”

Coyne’s location changed, but Rudnicki’s feelings for it never did. He knew it was what he needed. “I remember viewing all of the classes. I saw 101 as step one,” he remembers. “I saw the residential and commercial classroom with studs, conduit, outlets and diagrams – everything in front of me for the first time – and I was amazed at this being really how it’s done.” He was always fascinated with the trades in high school and tried them all, but the electric field tugged at his heart. “I remember my first conduit bends. They were awful!” Rudnicki admits. “Now I can bend a 4-bend saddle with my eyes closed. I found the love.”

At Coyne, he tried to grasp all of the knowledge he could, and the instructors made it easy. “I was able to reach out to each teacher individually in the class, and open up and ask any question.” Rudnicki would attend classes in the morning and then go to his job in the residential electrical field right after. If the journeyman on the job couldn’t answer his question, he’d take it back to school. “The teachers were able to help me so much, and that’s what made me succeed,” he says. “They kept pushing me, and I kept learning more and more. Nothing could stop me.” Nothing did stop Austin Rudnicki. He often refers to something one of his teachers told him: “Do you just want to graduate, or do you want to know what you’re doing when you graduate?” He explains, “That same teacher said we can’t call him at 2 a.m. when we’re in the field with a question; he’s not going to be there. He’s here now to help prepare us for what’s next after classes.”

When Rudnicki graduated from Coyne, he said having his entire family there to support him and celebrate his achievement was “one of the greatest feelings I’ve ever had.” Now, Rudnicki is working as a lighting tech, working in commercial locations. “I really appreciate the stepping stone that this company has created for me. I really enjoy my coworkers. I enjoy the work I’m doing, the salary I’m getting.” Another perk is that he gets to travel. “All my good work has paid off,” he says. “I’m in no rush, but I’m looking forward to the next big chapter in my life.”

For those who are considering a first chapter in their professional lives – studying the trades – Rudnicki has some advice. “Do what you love doing,” he says. “Grab all the knowledge you can get, and don’t let anyone take it away. You’re the one who’s going to get behind the wheel of your own life.” As for advice about going to Coyne, he says to do it. “I know Coyne will always continue moving in a positive direction because they have a great staff. It was a great team – a great place for me to start my career. There’s so much to learn. It’s up to you if you want to take that challenge.” Austin Rudnicki wears his belt with his great-grandfather’s buckle every day. “I know I’m making him proud,” he says. “I have to earn this belt. He did. Now it’s my turn.”

If Austin Rudnicki’s story inspires you, consider a career as an electrician. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, employment of electricians is expected to grow by 20 percent, much faster than the average for all occupations through 2022. Coyne College can provide you with the hands-on training you need for an entry-level position in electrical construction or maintenance. You’ll learn to install and maintain electrical devices and wiring in homes, factories, offices and other structures.

Contact Coyne College today. New classes in Electrical Construction and Maintenance begin May 14.

How to Avoid the Most Common Electrical Code Violations

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Electrical Code Violations

Electricity is one of the greatest commodities we’ve been able to harness. It’s hard to imagine life today without it, as electricity powers many of the tools and conventions that make our lives much easier. However, it can also be very dangerous, which is why there are electrical codes to follow when constructing buildings and installing electrical components. Complying with these codes helps greatly reduce the risk of fires caused by electricity. Learn how to avoid most common electrical code violations.

The National Electrical Code (NEC) is established by the National Fire Protection Association and has been adopted in all 50 states across America. In addition to the national code, which states have their own ways and degrees of enforcing, states and localities often have their own set of standards for electrical wiring and installation.

So what happens if you violate part of the electrical code? That depends on who you are. If you are a DIYer, you most likely won’t have to deal with the authorities unless another party is involved. Rather, you will be rolling the dice in hoping that nothing happens as a result of your violation(s). Businesses that construct homes and install electrical components, on the other hand, face higher stakes in the event that they commit electrical code violations. They may be subject to fines and legal action, depending on the severity of their carelessness.

With that being said, we’ll show you how to avoid some of the most frequent code violations and minimize the chances that you’ll have to deal with the consequences that come with them.

Overcrowding Wires

Overcrowding wires are one of the biggest fire hazards as far as code violations are concerned. Cramming too many wires into the same opening can result in the wires damaging each other. Exposed wires increase your risk of experiencing a fire. To avoid this kind of violation, be sure to run no more than three wires through one hole measuring 7/8 of an inch in diameter.

Pairing New Lights with Old Wires

The main issue with using old wires to install new lights is the difference in temperature between the two components. A most old wire can only accommodate heat up to 60 degrees Celsius. Newer lighting, on the other hand, can generate heat up to 90 degrees Celsius during use. As a rule of thumb, buildings with wiring installed before 1987 should be checked for this violation. Check the wires’ insulation jacket for a stamp, as those manufactured prior to 1987 will not have a stamp. The solution to this violation is simple. If you’re installing newer lights, be sure to use newer wiring that can handle the heat. 

Illegal Splicing

Splicing, which is connecting two or more wires, should only be done by experienced electricians for the purpose of temporary troubleshooting. Spliced wires should also be contained in a junction box to reduce the probability of fires. To avoid this violation, do not attempt it unless you are an experienced professional electrician.

Knob and Tube Wiring

Popular around the turn of the twentieth century, knob and tube wiring can no longer meet the needs of modern electrical wiring and it poses many dangers. Knob and tube wiring is a violation of the NEC and has a greater risk of fire because the wiring is ungrounded. Ungrounded simply means that this type of wiring uses two wires instead of three, the third of which is the ground wire. To resolve this issue in your home or office, contact a professional electrician.

Non-IC Canister Light Contacting Insulation

If non-IC rated lighting makes contact with insulation, it can, like many of the other violations on this list, start a fire. There should be at least three inches of space between non-IC lighting and the insulation. DIYers rejoice, as this is one of the easiest violations to inspect and fix yourself by simply checking your attic and making the proper adjustments in the location and type of insulation.

Nails and Screws Going Through Electrical Components

Nails and screws, as mentioned in the NEC, are used to secure electrical components but must meet certain criteria in order to be up to code. They must be applied to the back or one side of the component, and if they have to run through the electrical box, the wires in the box must be protected to eliminate the possibility of insulation deterioration. If the wires and insulation are not protected from each other, it once again increases the risk of starting a fire.  

Disorganized Electrical Panel

It is important to maintain the organization of your electrical panel, as it helps you know which fuse is which. Without proper labeling, you will have to resort to guessing which switch operates which part of your home. This is another violation with which an experienced electrician can be of assistance if you don’t feel comfortable solving the puzzle on your own.

In covering some of the most common electrical code violations, you may have noticed something: many of the resolutions to these violations involve calling professional electricians! If you’re interested in solving problems such as the ones in this post, becoming an electrician might just be the career choice for you.

Spark a New Career with an Education from Coyne

Coyne College is one of Chicago’s top skilled trade education institutions and is proud to offer two programs for aspiring electrical workers: electrical construction and planning and electrical construction and maintenance.

The electrical construction and planning program’s curriculum is more in-depth than that of the electrical construction and maintenance program and can be completed in as few as 78 weeks. The electrical construction and maintenance program, on the other hand, also prepares you to enter the field, but can be finished in 42 to 56 weeks, depending on whether you opt to take day or night classes.

As a student in either of Coyne College’s electrical programs, you will be immersed in classes such as:

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

You will learn the electrician trade in a setting that focuses on your individual success and be taught by Coyne’s highly knowledgeable instructors who have years of real-world experience under their belts.

Hands-on learning is a significant part of the program, and understandably so, but it is also mixed with theoretical components so students learn why they are doing what they are doing.

Coyne College offers day and night classes for both programs to accommodate your busy schedule. Both programs are offered at the Coyne College campus, located in the heart of the Chicago Loop at the intersection of State and Madison Streets.

With more than 110 years of experience in helping aspiring electricians realize their dreams, Coyne College has a well-developed network of resources to help students land apprenticeships at the conclusion of their studies. 

Coyne College also offers its students career assistance, including mock interviews, externships and resume help. These resources can help students secure apprenticeships after completing the program.

Students who enroll at Coyne College receive a well-rounded, first-rate education that provides them with the tools to succeed in the workforce as a professional electrician.

Electrify your career and electrify your life. Get started today at https://www.coynecollege.edu/. 

Medical Assistant: Things to know about most underappreciated Career choice

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medical assistant underappreciated career choice

In the bustling world of American healthcare, one of the most underappreciated, yet vital roles, is that of a medical assistant. Medical assistants are, in many ways, the adhesive that holds medical offices and facilities together. They are crucial members of a doctor’s staff who help with a varying mix of both administrative and clinical tasks – they are jacks of many trades. Some of the tasks they typically perform include checking blood pressure, escorting patients through the facility, sanitizing equipment and scheduling patients’ appointments.

Because of the vital role they play, along with the increased need for healthcare, medical assisting is one of the most rapidly growing fields currently and is anticipated to remain so into the coming years. Per data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of medical assistants is projected to climb 29 percent through 2026.

To enter the field, most employers require medical assistants to have a certificate from a community college or vocational school, which can usually be achieved in less than two years. Some employers may require national CMA certification, depending on the state. Certification can make a medical assistant more desirable in the eyes of employers.

Needless to say, doctors and other healthcare professionals could not keep their offices, clinics and other facilities open without the toil of their skilled medical assistants. In playing such a versatile role, medical assistants use a vast array of equipment.

Physician’s Office

Within the setting of a physician’s office, medical assistants are the staff members with whom patients interact first. They are the ones who announce patients’ names to the waiting room, signaling that the patient is ready to be seen. Typically, they will also conduct some basic practices and readings, some of which utilize some of the equipment mentioned below:

Blood Pressure Meter – Taking vitals, such as blood pressure, is one of the primary duties of medical assistants. Blood pressure meters consist of a cuff that is placed around the patient’s arm and inflated with air to get a reading of their blood pressure. The kind of meter used depends on the office or facility. It is advantageous for medical assistants to know how to take blood pressure manually, as not all facilities have machines.

Stethoscope – Stethoscopes can be used in conjunction with the manual blood pressure cuff to get a reading of a patient’s blood pressure. They are also used to listen to a patient’s heart and lungs in an effort to determine if there are any problems with those organs.

Autoclave – Medical assistants are typically tasked with the cleaning of medical tools. To achieve this end, they often employ a machine called an autoclave. An autoclave uses high temperatures of steam to sterilize equipment prior to use on future patients.

Computer and Computer Programs – As with many other modern office jobs, computers are essential tools in medical office settings. Medical assistants use computers for tasks such as maintaining patient health records and scheduling appointments.

Telephone – Medical assistants, depending on the physician’s office in which they are employed, may be asked to answer phones and schedule patient appointments. This requires customer service skills and patience, in addition to being comfortable talking on the phone.

Medical Office

In medical offices where medical assistants play a larger role in the patient care side of things, they are often eligible to perform a greater variety of tasks using a wider range of tools. Of course, there is great variability depending on the office in which the medical assistant works.

Vaccines and Syringes – In certain settings, medical assistants may be eligible to administer vaccines, such as ones of the flu variety, to patients. Administration of vaccines, in most cases, requires the use of syringes.

Glucometers – Glucometers are used to measure the blood sugar levels of a patient. Usually, after pricking the patient’s finger and squeezing it to accumulate a sizable blood droplet, the droplet is collected with a strip that is inserted into the meter, which, after a few seconds, displays a reading. Finger pricks are also used to take blood samples for other kinds of tests.

Thermometer – A patient’s temperature is one of the vitals taken in the initial interaction with the medical assistant. Temporal scanning thermometers, which are less intrusive than other methods of taking one’s temperature are becoming increasingly common,

Gloves and Masks – Depending on the procedure with which they are assisting, medical assistants may be required to wear gloves, a mask covering their mouths and possibly a hairnet.

These are simply a few different examples of the kinds of equipment medical assistants come into contact with during their day-to-day practices. To reiterate, the kinds of duties and tools medical assistants are able to perform and use depends heavily on the doctor under whom they are working. If working in a multifaceted role in the booming healthcare industry is of interest to you, studying to become a medical assistant might be the perfect career choice for you.

Achieve Your Dreams with a Coyne Education

Coyne College is one of Chicago’s premier skilled trade education institutions and is proud to offer its medical assistant program to future healthcare professionals.

Coyne College’s medical assistant program thoroughly prepares you to enter the healthcare field as a medical assistant. The program can be completed in as little as 54 weeks. As a medical assisting student at Coyne College, you will gain the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed as a medical assistant. Some of the topics covered in the program’s curriculum are:

  • Medical Terminology
  • Pharmacology
  • Anatomy and Pathophysiology
  • Basic Insurance and Billing
  • And more!

Coyne College’s medical assistant program also helps give its students a leg up on the competition by featuring a six-week portion dedicated to electronic health records.

During your time in Coyne’s program, you will learn the ins and outs of medical assisting in an environment where you are surrounded by instructors dedicated to helping you succeed. Coyne’s instructors are highly knowledgeable and have years of meaningful experience in the workforce.

Coyne College offers day classes for the Medical Assistant program. The program is offered at the Coyne College campus, located in the heart of the Chicago Loop at the intersection of State and Madison streets.

Following your studies, you will be required to complete an externship. After you complete the medical assistant certificate program, you will be ready to enter the workforce as a medical assistant in any number of healthcare settings.

Coyne College is dedicated to helping its students find gainful employment following the completion of their respective programs. To that end, Coyne offers a wealth of career services and job placement help for its students, including networking and resume advice.

Coyne College also offers its students career assistance, including mock interviews, externships and resume help. These resources can help students secure apprenticeships after completing the program. Financial aid is available to those who qualify.

What are you waiting for? Dive into all that Coyne has to offer by visiting https://www.coynecollege.edu/.

Alumni Spotlight: Yolanda Rodriguez – HVAC

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Alumni Spotlight HVAC

While most girls her age were playing with Barbies, Yolanda (“Yoyo”) Rodriguez was trying to figure out how things worked — pulling them apart and putting them back together. As she got older, she began building things and enjoyed helping her grandfather, a Chicago landlord, with maintenance projects. That led to her career choice: HVAC.

“My grandfather was the one who actually tipped my cup toward HVAC,” Rodriguez says. “He’s like a one-man band; he does everything. I’ve worked with him on a couple fix and flips. He taught me how to put up drywall, how to do floors, how to do plaster, how to do the piping and plumbing, and how to pretty much look at the HVAC side.”

Coyne College took care of the rest of Rodriguez’s foundation in HVAC. “[Going there] was probably about the best decision I’ve ever made,” she remembers. At Coyne, she learned the basics in brazing, refrigeration, using gauges, troubleshooting furnaces and boilers, and more. She was a tutor and took advantage of everything she could. It was the people, though, who made the difference. “They were willing to help me even in my struggles.” Her other grandfather died while she was at school, but the teachers were there for her during that difficult time. “They were willing to work with me and push me to achieve my goals. It felt like family. I was fortunate that they helped me,” she says.

Yolanda Rodriguez graduated as valedictorian of her class in December of 2017 and went to work for Johnson Controls in January. “It’s very different and not what I expected,” she says. Johnson Controls sets up computerized heating and cooling points that help make commercial buildings more energy efficient. “We set up the computer so the buyer or user can apply the software and use it on their own.” It’s a PLC (programmable logic controller) integration system that uses computer schematics to control all rooms from one place. “It’s interesting because I never learned PLCs in school,” she says. “It’s new, but the HVAC side applies to it because you have to know how everything functions — the sequences of operations to make sure everything is flowing properly.”

Although Rodriguez has been a professional in the field for less than six months, she has learned — and continues to learn — a lot. She is confident in her abilities, although that was not always the case. “I used to think at first that I had to try really hard to be accepted by men or be an equal,” she says, “but I got over that fear when my classmates started to see what I was capable of.” Now, in her current job, she sees other females out in the field, which is reassuring. “A lot of companies have told me they want more HVAC women on board. It looks good for them and they believe it will also help their employees.”

“I feel confident in where I can go with HVAC,” Rodriguez says. She has a “grand plan” about what to do in the future. “I would really like to own a restaurant, and the whole deal with the restaurant is that I would like to own farmland and start growing my own crops to use in my restaurant.” Because of her HVAC experience, Rodriguez says she could learn to grow plants using solar panels, wind, and greenhouses. Her plans don’t stop there. She would also like to have a grocery store and be able to sell organic produce from her farm. If possible, she’d like to supply poorer areas and countries with quality produce. “With my HVAC background, I can keep the produce fresh still while it’s being sent.”

For Rodriguez, having a grandfather who was able to recognize her interest and potential in HVAC, and give her early opportunities to try it out, was fortunate. Others may not be as fortunate. For them, Rodriguez has some words of encouragement. “It doesn’t matter what career anybody wants to go into as long as they’re very passionate about what they feel and they’re doing the things that they love,” she says. “Do whatever you have to do because the only person that’s going to stop you from getting to that point is yourself, and the only person who’s going to get you there is yourself.”

Yolanda Rodriguez is clearly following her own advice. “There’s still a whole bunch of things I can do with HVAC,” she says. “I’m 23. I don’t want to be one of those people who sits down and thinks about all these things and only keeps them as dreams; I want to turn my dreams into reality.”

Has Yoyo Rodriguez inspired you? If you like working with your hands, have a mechanical aptitude, and are looking for a career with a tremendous future, becoming a heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration technician could be a perfect fit. According to O*NET Online, the projected growth of HVAC jobs through 2026 is much higher than average. With the diploma you will earn at Coyne College in less than a year, your chance of job placement will increase significantly.

For more information about a career in HVAC, contact Coyne College today.

Seven Questions to Ask When Choosing a Medical Assistant Program

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Medical Assistant Questions

Finding the right medical assistant program can be an overwhelming task to take on. There’s a lot riding on the decision you eventually make, one that will mark the beginning of your pursuit of a new career. It’s an investment of both time and money, but most importantly, it’s an investment in yourself and your future. It’s a choice you should think through thoroughly before making. With that being said, how do you evaluate whether or not a program is the right fit for you? You need to ask questions, lots of questions. Here are a few Medical Assistant questions to ask while choosing program:

  1. Are the school and program accredited?

Whether or not a school is accredited or affiliated with the governing bodies of an industry is a pretty good indicator of the quality of instruction the school provides, not to mention the validity of your completion of that school’s program as it pertains to your career. Accreditation can be highly important when it comes to earning certifications or licensures, depending on the occupation. For medical assisting, you should make sure the school you choose meets the accreditation guidelines of the American Association of Medical Assistants, as that will be a key part of your certification eligibility.

  1. What kind of financial aid is available?

Deciding to continue your education is a substantial financial commitment, one that very few people make without the help of financial aid. Find out if the school you are considering offers scholarships. Even if it does not, many schools offer loans (both subsidized and unsubsidized), work study programs and grants from the federal government. Schools also tend to have staff members strictly dedicated to assisting you with how you’re going to pay for your education. For many people, financial affordability is a crucial factor in deciding where to study, so be sure to ask about financial aid possibilities, especially if you go on a campus visit.

  1. Does the school have a career services office?

Career services, which typically include mock interviews, helps with resumes and job search assistance are some of the most valuable resources postsecondary educational institutions have to offer. Some schools are better than others about utilizing their connections to alumni working in the field to help newly minted graduates make their way. Asking about the presence of a career services office on a school’s campus and the services it offers will give you a better idea of what kinds of resources will be available to you as a student.

  1. How experienced are the instructors?

The people who teach the classes at a given institution can make or break your educational experience. Obviously, some instructors are going to be more skilled and knowledgeable than others, but that’s how it is at any school. Inquire about the requirements the school has when hiring instructors to join the ranks of their faculty. Some may argue that continuing education is a situation in which you get out of it what you put into it, but having instructors who foster your curiosity and personal growth can be invaluable to your career and your life as a whole.

  1. Will the program prepare you for the CMA exam, and how?

As mentioned in response to the first question, completing a medical assisting program at an accredited school is a large factor in determining your eligibility for the CMA exam. If you have chosen one of the accredited schools, your education should cover most of what is needed to pass the exam and achieve certification. Even if prepping for the exam is not explicitly a sizable portion of the program, many schools have tutors and other academic resources available to help you prepare for and ace the CMA exam.

  1. Does the curriculum include hands-on training?

Studying the theory of a skilled trade like medical assisting is all well and good, but you also need hands-on practice to be adequately prepared for a real-life MA job. Understanding this, most programs offer a mix of textbook instruction and practical hands-on learning. If there’s a specific skill that you’re looking to be taught over the course of your medical assistant training, make sure to ask about it. To be safe, you should ask about the curriculum as a whole, especially if you can’t find specifics on the school’s website.

  1. What resources are available if you should need help?

College can be hard sometimes for a number of different reasons. The way an instructor teaches might not connect with how you learn. It might take you a little longer than your classmates for certain information to click. Inevitably, life, and all of the unexpected events that come with it, still happens when you’re in school. Regardless of the situation, it’s comforting to know that you can get help from whichever school you decide to attend. Schools may offer tutoring and other resources to help keep you on track. There’s no shame in getting help if you need it.

Now that you have a better idea of what kind of questions to ask before deciding on a medical assisting program, you’re ready to put these questions into action and find your perfect fit.

Achieve Your Dreams with a Coyne Education

Coyne College is one of Chicago’s top skilled trade education institutions and is proud to offer its medical assistant program to future healthcare professionals.

Coyne College offers day classes for the Medical Assistant program. The program is offered at the Coyne College campus, located in the heart of the Chicago Loop at the intersection of State and Madison streets.

Coyne College’s medical assistant program thoroughly prepares you to enter the healthcare field as a medical assistant. The program can be completed in as little as 54 weeks. As a medical assisting student at Coyne College, you will gain the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed as a medical assistant. Some of the topics covered in the program’s curriculum are:

  • Medical Terminology
  • Pharmacology
  • Anatomy and Pathophysiology
  • Basic Insurance and Billing
  • And more!

Coyne College’s medical assistant program also helps give its students a leg up on the competition by featuring a six-week portion dedicated to electronic health records.

You will learn the ins and outs of medical assisting in an environment where you are surrounded by instructors dedicated to helping you succeed. Coyne’s instructors are highly knowledgeable and have years of meaningful experience in the workforce.

Following your studies, you will be required to complete an externship. After you complete the medical assistant certificate program, you will be ready to enter the workforce as a medical assistant in any number of healthcare settings.

Coyne College is dedicated to helping its students find gainful employment following the completion of their respective programs. To that end, Coyne offers a wealth of career services and job placement help for its students, including networking and resume advice.

Coyne College also offers its students career assistance, including mock interviews, externships and resume help. These resources can help students secure apprenticeships after completing the program. Financial aid is available to those who qualify.

What are you waiting for? Dive into all that Coyne has to offer by visiting https://www.coynecollege.edu/.

Avoid Costly Repairs Using These Helpful HVAC Maintenance Tips

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HVAC Maintenance Tips

Chicago weather runs a range of seasons and weather conditions, sometimes within a span of 24 hours. That means high-performing HVAC systems that can be started at the drop of a hat are key to maintaining comfortable indoor conditions. However, they can’t optimize your home’s comfort if they don’t work or need repair. Repairs can set you back hundreds of dollars, depending on the severity of the issue. To avoid such pitfalls, here are a few DIY HVAC maintenance tips and tricks you can use to keep your air conditioning and furnace units running at peak efficiency and save you money in the long run:

Clean or Replace the Air Filter

A dirty air filter can severely hinder your HVAC system’s performance, so it is important to check the filter regularly. If your filter is a reusable one, simply wipe it down with a damp cloth. If it’s a disposable one, head to your local hardware store. It’s a good idea to bring the old one with to ensure you get the right kind.

Recommendations of how often to clean or replace filters vary depending on whom you ask, but a good rule of thumb is at least once a season, or three months. Filters with higher Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating need to be changed more often because they trap more contaminants in the filter. Regardless of how frequently you decide to check your filter, keeping it clean can help prevent costly repairs going forward.

Furnaces also have filters that need to be checked and replaced regularly. Every three months is a good benchmark for furnace filters as well.

Clear Debris from the Condenser and Clean the Coils

The condenser, which is the part of your HVAC unit that is outside your house, can get pretty dirty and collect debris such as grass, leaves and cottonwood seeds. To clean the condenser, you should first turn the unit off. Remove the panel to access the inside, and use a wet/dry vacuum to suck out the debris. It’s also a good idea to clean off the coils and hose down the fans. When you’re done, reattach the access panel. You should also ensure the unit is level, as a lopsided position can lead to problems and costly repairs.

Maximize Air Flow

There are additional steps you can take to help optimize your air flow. For example, you should clear the area around your condenser. This will allow for better air flow into the condenser and help reduce the likelihood of debris buildup. You should also keep your windows and doors closed, as having them open defeats the purpose of your unit running!

Program Your Thermostat and Leave It Alone

Most modern thermostats are programmable and can be set to change temperature based on time of day and other factors. This makes it easy for you to control the temperature in your home without constant involvement. Programming your thermostat to your preferred settings and letting it run also helps maximize your unit’s efficiency. That’s not to say you shouldn’t ever adjust the settings if they need to be changed, but constantly fidgeting with the thermostat’s settings causes the unit to work harder. This extra work will end up costing you more money.

Check the Flame

Most of these tips have been geared toward air conditioning, but these last few will shift to the “H” in HVAC: heating. Furnace flames, powered by either natural gas or propane, should burn blue. If they burn a different color, such as yellow or orange, it could signal a combustion issue and you should call a professional to look at it. Improper combustion can result in the furnace having to work harder, which raises your monthly bill – not to mention, your air could be contaminated with carbon monoxide.

Regularly Check Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Even if you don’t have a furnace, your home should have both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. If your home has a furnace, the need for these lifesaving devices is amplified, as they can help detect problems with your furnace, such as any issues with the exhaust pipe that leads outside or cracked heat exchangers. It’s important to ensure the detectors are working properly and to replace their batteries as needed. When their batteries need replacing, of the unit will emit high-pitched beeps. Carbon monoxide detectors should be installed outside of the bedrooms in your home.

Check the Condensate Drain Line

High-efficiency furnaces often create condensation as a product of their operation, specifically building up in the exhaust pipe. To rid the system of the water, a condensate drain line runs from the furnace into the ground. You should check to make sure there are no cracks in the pipe, because cracks could mean the water is ending up somewhere other than in the ground.

It’s important to make sure the pipes don’t freeze during the winter months. In the event that the line is frozen, you can heat it by pouring hot water over the pipe. Having a vertical pipe or one that is insulated helps minimize the risk of freezing.

These practices can save you money and help you live more comfortably when performed routinely. If these techniques are of career-aspirational interest to you and you’re not already in the HVAC field, consider enrolling in an HVAC trade school program near you.

Master the HVAC Trade at Coyne

Coyne College is one of Chicago’s premier trade schools, offering an HVAC-R program designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge they need to build successful careers in the field as HVAC technicians.

While enrolled as a student in Coyne’s HVAC-R program, you will actively engage in learning the finer points of the occupation. Classes in the HVAC-R curriculum include:

  • Introduction to Mechanical Refrigeration Systems
  • Air Conditioning, Electric Heat and Heat Pumps
  • Introduction to Commercial Controls
  • Gas Heating
  • And more

You will learn the ins and outs of the HVAC technician trade in a setting designed for your individual success. Coyne’s highly knowledgeable instructors have years of professional experience in the field and will pass their in-depth knowledge on to you.

Hands-on learning is a significant part of Coyne’s HVAC-R program, and rightfully so, but it is also mixed with theoretical components so students learn why they are doing what they are doing.

Coyne is proud to offer day and night options in order to best accommodate students’ busy schedules. The HVAC-R program is taught at Coyne College’s campus in the Chicago Loop at the intersection of State and Madison (known as “the world’s busiest corner”).

With more than 110 years of experience in helping aspiring skilled trade professionals build the foundation of their careers, Coyne College has a well-developed network of resources to help students gain employment after graduation.

Coyne College offers its student’s career assistance, including mock interviews, externships and resume help. These resources can help students secure apprenticeships after completing the program.

To schedule a visit, contact an advisor or request more information about the program, please visit https://www.coynecollege.edu/contact.

Alumni Spotlight: Sandra Garza – HVAC

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HVAC Alumni Spotlight

When Sandra Garza graduated from Coyne College in 1996, she was the only woman in her HVAC program. She was accepted with open arms and took advantage of all the training and mentoring she could get. It paid off. Now, 22 years later, she is the owner of SG Heating & Cooling Services in Oak Lawn.

The path she took toward business ownership was a strategic one. After graduation, Coyne immediately placed Garza in her first job. “It was more plumbing than I expected,” she said, “and I’m not a plumber.” She spent a year in the position but asked Coyne for more job placement assistance. In each subsequent position, she learned more and more about the industry as she honed her skills. “I started my sole proprietorship 15 years ago,” Garza says, even as she continued to work with other companies. “I got a lot of experience with companies, but that expanded to appliances.” Work was steady until about eight years ago. “The HVAC industry took a dip,” she remembers. “I think the weather had a lot to do with it.” Chicago in 2010 saw a fairly temperate climate, and the demands for heating and air conditioning dwindled. It was difficult to get steady work.

Garza thought carefully about the next steps needed to keep herself afloat, and she decided to open her own business operated out of her home. “My plan was to go into the warranty industry,” she says. “I already knew appliances and was able to make that leap.” Having learned something from each place she had worked, she was confident she could make a go of it.

Last year, Garza opened a storefront office in Oak Lawn at 5913 W. 87th Street. “In a period of one year, I tripled my business,” she says. “I couldn’t handle it all on my own.” She hired two secretaries and four HVAC technicians who help her in her business, which focuses on third-party appliance warranties – a field that she says is really expanding. 

None of it would have been possible without the education Garza received at Coyne College. “The hands-on training was a plus,” she says, “and the teachers were really good.” At the time she was in school, her dad owned a restaurant in Gary, Indiana. “He had lots of coolers and often needed help.” Garza said she would help the refrigeration guy. She would then go back to school and talk about the problems they had doing the restaurant work, and they’d do troubleshooting in class. The combination of working in the field and discussing her real-life work issues helped tie everything together.

Another aspect of her Coyne experience that really helped was the flexible class schedule. “I went to night school,” she says, “and I was still able to open the restaurant.” The flexibility allowed her to train for her career while still holding down a job. As for being the only female in HVAC at Coyne, Garza says she was blessed. “As a female, I was welcomed because I was the only one,” she says. “They accepted me. The teachers were very inviting and wanted more females in the program.” Since she’s been working, Garza has experienced very little gender bias. “The companies that picked me up gave me the opportunity and were pleased with my performance,” she says. “It wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be to be female in a male industry.”

The key to being female and being accepted is very simple. “Go into the field as a regular person,” Garza says. “Do not try to use the fact that you’re a female for favoritism, because that’s what defines you as a peer. If you work with the men as one of the ‘guys,’ they’ll respect you more.” Garza hopes to see more women in the trades – especially in HVAC. “Women tend to be more observant than men and take a different approach,” she says. “[Women] tend to nurture [the appliances] and be more engaged with people.” Garza also thinks that if there were more women in HVAC more people would ask for professional help rather than try to do it themselves with the help of YouTube videos. “If we can get customers to trust tradespeople and validate the charges, they’d use professionals more often.”

If you like working with your hands, have a mechanical aptitude and are looking for an in-demand career, consider becoming a heating, air conditioning and refrigeration technician. The job market for HVAC technicians is very good right now. According to O*NET Online, the projected growth of HVAC jobs through 2026 is much higher than average.

Coyne College prepares you for a career in HVAC-R in less than a year. You’ll learn real-world HVAC skills, get hands-on training and receive individual attention from instructors who are industry professionals. Contact Coyne College for more information or to register for classes.

Many Uses of HVAC with Tim Lesch

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Many Uses of HVAC

The HVAC field is unlimited! It branches out in a variety of ways in everyday life! Check out the many uses of HVAC with our instructor Tim Lesch!

To learn more about a career in HVAC visit us at www.Coynecollege.Edu.

If you like working with your hands, have a mechanical aptitude and are looking for a career with a tremendous future, becoming a heating, air conditioning and refrigeration technician could be a perfect fit. Demand for technicians with heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC-R) training is on the rise. As the world shifts to an increasingly energy-efficient, technology-based HVAC-R systems, and a construction industry driving new commercial and residential construction, will fuel the need for qualified technicians, installers and mechanics. Tremendous opportunities for people with the right HVAC-R training continue to emerge.

Job prospects for HVAC-R technicians are expected to be excellent, particularly for those who have completed training from an accredited technical school or a formal apprenticeship. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, employment of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers is expected to grow by 21%, much faster than the average for all occupations through 2022. Learn more about HVAC-R careers.

Coyne College – A Leading HVAC School in Chicago, IL.

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