How to Choose the Right Electrician Technical School near Drayton Plains Michigan
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Drayton Plains MI. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are so many factors to evaluate. For instance, many potential students will start by searching for schools that are close to their home. When they have found some that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. Even though location and cost are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that should be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your final decision when picking an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are accessible.
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Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs
There are three general options to receive electrician training in a trade or technical school near Drayton Plains MI. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three options. In many cases these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to become licensed or if you would like to become certified. Bellow are short summaries of the three most common programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Michigan vocational and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who want to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve two years to finish and are provided by Michigan community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Michigan institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Drayton Plains MI can perform a vast array of duties, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be acquired in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves 3 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you select not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs
An alternative that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, internet learning can be a more practical alternative for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Travelling expenses from Drayton Plains MI are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be available online also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Now that you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Drayton Plains MI area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are additional variables that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess prior to enrolling in an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Drayton Plains MI program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you receive a superior education, it may assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Also, a number of states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it 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 of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate may signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It could also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which can result in more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Drayton Plains MI graduates acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Drayton Plains MI area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Drayton Plains MI electrical contracting company if they can give you some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Drayton Plains home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized 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 large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to several of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Drayton Plains MI, verify that the programs you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, 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 due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Accredited Electrician Certification Training Drayton Plains Michigan
Choosing the right electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Accredited Electrician Certification Training and wanting more information on the topic Online Electrician Certificate Programs. But as we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrical training that you are examining includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Every training program offers different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Take the time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you pick is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Drayton Plains MI.
More Electric Locations in Michigan
Drayton Plains, Michigan
Drayton Plains was never incorporated as a municipality, and as an unincorporated community, it has no defined boundaries or population statistics of its own. It is located on Dixie Highway near the west end of Loon Lake.[3]
In 1818, the Land Office opened in Detroit offering land for $2.00 an acre.[4] Horatio Foster, Jonathan Perry, and brothers Harvey and Austin Durfee were among the first to take advantage of the opportunity to become land owners in the wilderness north of Detroit.
In 1822, Horatio Foster and his wife were the first to settle in what would become Drayton Plains, although just temporarily as they moved northward a few years later where they permanently settled. In 1823, the first to establish permanent homes in Drayton Plains were Jonathan Perry, Harvey Durfee and Austin Durfee.
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