How to Choose the Right Electrician Trade School near East Jordan Michigan
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near East Jordan MI. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are a number of variables to consider. For instance, many prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their home. After they have found some that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though location and cost are significant, they are not the sole factors that must be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are accessible.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs
There are several ways to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near East Jordan MI. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Frequently these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Michigan trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards those who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to complete and are provided by Michigan junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some Michigan institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be performed before licensing. For that reason, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements
Electricians in East Jordan MI can perform a wide range of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be obtained in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Programs
A possibility that you might have considered is selecting an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, distance learning can be a more accommodating alternative for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Travelling expenses from East Jordan MI are also minimized and some of the study materials may be accessed on line as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
When you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the East Jordan MI area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are other variables that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the East Jordan MI program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you acquire a quality education, it may assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, many states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are looking at 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 could signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It may also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help East Jordan MI graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with East Jordan MI area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local East Jordan MI electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your East Jordan residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with several of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near East Jordan MI, check that the programs you are considering provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.
Accredited Electrician Degree Programs East Jordan Michigan
Choosing the right electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Accredited Electrician Degree Programs and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Certificate Programs. But as we have covered in this article, there are many factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrician training that you are examining includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Every program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Probably The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in East Jordan MI.
More Electric Locations in Michigan
East Jordan, Michigan
The city is at the end of the south arm of Lake Charlevoix, at the mouth of the Jordan River. M-66 connects with US 31 at Charlevoix about 12 miles (19 km) to the northwest and with US 131 at Mancelona, 18 miles (29 km) to the south. M-32 has its western terminus in the city and connects with US 131 about 16 miles (26 km) to the east and with I-75 at Gaylord about 29 miles (47 km) to the east.
East Jordan was founded sometime in the 1870s when a logging mill was built along the Jordan River near the town. There were originally two places; East Jordan itself began with a store built by William F. Empey, a Canadian immigrant, in 1874. There was also a place called South Arm. The two locales merged in 1878. It was incorporated as a village in 1887 and as a city in 1911.[6]
The town grew quickly, and by 1890, it boasted a large ironworks (the East Jordan Iron Works still operates today), a feed mill, and a population of nearly 1000. By the turn of the century, the city was being serviced by two railroads. With these two railroad connections, East Jordan quickly grew into a major manufacturing center. To this day, four industrial corporations still operate within the town.
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