How to Pick the Best Electrician Tech School near Oakland Michigan
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Oakland MI. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are a number of variables to consider. For instance, some students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their home. After they have found several that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are of importance, they are not the only things that must be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your final decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are offered.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs
There are multiple ways to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Oakland MI. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. In many cases these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are brief summaries of the 3 most prevalent programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Michigan vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who want to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require two 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 enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Michigan institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out before licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in Oakland MI can perform a wide range of tasks, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually around four to five years of practical 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 him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be acquired in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes three levels of proficiency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you pick not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online
An alternative that you may have looked at is choosing an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, internet learning can be a more practical alternative for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Travelling costs from Oakland MI are also minimized and some of the study materials can be available online also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Once you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Because there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Oakland MI region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional factors that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Oakland MI program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you acquire a quality education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, some states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It could also mean that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which can mean 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 additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Oakland MI students secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with Oakland MI area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Oakland MI electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Oakland residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with several of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Oakland MI, check that the programs you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.
Online Electrician Certificate Programs Oakland Michigan
Choosing the ideal electrical training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Online Electrician Certificate Programs and wanting more information on the topic What Do I Need To Do To Become An Electrician. But as we have discussed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every training program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you select is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Oakland MI.
More Electric Locations in Michigan
Oakland County, Michigan
Oakland County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is northwest of Detroit and part of metropolitan Detroit. As of the 2010 census, its population was 1,202,362,[3] making it the second-most populous county in Michigan, behind neighboring Wayne County. The county seat is Pontiac.[4] The county was founded in 1819 and organized in 1820.[1][5]
Oakland County is composed of 62 cities, townships, and villages, and is part of the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city of Detroit is in neighboring Wayne County, south of 8 Mile Road. Oakland County is among the ten highest income counties in the United States with populations over one million people.[6] It is also home to Oakland University, a large public institution that straddles the Auburn Hills and Rochester Hills border.
The county's knowledge-based economic initiative, coined "Automation Alley", has developed one of the largest employment centers for engineering and related occupations in the United States.[citation needed] But Oakland County has shared in the recent economic hardships brought on by troubles at General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler. It has fared better than Detroit and Flint, as its economy is more diverse and less reliant on manufacturing jobs. All three automotive companies are major employers within southeast Michigan and have a significant presence in Oakland County.[citation needed]
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