How to Select the Best Electrician Training School near West Bloomfield Michigan
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near West Bloomfield MI. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many variables to consider. For instance, many potential students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have located some that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are significant, they are not the sole qualifications that must be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are accessible.
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Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs
There are several ways to receive electrician training in a trade or technical school near West Bloomfield MI. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are short explanations of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Michigan trade and technical schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve two years to complete and are offered by Michigan community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some Michigan colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be performed before licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria
Electricians in West Bloomfield MI can carry out a wide range of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be earned in many specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves 3 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you select not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might be required to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Programs
A possibility that you may have looked at is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, distance learning can be a more convenient choice for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Travelling expenses from West Bloomfield MI are also reduced and some of the study materials may be accessed on line as well. Each of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Training Schools
When you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Because there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the West Bloomfield MI area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are other variables that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess before selecting an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the West Bloomfield MI school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it can help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate could indicate that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It may also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, which may result in more contacts for the school to utilize 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 also that it has the network of contacts to help West Bloomfield MI grads secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with West Bloomfield MI area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local West Bloomfield MI electrical contracting company if they can give you some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within driving distance of your West Bloomfield home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with a few of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near West Bloomfield MI, check that the programs you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.
Electrician Training Courses West Bloomfield Michigan
Picking the best electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Training Courses and wanting more information on the topic I Want To Be An Electrician. But as we have addressed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training program that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world context, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Every program offers different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best means to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Take the time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in West Bloomfield MI.
More Electric Locations in Michigan
West Bloomfield Township, Michigan
West Bloomfield Township, officially the Charter Township of West Bloomfield, is a charter township in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan, within the Detroit metropolitan area. It is one of the most expensive places to live in Oakland County. As of the 2010 census, the township had a population of 64,690.[3]
West Bloomfield is sometimes referred to by its residents as the "lake township of Oakland County",[5] being heavily dotted with small and medium-sized lakes. Cass Lake, the largest lake in the county, is in part of West Bloomfield, and Pine Lake, which has a private country club on its shore, is only a few miles away from Cass and lies completely within West Bloomfield. In addition, directly west of Pine Lake is Orchard Lake, which also has a private country club on its shore. Orchard Lake is surrounded by the city of Orchard Lake Village. Several smaller lakes are scattered around these larger ones.
Orchard Lake Road runs north-south through the middle of the township and is the main artery of West Bloomfield's economy along with West Maple Road (15 Mile Rd.), flanked on each side by long strip malls and shopping complexes. There are many high-end boutique stores and expensive restaurants to visit. Most of the township's population growth has occurred since the 1960s, as many residents moved there from the inner ring Detroit suburbs. West Bloomfield is located in south-central Oakland County about 10 miles (20 km) to the northwest from the Detroit city limits and has borders with Bloomfield Township to its east, Farmington Hills to its south, Commerce Township to its west, and four communities to its north: Waterford Township, Orchard Lake Village, Keego Harbor, and Sylvan Lake. The communities of West Bloomfield, Orchard Lake Village, Keego Harbor, and Sylvan Lake make up what is known as Greater West Bloomfield.
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