How to Choose the Best Electrician Technical School near White Lake Michigan
The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near White Lake MI. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are a number of variables to examine. For example, some prospective students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their home. Once they have located several that are within commuting range, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are significant, they are not the only factors that should be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your final judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will address 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 instructional choices that are available.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs
There are multiple ways to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near White Lake MI. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are short explanations of the three most common programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Michigan trade and technical schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards students who want to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to finish and are provided by Michigan community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Michigan colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in White Lake MI can undertake a multitude of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about four to five years of practical experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be obtained in numerous specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases entails three levels of competency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online
An option that you may have considered is selecting an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning may be a more practical option for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Commuting expenses from White Lake MI are also minimized and some of the study materials may be available online as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Once you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the White Lake MI region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we mentioned 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 critical when making your determination, there are other factors that must be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to selecting an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the White Lake MI program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved 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 complete the program. A low completion rate could indicate that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It might also signify that the teachers were not competent 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 graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help White Lake MI grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician trade programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with White Lake MI area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local White Lake MI electrical company if they can provide some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your White Lake residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk to some of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near White Lake MI, confirm that the schools you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.
Electrical Degree Online White Lake Michigan
Picking the best electrical trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrical Degree Online and wanting more information on the topic Vocational Electrician Schools. But as we have addressed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Every program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Probably The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you pick is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in White Lake MI.
More Electric Locations in Michigan
White Lake Township, Michigan
White Lake Charter Township is a charter township of Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Together with its two unincorporated communities, the township makes up part of the Detroit metropolitan area outskirts. As of the 2010 census, the township population was 30,019.[3]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 37.2 square miles (96 km2), of which 33.7 square miles (87 km2) is land and 3.5 square miles (9.1 km2), or 9.44%, is water.
Several of the community's large parcels have been preserved as state recreation areas and county parks. Rural residential development and lake living is typical, as the township has 21 lakes within its borders.
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