How to Become an Electrician in Atlanta Michigan
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Atlanta MI. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are so many variables to consider. For instance, some potential students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their residence. After they have found several that are within commuting range, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the sole things that must be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your final judgment when picking an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are accessible.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Atlanta MI
There are several options to get electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Atlanta MI. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Frequently these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are short explanations of the three most prevalent programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Michigan technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who would like to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take 2 years to complete and are provided by Michigan junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Michigan colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed before licensing. For that reason, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Atlanta MI can undertake a wide range of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be obtained in many specializations, such as 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you select not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online in Atlanta MI
An alternative that you might have considered is choosing an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, distance learning might be a more practical choice for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Commuting expenses from Atlanta MI are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Now that you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Since there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Atlanta MI area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are other factors that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to enrolling in an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Atlanta MI school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you obtain an excellent education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order 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 of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate might indicate that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It might also indicate that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Atlanta MI grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Atlanta MI area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional 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 working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Atlanta MI electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Atlanta residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to a few of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to 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 schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Atlanta MI, check that the schools you are looking at 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, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Atlanta MI?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Atlanta MI area.
Atlanta
Atlanta (/ætˈlæntə/) is the capital of, and the most populous city in, the U.S. state of Georgia. With an estimated 2017 population of 486,290,[12] it is also the 38th most-populous city in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, home to 5.8 million people and the ninth-largest metropolitan area in the nation.[6] Atlanta is the seat of Fulton County and a small portion of the city extends eastward into DeKalb County.
Atlanta was founded as a transportation hub at the intersection of two railroad lines in 1837. After being mostly burned to the ground during the American Civil War, the city rose from its ashes to become a national center of commerce and the unofficial capital of the "New South". During the 1960s, Atlanta became a major organizing center of the civil rights movement, with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Ralph David Abernathy, and many other locals playing major roles in the movement's leadership. In the decades following, the city earned a reputation as "too busy to hate" for the relatively progressive views of its citizens and leaders compared to other cities in the "Deep South".[13] During the modern era, Atlanta has attained international prominence as a major air transportation hub, with Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport being the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic since 1998.[14][15][16][17]
Atlanta is rated as a "beta(+)" world city that exerts a moderate impact on global commerce, finance, research, technology, education, media, art, and entertainment.[18] It ranks 18th among world cities and 7th in the nation with a gross domestic product (GDP) of $320 billion.[19][20] Atlanta's economy is considered diverse, with dominant sectors that include logistics, professional and business services, media operations, and information technology.[21] Atlanta has topographic features that include rolling hills and dense tree coverage, earning it the nickname of "the city in a forest."[22]Revitalization of Atlanta's neighborhoods, initially spurred by the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, has intensified in the 21st century, altering the city's demographics, politics, and culture.[23][24]
Pick the Right Electrical Technical School near Atlanta MI
Selecting the ideal electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each training program provides unique options for certification also. Probably the best means to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you select is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Atlanta MI.
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