Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Bentley MI 48613

How to Become an Electrician in Bentley Michigan

Bentley MI electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Bentley MI. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are so many points to consider. For example, some prospective students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have identified a few that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that should be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your final decision when picking an electrician trade school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are offered.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Bentley MI

Bentley MI electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple ways to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Bentley MI. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Bellow are short descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Michigan technical and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to finish and are offered by Michigan community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Michigan institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed prior to licensing. For that reason, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements

Bentley MI electricians working on power lines Electricians in Bentley MI can perform a multitude of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess 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 differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be acquired in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases involves 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician tech school that you choose not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online in Bentley MI

attending electrician school online in Bentley MI A possibility that you may have considered is selecting an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, distance learning might be a more practical option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Commuting costs from Bentley MI are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Bentley MI electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Bentley MI area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are other factors that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Many electrician vocational schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Bentley MI program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you acquire a quality education, it may help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate may indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It might also signify that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Bentley MI students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician technical programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Bentley MI area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area 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 on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Bentley MI electrical company if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Bentley residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak to some of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Bentley MI, confirm that the schools you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make 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.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Bentley MI?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Bentley MI area.

Gibson Township, Michigan

Gibson Township is a civil township of Bay County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The township's population was 1,210 as of the 2010 census.[3] It is included in the Bay City Metropolitan Statistical Area.

A post office was opened on Feb 26, 1887, called Bently.[6] A post office was opened on Stevenson Road just east of Standish Road on March 15, 1900, called Glover and operated for exactly five years.[7] On June 30, 1909, the Bently post office was renamed Bentley.[6]

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 1,245 people, 398 households, and 312 families residing in the township. The population density was 34.9 per square mile (13.5/km²). There were 431 housing units at an average density of 12.1 per square mile (4.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.80% White, 0.16% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.96% of the population.

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Pick the Right Electrician Vocational School near Bentley MI

Choosing the right electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Each program offers unique possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Bentley MI.