Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Highland Park MI 48203

How to Become an Electrician in Highland Park Michigan

Highland Park MI electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Highland Park MI. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are a number of points to consider. For instance, many potential students will start by looking for schools that are close to their residence. When they have found several that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the only qualifications that need to be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your final judgment when picking an electrician school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are offered.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Highland Park MI

Highland Park MI electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Highland Park MI. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. In many cases these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are brief explanations of the 3 most prevalent programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Michigan trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards students who wish to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees take two years to complete and are provided by Michigan junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Michigan institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed before licensing. For that reason, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Requirements

Highland Park MI electricians working on power lines Electricians in Highland Park MI can carry out a multitude of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing 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 most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be earned in numerous specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you choose not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in Highland Park MI

attending electrician school online in Highland Park MI A possibility that you might have considered is choosing an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. While 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 schools require partial attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, internet learning might be a more accommodating alternative for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Commuting expenses from Highland Park MI are also reduced and some of the study materials may be available on line as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Highland Park MI electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Highland Park MI area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are other variables that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research before choosing an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Highland Park MI program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you get a quality education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate could signify that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It could also suggest that the teachers 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 broader directory of alumni, which may mean 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 additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Highland Park MI students obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Highland Park MI area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. 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. If not, ask a local Highland Park MI electrical contractor if they can give you some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Highland Park residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger 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 feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Highland Park MI, check that the programs you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Highland Park MI?

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

Highland Park, Michigan

Highland Park is a city in Wayne County in the State of Michigan, within Metro Detroit. The population was 11,776 at the 2010 census. The city is completely surrounded by Detroit except for a small portion that touches the city of Hamtramck, which is also surrounded by Detroit.

The area that was to become Highland Park began as a small farming community, on a large ridge located at what is now Woodward Avenue and Highland, six miles (9.7 km) north of Detroit. In 1818, prominent Detroit judge Augustus B. Woodward bought the ridge, and platted the village of Woodwardville in 1825. The development of the village failed. Another Detroit judge, Benjamin F. H. Witherell, son of Michigan Supreme Court justice James Witherell, attempted to found a village platted as Cassandra on this site in 1836, but this plan also failed.[5]

By 1860, the settlement was given a post office under the name of Whitewood. After a succession of closures and reopenings of the rural post office, the settlement was finally incorporated as a village within Greenfield Township and Hamtramck Township under the name of Highland Park in 1889.[6]

The location could not be found.

Pick the Ideal Electrical Technical School near Highland Park MI

Selecting the ideal electrician trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are considering includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world context, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you select is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Highland Park MI.