How to Become an Electrician in Owendale Michigan
The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Owendale MI. But with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are a number of variables to evaluate. For instance, some prospective students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their home. After they have located several that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the sole things that should be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your final judgment when selecting an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are available.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Owendale MI
There are three general ways to get electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Owendale MI. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you want to earn certification. Bellow are brief descriptions of the 3 most typical programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Michigan vocational and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to complete and are provided by Michigan community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Michigan colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed before licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in Owendale MI can undertake a vast array of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically around four to five years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be earned in several specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails three levels of proficiency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying organizations include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you select not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in Owendale MI
A possibility that you might have considered is choosing an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs have become more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, internet learning might be a more accommodating option for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Driving costs from Owendale MI are also minimized and some of the study materials can be available on line as well. All of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Once you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Owendale MI region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The initial two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are other factors that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Owendale MI school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you receive a superior education, it can help in acquiring 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 training programs you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate might signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It could also indicate that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also essential 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 validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Owendale MI graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Owendale MI area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain 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 presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Owendale MI electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Owendale residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Talk to a few of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the teachers and find out 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 assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Owendale MI, verify that the schools you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Owendale MI?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Owendale MI area.
Owendale, Michigan
It has one high school, in which it joins with neighboring town Gagetown. They comprise the Owen-Gage Bulldogs. They compete in The Mid-Michigan 8-man Football League/ILAC. As of September 2016, the Bulldogs coaching staff is composed of: Jim Wencel, Head Football Coach; Christopher Robinson; Assistant Coach and Steve Riske; Assistant Coach. Kathy Champagne, Head Volleyball Coach; Mike Sutherland, Head Girls Basketball and Cross Country, Head Boys Basketball Coach; Brian Wright, Head Baseball Coach; Mike Witzke, Head Girls Softball and Christopher Robinson, A.D.
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 241 people, 99 households, and 65 families residing in the village. The population density was 325.7 inhabitants per square mile (125.8/km2). There were 116 housing units at an average density of 156.8 per square mile (60.5/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 96.3% White, 0.4% Native American, 0.4% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.9% of the population.
There were 99 households of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.3% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.02.
Pick the Right Electrical Technical School near Owendale MI
Selecting the ideal electrical trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training program that you are considering includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide 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 type of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Owendale MI.
Other Cool Cities in Michigan
Business Results 1 - 10 of 1
1 Reviews 