Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Portland MI 48875

How to Become an Electrician in Portland Michigan

Portland MI electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Portland MI. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are a number of variables to consider. For instance, some prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their residence. After they have located several that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole factors that need to be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your final judgment when choosing an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are accessible.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Portland MI

Portland MI electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to obtain electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Portland MI. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you want to earn certification. Following are short summaries of the 3 most prevalent programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Michigan trade and technical schools and take about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who want to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to finish and are provided by Michigan community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Michigan institutions, 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 four years be completed prior to licensing. For that reason, most students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites

Portland MI electricians working on power lines Electricians in Portland MI can undertake a vast array of services, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about four to five years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be acquired in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases entails 3 levels of competency:

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 vocational school that you select not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might need to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools in Portland MI

attending electrician school online in Portland MI An alternative that you may have contemplated is selecting an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance 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 remainder of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning might be a more convenient option for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Driving expenses from Portland MI are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be accessed online also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Portland MI electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Portland MI area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are other factors that must be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research before enrolling in an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Portland MI program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Also, some states require 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 program. A low completion rate might signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It could also mean 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 more extensive 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 can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Portland MI graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Portland MI area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date 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 looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Portland MI electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Portland home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to some of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Portland MI, check that the programs you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, 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 because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Portland MI?

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

Portland, Michigan

Portland is a city in Ionia County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,883 at the 2010 census. The city is situated in the south central portion of Portland Township and is known as the "City of Two Rivers" since it is the confluence of the Grand River and the Looking Glass River. Portland is home to Portland Public Schools and Portland Saint Patrick Catholic School and has been a Main Street Community since 2003.

According to government records, the first land that was owned in what is now known as Portland was owned by Elisha Newman in 1833. The first post office arrived in 1837.[6] The first train arrived in Portland in 1869.[7] Portland has been home to several Native American tribes, and was the dwelling-place of John Okemos in the 1850s.

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 3,883 people, 1,640 households, and 1,039 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,470.8 inhabitants per square mile (567.9/km2). There were 1,797 housing units at an average density of 680.7 per square mile (262.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.7% White, 0.7% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.1% of the population.

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Find the Right Electrician Technical School near Portland MI

Choosing the best electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are many things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrical tech school that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each program offers different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you decide on is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Portland MI.