Find Electrician Schools Near Me in South Lyon MI 48178

How to Become an Electrician in South Lyon Michigan

South Lyon MI electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near South Lyon MI. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are so many factors to evaluate. For instance, some students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their home. After they have located some that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole factors that should be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should influence your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are available.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near South Lyon MI

South Lyon MI electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near South Lyon MI. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three options. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are short descriptions of the 3 most common programs offered.

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

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Michigan institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites

South Lyon MI electricians working on power lines Electricians in South Lyon MI can undertake a vast array of functions, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly around four to five years of practical experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly assess 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 identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be acquired in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails three 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you select not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Training Classes Online in South Lyon MI

attending electrician school online in South Lyon MI A possibility that you may have looked at is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more accommodating alternative for students that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Travelling expenses from South Lyon MI are also lessened and some of the study materials may be accessed online also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

South Lyon MI electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Because there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the South Lyon MI area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research before choosing an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. Many electrician technical schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the South Lyon MI program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate could indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It might also suggest that the instructors were not qualified 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 can result in more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help South Lyon MI grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with South Lyon MI area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus 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 presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local South Lyon MI electrical company if they can give you some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your South Lyon residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

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

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near South Lyon MI, check that the programs you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near South Lyon MI?

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

South Lyon, Michigan

South Lyon is a city in Southwestern Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan, in Metro Detroit. The population was 11,327 at the 2010 census.[6] The city is part of the South Lyon-Howell-Brighton Urban Area, which had a population of 106,139 according to the 2000 census. South Lyon is located in Oakland County's Lyon Township, near the Livingston County and Washtenaw County lines. The city is 19 miles (31 km) north of Ann Arbor, 45 miles (72 km) west of Detroit and 58 miles (93 km) east of Lansing.

South Lyon was founded in 1832 and was called Thompson's Corners. In the same year, the surrounding township was named Lyon for Lucius Lyon, a member of the State Legislature. The village was given a name for its location within the township. South Lyon was incorporated as a village in 1873 and as a city in 1930[7]

Three rail lines once passed through South Lyon. In the summer of 1871, the Detroit, Lansing and Northern was built west from Plymouth on the way to Lansing and Ionia. In 1880, the predessor to the Ann Arbor Railroad built a line into town from Ann Arbor. The goal of this line was to continue on towards Pontiac but that did not occur under the original owners. The line was pulled up around 1890. In 1883 the Grand Trunk built their Jackson Branch from Pontiac to Jackson, which crossed the Pere Marquette at South Lyon. The GTW branch line continued to serve South Lyon until the early 1980s. The branch line is now a paved bicycle trail through town and Reynold Sweet Parkway follows the original route. Today, South Lyon hosts the CSX main line from Detroit to Grand Rapids, and a passing track is located there.

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Choose the Ideal Electrician Technical School near South Lyon MI

Selecting the right electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical tech school that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Probably the best means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you pick is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in South Lyon MI.