How to Become an Electrician in Wakefield Michigan
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Wakefield MI. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are a number of variables to evaluate. For instance, many prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have located several that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are significant, they are not the only factors that should be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your final judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are offered.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Wakefield MI
There are multiple approaches to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Wakefield MI. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Frequently these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are short summaries of the 3 most common programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Michigan vocational and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who wish to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve two years to finish and are offered by Michigan community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Michigan colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be completed before licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Wakefield MI can carry out a wide range 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 mandated to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly around four to five years of experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be earned in various specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases involves three 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician tech school that you select not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Schools Online in Wakefield MI
An option that you might have considered is choosing an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, internet learning may be a more practical alternative for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Driving expenses from Wakefield MI are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be available online also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Wakefield MI region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are additional variables that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Wakefield MI program is 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 help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it 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 or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate might suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It may also indicate that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly 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 validate that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Wakefield MI grads acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician trade programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Wakefield MI area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Wakefield MI electrical company if they can provide some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Wakefield home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak to a few of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to 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 programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Wakefield MI, confirm that the programs you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, 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 responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Wakefield MI?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Wakefield MI area.
Wakefield
Wakefield was dubbed the "Merrie City" in the Middle Ages[2] and in 1538 John Leland described it as, "a very quick market town and meately large; well served of fish and flesh both from sea and by rivers ... so that all vitaile is very good and chepe there. A right honest man shall fare well for 2d. a meal. ... There be plenti of se coal in the quarters about Wakefield".[nb 1]
The Battle of Wakefield took place in the Wars of the Roses and it was a Royalist stronghold in the Civil War. Wakefield became an important market town and centre for wool, exploiting its position on the navigable River Calder to become an inland port.
In the 18th century, Wakefield traded in corn, coal mining and textiles and in 1888 its parish church acquired cathedral status. It became the county town of the West Riding of Yorkshire and was the seat of the West Riding County Council from 1889 until 1974, when the county and council were abolished, and of the West Yorkshire Metropolitan County Council from 1974 until its dissolution in 1986.
Enroll in the Right Electrical Technical School near Wakefield MI
Selecting the right electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are many things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical training that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each training program provides unique options for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you decide on is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Wakefield MI.
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