Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Wixom MI 48393

How to Become an Electrician in Wixom Michigan

Wixom MI electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Wixom MI. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many variables to evaluate. For instance, many potential students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their residence. After they have identified several that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the only factors that must be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your ultimate decision when picking an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are available.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Wixom MI

Wixom MI electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several approaches to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near Wixom MI. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Frequently these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are short summaries of the three most prevalent programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by Michigan technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards students who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees involve 2 years to finish and are offered by Michigan junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain Michigan institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites

Wixom MI electricians working on power lines Electricians in Wixom MI can perform a wide range of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around four to five years of experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be acquired in many specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Programs in Wixom MI

attending electrician school online in Wixom MI An alternative that you may have looked at is choosing an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools have become more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning can be a more convenient option for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Driving expenses from Wixom MI are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be available online as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Wixom MI electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Since there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Wixom MI area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are additional variables that need to be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess before selecting an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Many electrician trade programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Wixom MI school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you get a quality education, it can assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved 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 finish the program. A low completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It might also signify that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Wixom MI students secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Wixom MI area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. 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 Wixom MI electrical contractor if they can give you some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Wixom residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to some of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Wixom MI, check that the schools you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, be 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 due to work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Wixom MI?

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

Wixom, Michigan

Wixom is a city that lies in the borders of northwest Novi and southwest Commerce Township in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 13,498 at the 2010 census.[6] The city was home to the former Wixom Assembly Plant, which produced the Lincoln LS, the Ford Thunderbird, the Ford GT, and the Lincoln Town Car. The plant closed its doors on May 31, 2007.[7]

Wixom is home to several production and manufacturing businesses, including Trijicon, a leading manufacturer of night gun sights and night telescopic sights; Discraft, a leading manufacturer of flying discs for disc sports games like Ultimate; the U.S. headquarters of spark plug manufacturer NGK; Majic Window, the worlds largest distributor of fiberglass replacement home windows;[8] MAC Valves, Inc.,[9] a manufacturer of pneumatic valves used in the automotive and packaging industries, and Foster Specialty Floors[10] the state's largest and oldest sports flooring contractor.

The settlement of Wixom dates back to 1831. In the beginning Wixom was named Sibley's Corners after the first settler, 20 year old philanthropist Alonzo Sibley. Sibley settled in what is today called Commerce Township, where he purchased approximately 80 acres of land. Overtime, Sibley had established and purchased about 350 more acres of land. In 1837 Sibley donated a portion of his property for a local cemetery; which was called South Commerce Burial Ground; however, was later changed to Wixom Cemetery. Sibley then became the president of the cemetery association.

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Find the Right Electrician Technical School near Wixom MI

Choosing the best electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrician tech school that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses 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 serve your needs. Each program offers unique options for certification as well. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Take the time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you select is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Wixom MI.