How to Become an Electrician in Bellaire Michigan
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Bellaire MI. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many factors to consider. For example, some students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their home. When they have found several that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the sole factors that should be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are available.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Bellaire MI
There are several ways to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Bellaire MI. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are short descriptions of the three most typical programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Michigan trade and technical schools and take about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who want to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require two years to complete and are provided by Michigan community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain Michigan institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be completed before licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Bellaire MI can perform a vast array of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually around four to five years of experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be obtained in various 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 organizations include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you pick not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Training Classes in Bellaire MI
A possibility that you might have looked at is choosing an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, distance learning might be a more convenient option for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Travelling costs from Bellaire MI are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be available on line also. All of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Once you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Bellaire MI area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are other variables that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Bellaire MI school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you get a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not available 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate might indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It may also mean that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory 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 trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Bellaire MI students obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Bellaire MI area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Bellaire MI electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within driving distance of your Bellaire residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with several of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Bellaire MI, confirm that the schools you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Bellaire MI?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Bellaire MI area.
Bellaire, Michigan
Bellaire is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,086 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Antrim County.[6] The town has a very scenic main street, and is a popular location for tourists. Bellaire is also home to the Antrim County Courthouse, a historic structure built in 1905. The Antrim Review, the county's newspaper of record, is headquartered in Bellaire.
The Bellaire post office opened under the name Keno on June 20, 1879 and changed to Bellaire on May 26, 1880.[7] Also, in 1880, Bellaire became the county seat of Antrim County, a position that Elk Rapids had previously had. The Chicago & West Michigan Railroad built a depot in Bellaire in 1891, and the East Jordan & Southern Railroad built another line into the town in 1901. For years, Bellaire was a major railroad center in Antrim County, so the town attracted many industrial corporations. For example, the wooden bowl company (which made wooded utensils) built a factory in Bellaire because of the ease of transportation. Bellaire remained a transportation center until 1962, when the East Jordan and Southern abandoned their trackage through Bellaire, and the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway (which was using the former Chicago and West Michigan line) followed suit in 1982. Bellaire is home to the Short's Brewing Company.
The village is located on the boundary between Forest Home Township on the west and Kearney Township on the east, separated by the Intermediate River with the larger portion within Kearney Township. The Bellaire ZIP code, 49615, serves large portions of both townships, as well as portions of Central Lake Township to the north, Chestonia Township to the east, Custer Township to the south, and Helena Township to the southwest.[8]
Find the Ideal Electrician Tech School near Bellaire MI
Picking the right electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrical training that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world context, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every training program provides unique options for certification also. Perhaps The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you choose is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Bellaire MI.
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