How to Become an Electrician in Harrisville Michigan
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Harrisville MI. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are so many factors to evaluate. For example, many prospective students will start by looking for schools that are close to their residence. After they have identified several that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole things that must be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are available.
Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Harrisville MI
There are several options to obtain electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Harrisville MI. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Bellow are brief descriptions of the 3 most common programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Michigan vocational and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards those who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to finish and are provided by Michigan community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Michigan colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Harrisville MI can perform a wide range of functions, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly around four to five years of prior experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be acquired in several specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician tech school that you select not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Schools Online in Harrisville MI
An alternative that you might have contemplated is selecting an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, internet learning might be a more practical alternative for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Commuting costs from Harrisville MI are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be accessed on line as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Once you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Because there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Harrisville MI area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. 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 critical when making your selection, there are other variables that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Harrisville 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 guarantee that you acquire a superior education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, many states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools 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 course. A low completion rate could indicate that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It may also signify that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also important 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 use 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 field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Harrisville MI grads acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician trade 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 inside their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Harrisville MI area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Harrisville MI electrical contracting company if they can give you some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Harrisville residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with several of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Harrisville MI, verify that the programs you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Harrisville MI?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Harrisville MI area.
Harrisville, Michigan
Harrisville is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Alcona County.[6] The population was 493 at the 2010 census. The city is surrounded by Harrisville Township, but is administratively autonomous. Located on Lake Huron, it is an official Michigan Department of Natural Resources Harbor of Refuge.[7]
The place was first known as Davison's Mill after Crosier Davison, who in partnership with Simeon Holden, had purchased land and water power rights here in 1854. Benjamin Harris and his sons, Levi and Henry, of West Bloomfield, New York bought out the partners. A post office established on September 16, 1857 was named Harrisville, with Levi as the first postmaster.[8]
The city is on the western shore of Lake Huron and has a harbor for recreational boaters. The harbor is a center for salmon and trout fishing.[10] It is also a designated "Harbor of Refuge" on Lake Huron by the US Coast Guard.
Select the Right Electrician Technical School near Harrisville MI
Picking the best electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrician training program that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you select is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Harrisville MI.
Other Cool Cities in Michigan
Business Results 1 - 10 of 0
