Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Houghton Lake MI 48629

How to Become an Electrician in Houghton Lake Michigan

Houghton Lake MI electrician inspecting circuit panelThe first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Houghton Lake MI. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are a number of variables to examine. For example, some prospective students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have found some that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole things that must be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your final judgment when choosing an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are available.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Houghton Lake MI

Houghton Lake MI electrician re-wiring power outletThere are several options to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Houghton Lake MI. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Often these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Bellow are short summaries of the three most prevalent programs offered.

  • Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Michigan trade and technical schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards students who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degrees require two years to complete and are offered by Michigan community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Michigan institutions, but are less preferred 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 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines

Houghton Lake MI electricians working on power linesElectricians in Houghton Lake MI can undertake a vast array of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally around four to five years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be obtained in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you select not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may need to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Houghton Lake MI

attending electrician school online in Houghton Lake MIA possibility that you might have contemplated is choosing an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more convenient alternative for students that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Commuting expenses from Houghton Lake MI are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be available on line also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Houghton Lake MI electrician re-wiring circuit panelWhen you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Because there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Houghton Lake MI area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional factors that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical trade school.

Accreditation.  Numerous electrician trade schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Houghton Lake MI school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, a number of 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 percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate may suggest that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It may also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Houghton Lake MI grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Most electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Houghton Lake MI area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make certain that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Houghton Lake MI electrical company if they can give you some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Houghton Lake residence. Take note that if you decide to attend 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 receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger 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 instructors and students. Talk with several of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling.  Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Houghton Lake MI, check that the schools you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Houghton Lake MI?

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

Houghton Lake, Michigan

Houghton Lake is an unincorporated community in Roscommon Township, Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The Census Bureau has defined a census-designated place (CDP) for statistical purposes with the same name. The population was 3,749 at the 2000 census.

The community is situated on the southwest shore of Houghton Lake, Michigan's largest inland lake. The CDP includes the nearby community of Houghton Lake Heights, which is about one mile southwest along the shore of the lake. M-55 runs through both communities. The community of Prudenville is adjacent to the CDP on the east, at the southeast end of the lake. US 127 passes just west of the communities. A small portion of the CDP area extends into Lake Township to the north.

The Houghton Lake Area is a popular vacation spot in Northern Michigan, and is host to many resorts, events, and other tourist attractions. Tourism makes up a large part of the local economy. Houghton Lake is also a popular retirement location, with many retired residents known as "Snow Birds" who stay in Houghton Lake each year until winter.

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Pick the Ideal Electrician Technical School near Houghton Lake MI

Picking the best electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are many things that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrician training that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every training program provides unique options for certification also. Perhaps the best means to research your short list of schools is to go to 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 school you decide on is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Houghton Lake MI.

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