Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Troy MI 48007

How to Become an Electrician in Troy Michigan

Troy MI electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Troy MI. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are a number of factors to evaluate. For instance, many prospective students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have found some that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the only qualifications that should be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward 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 review a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Troy MI

Troy MI electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple approaches to get electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Troy MI. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Frequently these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are brief summaries of the three most common programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Michigan vocational and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards students who wish to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to finish and are offered by Michigan junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Michigan colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed before licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria

Troy MI electricians working on power lines Electricians in Troy MI can undertake a wide range of services, including 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 required to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally around four to five years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be obtained in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you pick not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Troy MI

attending electrician school online in Troy MI A possibility that you may have looked at is choosing an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning might be a more accommodating choice for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Commuting costs from Troy MI are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be available online also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Troy MI electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Troy MI area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are other factors that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Troy MI school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, some states mandate 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 reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate might indicate that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It might also signify that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which may produce more contacts for the school to use 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 field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Troy MI students secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Troy MI area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school 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 presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Troy MI electrical company if they can provide some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Troy residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

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

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Troy MI, verify that the programs you are looking at provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Troy MI?

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

Troy, Michigan

Troy is a city located in Metropolitan Detroit's northern suburbs in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 80,980 at the 2010 census, making it the 11th-largest city in Michigan by population, and the largest city in Oakland County. Troy has become a business and shopping destination in the Metro Detroit area, with numerous office centers and the upscale Somerset Collection mall.

In 2011, Troy was ranked the safest city in Michigan, as well as the 19th safest city in the nation. In 2008, Troy was ranked 22nd on a list of "Best Places to Live" in the United States[5] by CNN Money, using criteria including housing, quality of education, economic strength, and recreational opportunities. In 2008, Troy ranked as the fourth most affordable U.S. city with a median household income of approximately $79,000.[6][7]

The earliest recorded purchases of land in what was known as Troy Township occurred in 1819. A couple of years later a settlement known as Troy Corners was established due to Johnson Niles buying 160 acres in the region. The area is currently the north-central area of Troy. In 1827 Troy Township was established. In 1955 Troy was officially incorporated primarily as a strategy for preventing border cities from taking more land.

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Enroll in the Ideal Electrician Tech School near Troy MI

Selecting the right electrical training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training program that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Every training program offers different options for certification also. Perhaps the best way 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. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you choose is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Troy MI.