When preparing for a career as an electrician in Michigan at one of the trade schools in Michigan for electricians, interested candidates must complete some fundamental standards in order to be well-positioned for the essential training. During their training, individuals are also expected to make a few important decisions, such as the training arrangement they prefer and which program to participate in.
They are also urged to examine licensure and certification options. These stages are significant because they help applicants begin their electrical careers in Michigan on the right foot and ensure professional longevity.
The rising demand for electricians in Michigan, including journeyman, master, apprentice, and electrical contractor electricians, assures you that your training will be worthwhile.
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How to Become an Electrician in Michigan.
The steps below outline how to begin a career as an electrician at one of the trade schools in Michigan for electricians.
1. Prepare for training:
Anyone interested in becoming an electrician in Michigan must first get sufficient job experience and then complete classroom training. To be eligible for entrance to these training programs, individuals must have a high school diploma or GED.
A solid understanding of basic mathematics, physics, and algebra is also beneficial.
2. Classroom Training:
Classroom training is essential for each aspiring electrician, wherever. This step ensures that candidates have enough theoretical knowledge to grasp the concepts that will guide their actions once hired.
Fortunately, trade schools in Michigan for electricians provide excellent classroom training for budding electricians, with some of these institutions also offering hands-on training.
3. Hands-on Training:
Candidates interested in receiving substantial hands-on instruction should consider participating in an apprenticeship program. In this sense, they have two choices: union apprenticeships (organized by trade unions) or non-union apprenticeships (organized by professional organizations, trade associations, and private companies).
4. Combination:
In Michigan, prospective electricians are urged to seek both classroom and hands-on training. They can accomplish this, for example, by enrolling in an apprenticeship program that offers both types of trading or by completing an academic program before obtaining a “on-the-job” learning position.
Reasons to Attend Trade Schools in Michigan for Electricians
- Electricians report a higher-than-average median compensation and increasing demand, making an electrician trade school an excellent career investment.
- Trade schools in Michigan for electricians prepare you for hands-on instruction in an apprenticeship to meet state license requirements.
- Electricians should expect a great return on investment if they enroll in an economical trade school for their electrical training.
- Before beginning apprenticeship training, electricians may attend trade school for as little as six months.
- Attending an online electrician school allows you to complete coursework with the greatest flexibility.
Licensure and Certification for Electricians in Michigan
Trade schools in Michigan for electricians has various levels of electrical license, each with different requirements:
- Journeyman Electrician: This is the initial level of licensing. To qualify, you must be at least 20 years old, have completed an 8,000-hour apprenticeship, and pass the journeyman exam.
- Master Electrician: You need to have accumulated 12,000 hours of electrical experience and a journeyman license for at least two years to become a master electrician. You must also pass the master electrician exam, which is more complex and focused on developing and supervising electrical systems.
- Electrical Contractor: A license is required to operate an electrical business. This necessitates either holding a master electrician license or hiring one, as well as meeting insurance and financial obligations.
Other Licenses Available in trade schools in Michigan for electricians
In addition to journeyman and master licenses, trade schools in Michigan for electricians allow specialization in various areas of electrical work. This includes:
- Fire Alarm Specialty Technician: Someone who installs, maintains, and inspects fire alarm systems.
- Sign Specialist: Refers to electricians who specialize in the installation and repair of electrical signs.
Each specialty license has its own procedure for applying and requirements, which are available on Michigan’s licensing website.
Educational and Certification Expectations
A large number of companies in Michigan prefer candidates with:
- High school diplomas or GEDs
- Enrolling in or completing an apprenticeship program, which typically includes 8,000 hours of on-the-job training (OJT) and 576 hours of classroom teaching.
- Licensure or Certification: While apprentice roles may not require a license, businesses such as Hillard Electric and Michigan Power Systems help apprentices achieve their State of Michigan Journeyman’s License.
- Additional Credentials: Companies like Bekum America Corporation provide tuition support to apprentices pursuing associate degrees in electrical disciplines, demonstrating their commitment to continued professional growth.
Related: The Best Vocational Schools in Texas
Steps for Enrollment in Trade Schools in Michigan for Electricians
Every training program operates differently, but in general, the process begins with an online admissions application. Some ask you to pay an application fee and submit multiple documents. In general, the application procedure consists of the following steps:
- Complete your application.
- Pay your application fee (if applicable).
- Proof of residency is required to qualify for in-state tuition.
- Have a sealed official high school transcript or GED scores provided.
- Submit aptitude test results.
- If necessary, apply for on-campus housing.
If you want to begin with an apprenticeship, contact the JATC, Local Union, IEC, or ABC chapter closest to you. Each organization’s application process varies somewhat, however the standard application requirements are:
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Must be a high school graduate, a senior about to graduate, or have acquired a GED certificate. Following the completion of the application, applicants will be expected to supply a copy of their diploma or GED certificate, as well as an official grade transcript.
- Must hold a valid driver’s license.
- Passed high school algebra or an equivalent post-high school algebra class with a “C” or above, or passed an aptitude test.
- Pass a drug test and criminal background check.
List of Trade Schools in Michigan for Electricians
The following are the best trade schools in Michigan for electricians that provide online, in-person, or hybrid training courses.
1. CareerLine Technical Center:
The Electrical/Alternative Energy program offers a year of complete training in residential, commercial, and industrial electrical systems, including power generation and transmission. Students learn fundamental knowledge of electrical theory, wiring, and code standards, which is supplemented by hands-on lab experience in conduit bending, installations, and safety procedures.
In addition to earning certifications like OSHA Construction and Industrial Safety, First Aid/CPR, and Green Awareness, participants can earn up to 1,000 hours toward the 8,000 hours needed to obtain a journeyman’s license. Through partnerships with Michigan institutions, they can also earn college credits.
2. Mid Michigan Community College:
In the field of electrical technology, Mid Michigan Community College provides a fantastic curriculum that is structured as an apprenticeship setting. It combines classroom and hands-on learning to assist students achieve the requirements for obtaining a license.
3. Detroit Training Institute of Technology:
The Electrical Wiring Residential course is a four-month program that teaches students the fundamentals of residential wiring according to the 2008 National Electric Code. The course, led by a Master Electrician, focuses on code compliance, safety measures, and hands-on projects such as installing lighting branches, fans, service panels, and special-purpose outlets.
Graduates receive a diploma as well as a set of electrical hand tools, giving them the skills and knowledge they need to work as electricians.
4. Henry Ford Community College:
Henry Ford Community College, which is located in Dearborn, provides an associate degree program that is open to students from any part of the state of Michigan who are interested in enrolling. Certificates in analog electronics, digital electronics, fundamental electronics, and automation controls are among the available options.
5. Dorsey College:
Dorsey College’s Electrical Technician training program prepares students for entry-level jobs in utility, commercial, residential, construction, industrial, or municipal sectors. This 12-month curriculum blends practical training in tasks like system installation, troubleshooting, and maintenance with hands-on education in electrical theory, safety, and wiring.
Graduates who get a diploma from an accredited program by the Council on Occupational Education are prepared to work with maintenance crews, engineering firms, and contractors.
6. Lansing Community College:
Lansing Community College, which offers an Electrical Utility Lineworker Certificate program and an outstanding Electrical Apprenticeship Associate Program, is another option for aspiring electricians in Michigan.
7. South East Michigan Construction Academy:
In this four-year curriculum, students learn how to install, maintain, and fix electrical systems in commercial, industrial, and residential environments. Participants can take the State of Michigan journey-level assessment to earn licensure after finishing the courses and on-the-job training.
Beginning in August and January, classes are held twice a week in the evenings and prepare students for an average hourly wage of $34.50 after completing the program.
8. Michigan State University:
After two to four semesters of coursework and one summer semester of internship, MSU’s electrical technology certificate prepares you to work as a journey electrician in Michigan.
You will gain knowledge of technical mathematics, energy conservation and efficiency, agricultural communication, electrical wiring, and electrical applications and systems during the course of the study. The university’s 4,000-square-foot lab is equipped with standard AC and DC motors, variable frequency drives, and programmable logic controls.
Both recent high school graduates and seniors are admitted as first-year students to MSU. You must have at least 24 college credits to be eligible as a transfer student.
9. Northwestern Technological Institute:
80 hours of training are provided in the 5-week basic Electrical Theory & Application course (H-102). Basic electricity, circuits, schematics, electrical meters, parts, motors, and control devices are among the basic concepts that students study. There are no prerequisites for this course, which offers four quarter credit hours.
Industry-Specific Requirements
Michigan’s electrical job market provides possibilities in a variety of industries, frequently requiring cross-disciplinary abilities.
- Manufacturing and Industrial: Businesses such as Bekum America specialize in industrial electrical work and large-scale machines. In this industry, apprentices receive specialized training in the maintenance of industrial equipment, electrical panels, and motor control centers.
- Commercial and Residential: Brens Electric Inc. and other employers specialize in wiring apartment buildings for both new construction and remodeling. Conduit bending, fixture installation, and service enhancement abilities are needed for this.
- Infrastructure and Construction: Apprentices must be able to adjust to a variety of job sites and situations because Hillard Electric provides expertise in commercial and industrial construction settings.
- Technology Integration: UBT favors applicants with customer service experience, recommending overlap with customer service, technology installation, and possibly low-voltage systems (such as automation, fire alarms, or security).
FAQ’s
What is the cost of a degree in electrical engineering?
Depending on the program and school, attending trade schools in Michigan for electricians can cost different amounts. In Michigan, the cost of an electrician degree can range from about $5,000 for a certificate program to more than $10,000 for an associate’s or diploma program.
How long does it take to become an electrician?
The training and experience requirements for electricians are usually completed in four to five years. An associate degree in electrical technology takes roughly two years to finish, whereas an electrician certificate program takes about six to twelve months.
You can begin an apprenticeship program to fulfill the practical experience requirements for state licensure after receiving your degree or certificate.
Is it worth it to take electrician training online?
You can become ready for a practical apprenticeship program with the help of online electrician courses. Online courses offered by trade schools in Michigan for electricians allow you to take advantage of the flexibility of distance learning while working toward your apprenticeship requirements.
Conclusion
Michigan employers are looking for electricians who exhibit technical proficiency, a concern for safety, and a dedication to lifelong learning and development. A wide range of businesses, including manufacturing, construction, and commercial services, are affected by the demand.
Trade schools in Michigan for electricians offer plenty of chances to grow their careers, get certified, and improve their abilities, with numerous organizations providing competitive benefits, organized training programs, and tuition aid.