Welcome to the Lansing Community College's Electrical Apprenticeship Information Site
The Electrical Technology Program at Lansing Community College provides courses to more than 80 construction and industrial electricians apprentices serving more than 35 companies in the mid-Michigan area. Our courses support apprentices in residential, commercial and industrial companies and fulfill all of the State of Michigan requirements for Related Technical Instruction.
The faculty of our Electrical Technology program and the staff of the College's Apprenticeship office are available to work with you and your apprentices to create a plan of courses that meet your company's specific needs. Though most companies choose to use our standard curriculum, others target certain classes to develop specific skills in their workers. Links to our sample program's, course descriptions and a link to the State of Michigan application form are provided below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is required for new electrical apprentices?
All apprentices are required to register as an apprentice with the State of Michigan Electrical Division within 30 days of starting their employment. To register with the Division, the apprentice needs to submit the registration application to the State. This form requires the signature of the Related Technical Instruction (education) provider and the contractor who is employing the apprentice. LCC is a provider of RTI and.
What kind of apprenticeship program is acceptable to the State of Michigan?
The State law requires participation in an apprenticeship program equivalent to the standards of the US Department of Labor. Participation in an education program (such as LCC’s electrical apprentice program) fulfills those requirements.
What does it take to create an apprenticeship program that is acceptable to the US Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship (USDOLOA)?
See the LCC apprenticeship office elements.
What is RTI?
RTI stands for Related Technical Instruction. It consists of the education component of the training for an electrician or other tradesperson. US Department of Labor standards require 4 years of schooling at 144 hours each year for a total of at least 576 hours over the course of the apprenticeship. These classes can be taken at any organization approved by the USDOLOA as meeting their standards and which address the 450 hours of electrical core as defined by the State of Michigan Electrical Administrative board. LCC’s Electrical Technology program courses fulfill these requirements.
What is OJL/OJT?
OJL (On the Job Learning) and OJT (On the Job Training) describe the same component of an apprenticeship – practice in and education about the practical aspects of the trade the apprentice is pursuing. Apprentices work with and learn from Master and Journey electricians in the field.
How many OJL hours are required?
Most apprenticeships approved by the US Department of Labor require 4 years (8000 hours) of OJL. This is also the case with the State of Michigan’s requirements for electrical apprentices. Individuals who have completed 8000 hours of on the job Electrical_Apprenticeship_FAQ-2015-11-24 Page 2 of 3 experience in not less than 4 years are allowed to take the State’s licensing exam and become a State of Michigan licensed journeyman electrician. Though some exceptions have occurred, generally speaking, in order for these hours to count, the individual must be registered with the State of Michigan as an apprentice working for a licensed contractor.
Where does an apprentice earn RTI hours?
For a program of RTI to be approved by the US Department of Labor the RTI provider must have credibility. They must validate the instruction they provide, showing that the course has relevance (applies to the industry) and rigor (designed and executed in a way that provides a level of engagement in the course material to successfully educate the student/apprentice). LCC’s Electrical Technology program meets these requirements.
Does LCC have a complete program of RTI?
Yes. LCC has programs for both construction and industrial electrical apprentices that meet the State’s requirements. We also have elective courses that allow apprentices and companies to tailor their programs to their specific needs.
Can LCC help in setting up a program?
Yes. Our apprenticeship office can work with you to set up a stand-alone or a USDOLOA approved program. We have a longstanding working relationship with the USDOLOA and have worked with many companies to create programs.
Will LCC have any distance learning and/or on-line courses?
Yes. LCC is developing on-line and “hybrid” course options for classes in the apprenticeship curriculum. Classes that don’t have labs will be offered on-line. Classes with labs will allow students to do most of their work on-line but will require them to come to campus a few times per semester to complete their labs and some assessments.
What does a typical LCC Apprenticeship RTI program consist of?
The following links provide sample electrical programs and course descriptions. Note: These programs can be adjusted to meet a specific employer’s needs.
Note: Official interpretations of Federal and State of Michigan Laws, policies and
procedures rest with the appropriate federal or state office. Lansing Community College
has created this page with the most current information available to us on December
2, 2015. Users are encouraged to consult official documents and the staff of state
and federal offices responsible for enforcement of the apprenticeship requirements.
State of Michigan Reference Apprenticeship Requirements
Electrical Apprenticeship Curriculum
Get Your Apprenticeship Program Started
Wyn Wilson, Trades Technology Services - Electrical Apprenticeships:
wilsonjw@lcc.edu
(517) 483-1157
Sherrie Vossler, Electrical Technology Faculty:
hamptons@lcc.edu
(517) 483-1380