Almost every licensed electrician in Michigan faces the dilemma of how to continue their education (CE) without neglecting their daily responsibilities at work. That’s in consideration that continuing education (CE) isn’t optional. It’s one of the most important things you must do to keep your licence active and skills sharp. Herein lies the challenge: Balancing CE with the long work hours, unpredictable schedules, and physically demanding work isn’t easy.
With the right strategy, however, you can remain compliant without losing your weekends. So, here’s what you can do to find the right balance and turn CE into an advantage for your career.
1: Consider Online Courses for Max Flexibility
Since every Michigan electrical licensee must complete approved continuing education before every renewal, you really don’t have a choice. You can take a 10-hour or 15-hour course, depending on your goals, and while that sounds insignificant given that a renewal cycle runs for 3 years, the time runs out pretty fast when you bring in all the other responsibilities.
Your best bet here is to take an online Michigan electrical continuing education course from a reputable provider like RocketCert. Instead of driving across town to a classroom session, you just log in from your laptop, tablet, or even phone. Sounds pretty convenient, right? Well, because it surely is! The best part is that you can even pause and resume where you left off. Just ensure the course is state-approved, else you’ll be wasting your time and money.
2. Break Your Course Into Manageable Chunks
One of the most common mistakes is thinking it’s a good idea to tackle CE all in one go. Even though that’s doable, you will retain more if you break the course into smaller sessions.
For instance, create sections that you can complete by committing about 30 minutes each day for a couple of weeks. This will make it easier to understand what you’re studying, and it’s a lot easier to study this way compared to bingeing six hours the day before renewal.
You can use studying techniques like spaced retention that have been proven to be effective when it comes to making it less likely that you’ll forget everything at once.
3. Plan Ahead for the Actual Renewal
You must renew your Michigan electrical licence every three years. However, too many electricians postpone completing CE until the last month. This may not sound like an issue to you, but there’s something you must think about. Let’s even assume you’re lucky enough to find the best course. Still, you’re creating unnecessary stress for yourself, and sometimes doing this can even delay your licence renewal if you miss the deadline.
That’s why marking your calendar and creating schedules to complete your CE course is such a smart move. Given three years to finish your course, it should be a great idea to complete everything within the first 12-118 months of the cycle. That way, if something like a busy season, an unexpected project or even a family emergency comes up, you aren’t caught off guard.
4. Choose CE That Actually Benefits Your Career
Sometimes, all you need to find the motivation to complete your CE course is knowing that it will boost your career. Yes, the Michigan code update is non-negotiable, and while it benefits your career, it doesn’t do that as much as supplemental courses do. Here, we’re talking about topics like workplace safety, solar energy systems and advanced troubleshooting.
In short, ensure you’re learning something new and where applicable, something that helps you expand into a role you’re interested in. By not thinking of CE as just a box to tick, you will feel more energised to complete it in the shortest possible time.
Stay Ahead with RocketCert
In Michigan, like many other states, continuing education isn’t just a basic requirement to keep your licence active. It’s also a reflection of your professionalism and commitment to safety. That’s why you must do everything possible to find the right balance and ensure you finish your courses within the allocated time.
Wondering how RocketCert can help? It’s quite simple. They offer expertly written and fully narrated courses that are so easy and fun to take. That way, you can meet your CE obligation on time without feeling overwhelmed by the process.
