MTI begins offering training program for those interested in electrical careers

Midwest Technical Institute unveiled its seven-month Industrial, Commercial and Residential Electrician Training Program in a celebration ceremony June 9.

The program began in May and has 11 students, with more being accepted on a rolling basis every five weeks, according to Victoria Jones, president of the Springfield campus. MTI is a private, for-profit institution that has had a Springfield location – its only Missouri branch – since 2012.

Instructor Shelby Obermann, who directs the program, said students learn the basics of electrical work, like how to pull wire, install panels or size wires according to amperage, and they also branch off into areas specific to industrial, commercial or residential work.

Obermann came to MTI from the private sector, and she said she knows firsthand how hard it is to find qualified workers.

“I feel like anybody that you talk to, out in the field or job superintendents, is having a hard time finding qualified electricians,” she said.

Those who complete the program will qualify as entry-level technicians who are able to work as electricians, electrician helpers or electrical apprentices.  Obermann added  that one student in the program wants to eventually end up in electrical engineering – something that will need more schooling but will still require the groundwork established in the program. 

Students will also have a good working familiarity with the National Electrical Code Handbook, a large tome published by the National Fire Protection Association to set standards for safe electrical installations.

The cost of the program is $16,787, which includes 30 semester credits for a salary expectation of $37,580-$98,030, according to MTI. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the job outlook for electricians will increase by 11% from 2023 to 2033.

Obermann said she works to provide relevant experiences for her students.

“I’m teaching them a lot of stuff I’ve personally seen and done out in the field,” she said. “I want them to understand what it’s like, versus just teaching them from the book.”

The program of study provides experience in troubleshooting, whether it’s with a nonworking plug, a light that won’t turn on or shorts in a circuit, with students examining a problem and learning how to assess it.

“I let the students take over and we talk about process,” she said.

She added that after some discussion, she tells students where she would start and models how to work back from that point to determine the source of a problem.

Obermann, who has taught previously in the field, but never in a classroom setting, said she often tells students she is learning right alongside them.

“Obviously, we’re practicing safety – that’s 100% number one – but beyond that, it’s a learning experience for me, too,” she said.

Obermann said the program has a mock apartment building and a mock commercial site, and students can work on wiring in a realistic environment. Other lab offerings push students to apply their learning to hands-on experiences.

Key to helping students find the outcome they’re seeking is having multiple conversations with them, Obermann said, noting those kinds of talks can help them find the situation they desire upon completion of the program.

“The electrical industry itself has a bunch of branches,” she said. “They’re going to understand how electricity works, and they have to have that, no matter what kind of electrical field they go into.”

She said after leaving the program, participants can work in the field.

“The next step is going out into the field and getting hands-on training and applying stuff as they learn more things,” she said.

When the former student has amassed 8,000 hours in an apprenticeship, they can test for a journeyman’s license. The program provides all the classroom hours they need to do so, she said. After that, students can work on their master’s license, which would allow them to own their own business.

 Jones said the electrical program is part of MTI’s mechanical trades initiative, which also includes welding, pipefitting and heating, ventilation and air conditioning. There is also an allied health program, with medical assisting, medical coding, phlebotomy and dental assisting, plus cosmetology and truck driving programs.

The courses of study vary from as few as 14 days up to 16 months. Financial aid options exist for most programs, Jones said.

Jones said MTI’s motto is “Changing lives,” and that’s an idea that is meaningful to faculty.

“No matter what kind of student walks through the front doors of MTI, our goals as staff and faculty are to change their lives for the better,” she said. “We want to help them get to their purpose – help them cross the finish line.”

MTI’s other three locations are in  the Illinois cities of Moline, East Peoria and Springfield. MTI is accredited through the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools & Colleges.