Ohio licensure query.

P

Pinnie

Senior Member
Location
Ohio
Occupation
Commercial Electrician
I am a commercial electrician in Ohio currently in fourth year through the NCCER certification. Ohio does not have a formal journeyman or master electrician license, only an electrical contractors license. I would like to differentiate myself and hold the title of master electrician but unfortunately, the state does not have such a thing. I do know there’s people that test in Kentucky for this reason.

Here is my question: What should I do?

I feel like it is possible that I wasted my time with the NCCER training program. I don’t know what it afford me in terms of testing in other states. I assume it lets me take the journeyman test and most states, but I was hoping I would able to be able to take the master after I passed the cert. Any info is helpful.
 
Not meaning to be negative but the "Master" title doesn't really mean much.
 
If you get your EC license it means more than having "Master" in your title. There is nothing prohibiting someone from claiming they are a "Master Electrician" regardless of their abilities. When I was interviewing prospective employees if someone claimed they were a Master it went in one ear and out the other. OTOH, if they had credentials showing they had passed an EC exam I would take it into consideration.
 
I am considering starting my own company so I do see myself getting my EC license, but what if I don’t feel ready for a few more years and want to progress towards something like a master license. Can you get a EC without starting your own company/ needing to carry insurance. I assume not.
 
I'm not sure how Ohio handles it but in other states you can pass the exam and not have to start a business. You will have to do the required continuing education and pay the yearly dues but you can keep your license (or whatever) active until you might want to use it. In other states a company may give you a better salary to list yourself as a qualifier.
 
roger said:
I'm not sure how Ohio handles it but in other states you can pass the exam and not have to start a business. You will have to do the required continuing education and pay the yearly dues but you can keep your license (or whatever) active until you might want to use it. In other states a company may give you a better salary to list yourself as a qualifier.
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What is a qualifier?
 
If you want the test, here is where you sign up for it.

www.iccsafe.org

Exam Catalog - ICC

Exam Catalog Available Exam Titles Only looking for Examination listings? Click on the below links. National Certification Exams State Certification Exams UST/AST Certification Exams International Certification Exams National Contractor Exams...
www.iccsafe.org www.iccsafe.org

Look up the Master Electrician - T16Y test - that is the standard national test. I don't know how many jurisdictions accept that one, but I would guess more than not in the continental US.

Getting certified for Master Electrician does show some commitment to the trade, regardless of whether you ever own a business. Around here you have to be a Master before you can get a electrical contractor's license.

The license is to prove you know the code, not that you can work fast. An employer is much less likely to care about you knowing the code than your output.

Master Electrician looks good on applications - not everyone reading your application knows anything about the trade at all. It will likely help you stand out in AI sorted applications and help you get past HR for larger employers.

If you apply at a mom-and-pop shop, they likely won't care, or will expect you to leave them for somewhere that pays. Don't let that hold you back. I assume that since you are doing NCCER, you are likely to be young, so I will tell you that having the certification will open doors for you in the future that you do not necessarily expect or foresee at this point. Also, if you don't get it now, you probably never will.
 
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NEC Inspector said:
If you want the test, here is where you sign up for it.

www.iccsafe.org

Exam Catalog - ICC

Exam Catalog Available Exam Titles Only looking for Examination listings? Click on the below links. National Certification Exams State Certification Exams UST/AST Certification Exams International Certification Exams National Contractor Exams...
www.iccsafe.org www.iccsafe.org

Look up the Master Electrician - T16Y test - that is the standard national test. I don't know how many jurisdictions accept that one, but I would guess more than not in the continental US.

Getting certified for Master Electrician does show some commitment to the trade, regardless of whether you ever own a business. Around here you have to be a Master before you can get a electrical contractor's license.

The license is to prove you know the code, not that you can work fast. An employer is much less likely to care about you knowing the code than your output.

Master Electrician looks good on applications - not everyone reading your application knows anything about the trade at all. It will likely help you stand out in AI sorted applications and help you get past HR for larger employers.

If you apply at a mom-and-pop shop, they likely won't care, or will expect you to leave them for somewhere that pays. Don't let that hold you back. I assume that since you are doing NCCER, you are likely to be young, so I will tell you that having the certification will open doors for you in the future that you do not necessarily expect or foresee at this point. Also, if you don't get it now, you probably never will.
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Okay thank you for that info. It’s a little tricky navigating the certifications and knowing which ones are worth doing. Is the ICC the accepted licensing agency in your state?
 
Pinnie said:
Okay thank you for that info. It’s a little tricky navigating the certifications and knowing which ones are worth doing. Is the ICC the accepted licensing agency in your state?
Click to expand...
No, in the state of Kansas, there is no statewide code or licensing. Each jurisdiction (city or county) issues it's own license to anyone who can provide a passing test score on the ICC test, and provide evidence of completing two years as a licensed journeyman. To be a licensed journeyman, you need two years working for a licensed journeyman or master. So, you will have 4 years experience to have a Master license in one of the stricter jurisdictions. It's a little more complicated than that, but that is the gist of it in Kansas.

The ICC is just the company that makes the test, if you have a passing test score from them and can provide evidence of the experience you have, pay us a nominal fee and we will license you to work in our city. Unless a state has made it's own test, I think ICC is the primary provider of such tests, but people from other states would have to verify that. Their job is not to license you, their job is to prove that you have the code competence for the licensing jurisdiction.

You can take an ICC test whenever you want without any permission from anyone local. ICC doesn't care if you are qualified to be an electrician in your state/jurisdiction, and they do not check to see how much experience you have. That is up to the licensing jurisdiction to ascertain.
 
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NEC Inspector said:
You can take an ICC test whenever you want without any permission from anyone local. ICC doesn't care if you are qualified to be an electrician in your state/jurisdiction, and they do not check to see how much experience you have. That is up to the licensing jurisdiction to ascertain.
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Back to post #4
"There is nothing prohibiting someone from claiming they are a "Master Electrician" regardless of their abilities." it really means nothing IMO
 
roger said:
Not meaning to be negative but the "Master" title doesn't really mean much.
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2023 NEC TX
If you're proclaiming your self out as a master electrician in the great state of Texas, you'd better be a fully licensed master electrician and a licensed electrical contractor to perform any non-exempt electrical installation in Texas.

Additionally, you must be insured by an insurance (carrier my language).

Have all your company vehicles properly identified and maintain employment records and have licensed journeyman or equivalent on the job at all times.

Moreover, TDLR on occasion's, performs " regular stings" on a regular basis to nab unlicensed people who are not fully licensed to perform electrical work in Texas.

Don't mess with Texas!

TX+MASTER#4544
 
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