across the board licensing

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jflynn

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I have to hand it to our industry,we continually educate ourselves thru code reviews etc,which generate quite a bit of money for the providers of the reviews and also the states that we pay our license fees to.I have asked many inspectors how can other tradesman or even better how they can do there work without being licensed,have it inspected,etc.I feel every trade/person on construction site should have a license to do what they do,and have to work within specific codes and pay fees like me and you.ex:take refrigeration contractors,do they have appr./license ratios they follow?they dont even pull permits,its just very frustrating @ times on job sites where we constantly play by the rules and other trades just do there work and go about there business-....venting....
 
What state are you in.? Look on the bright side you at least have state licencing one fee one person to answer too. Where I am I need 20 different licenses in a 50 mile radius now this is real horsey doodoo. And they hunt you down like a dog looking for that shingle all the town and village employees see your truck in someones driveway and suddenly the inspector is banging on the door looking for a permit. If you dont know the right names to drop you are in big trouble. And even where you are licensed sometimes contractor registrations for annother hundred bucks a year in every town. Do the math 200 bucks a year in every town/ incorporated village times 20. That is 4000 bannanas before you even turn the key in your truck .
 
There are many, many jurisdictions that do not require much of licensing for any trade, and other jurisdictions that have limited licensing.

If you are frustrated enough, you can help by writing to your political machine to let them know how you feel. Try to organize others to do the same, as there is strength in numbers.

Most of us understan exactly what you are stating.
 
Jim W in Tampa said:
To build a house here all trades are licensed,however ours is big joke as far as who on the job has any license.Ours only requires a master to pull permits
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Most states (and most municipalities) are like that.
And frankly speaking, I really don't have a problem with it.

Caveat Emptor aside, the issue is permits and inspections as opposed to eg: whether the usually capable installer knows how to properly tie in a J box has passed a test on theory he will almost never apply in his work.

The **EC** however, and whoever holds the masters license there rightly has the larger interest in knowing whether his employees are doing what is needed correctly or "fighting above their weight".
 
iwire said:
Labors?

Painters?

Carpet installers?
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Why not?you need a license in MA.to cut hair.We all work within the same buildings and are suppose to follow the same safety standards etc,..
 
jflynn said:
Why not?you need a license in MA.to cut hair.We all work within the same buildings and are suppose to follow the same safety standards etc,..
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Big differance between ocupational and contractor.All our computer buisness needs is the fee
 
quogueelectric said:
What state are you in.? Look on the bright side you at least have state licencing one fee one person to answer too. Where I am I need 20 different licenses in a 50 mile radius now this is real horsey doodoo.
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Hey Cow Man, remind me never to move to New York. ;)
 
Man with all them carnivores in New York how does a cow survive..

In Mn you need licensing and permits for the building trades..plus if you work in a town your business does not reside in you need a transient merchant license for that town..you need to pay the state a fee to be in business ect..being in business is what keeps our economy running so the government needs there free ride there as well..:smile:
 
I'm in upstate NY and I sure wish that electrical inspectors were either licensed if they are employees of private inspection agencies or that inspectors all worked as state employees. Either of these methods would seemingly cut down on the amount of fraudulent or incompetent inspections.

Right now it is common to "shop" for the desired opinion from 3rd party agency inspectors because some of the inspectors are so driven by the inspection fees, they are reluctant to do good code-compliant enforcement efforts.
 
Nyc

Nyc

Here in NYC, the City does the inspections and it takes a month to get an inspector to a job. They end up being really young or really old, do to the fact the do not get paid well. A few of these guys are really sharp, but becaues a boss said to do it this way it has to be done this way.
1 license for 5 boros though.
 
In South Carolina, you have to be licensed. In fact to do any construction above $5000 you have to be bonded. Personally, I am a licensed residential builder, residential electrician (unlimited $$$ contract because I am bonded) and a licensed residential plumber. Ther other trades have to be licensed, but it is a specialty license with no testing..aka pay the fee, get the card. We also have a general contracting agency that handles commercial work. I am allowed $5K of commercial work with my license. I also have 3 business licenses in the city I live. Counties here don't require business licenses, but cities do.

c2500
 
Nyc

Nyc

When I got my NYC Master Electricians License (1991) you had to:
1) 11 1/2 years exp. working for a Master
2) 4 hour multipal choice (50 questions & 5 essays)
3) 5 pactical jobs (6 mounths later)
4) When you find out if you passed both tests (about 1 year)
5) You have 1 more year toget,
a) Signed & sealed letter from all Masters you worked for
b) SS statements
c) City address
d) City phone number
e) City insurance
f) A JOB
 
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