Apprenticeship

[iwirehouses]

I'm sorry if this is in the wrong area, but I need some help. I am a 4th year Mass. apprentice and I'm freaking out from what an inspector told me. He said there is a new law that states if an apprentice takes any time off from schooling, he has to start over from electrical 1. I went to school for 3 years, and took one year off. My understanding, from any electrical teacher I've ever asked, was that you have 10 years to complete schooling and work. Can anyone direct me to any information about this? I can't find any information on the web about apprenticeship programs at all.

 

[raider1]

I moved this thread to the electrical instructors forum, it fits best here.

You need to contact your State electrical licensing division and ask them about it.

Electrical licensing and apprenticeship differs from state to state.

Where are you located?

Chris

 

[EBFD6]

The inspector is incorrect.

The rule basically says that your school hours are only good for ten years. This rule was put in place to prevent "career" apprentices from taking the exam when they hadn't taken any classes in 20 years.

Before what would happen was guys would go to trade school - get a job when they graduated - work in the field for a while - get sick of it - sell used cars for ten years - decide they really did want to be an electrician after all - they would then work in the field a little more to gain all of the field time they needed and claim they had all of the school hours from trade school (20 years and 6 code cycles ago).

So, to sum things up, as long as the dates on your certificates are within the last ten years (field time has to have been within the last ten years also), you will be fine.

 

[iwirehouses]

I live in massachussetts. I understand the ten year rule, but the inspector says that once you stop schooling for a year, you must start all over. It was put into effect last year. And he is by far one of the most knowledgable inspectors/instructors/electricians around. I couldn't believe I wouldn't be grandfathered in to the ten year rule. It sounds to harsh to me. He says I made a bad move...start over.

 

[EBFD6]

I understand the ten year rule, but the inspector says that once you stop schooling for a year, you must start all over. It was put into effect last year. And he is by far one of the most knowledgable inspectors/instructors/electricians around. I couldn't believe I wouldn't be grandfathered in to the ten year rule. It sounds to harsh to me. He says I made a bad move...start over.

Here is the info you need.

The inspector is not correct. The requirement for education says "600 hours without substantial interuption". IMO your situation doesn't fall into the "substantial" catagory.

 

[iwirehouses]

well I'm starting to feel a little better. How would I find out what is considered "substantial interruption". It just seems a little too ridiculous that they changed this law without me unable to find anything about it.

 

[joebell]

Changes in ed req.

Changes in ed req.

I know that the MA is revamping there system so there is a set curriculum, more of a module style system. i also know from talking to apprentices at work that there have been some radical changes to theschooling requirements. Although the total hours have not changed (yet) the way you have to obtain the hours has. You are not allowed to just make up an hour here or there they must be made up in blocks of ??? I was told that Rich freddette made the rounds to many of the schools around here and went over these changes back in sept. I would suggest as Chris has to get in touch with the board to find out exactly what the changes are.

 

[CopperTone]

they are revamping the process in MA right now - it is hard to get a straight answer from the state board of electricians - you should try there first though. My apprentice just told me they went over the new regs in school last week. He claims they told him you have to complete every module 1-8 and not repeat any of them. Before you could repeat modules if you needed more time and the module you needed wasn't being offered that semester.

It seems like some people are going to get screwed with this new system - also you can only miss like 1 class the whole semester- I guess they are trying to make it very hard to complete the program to try to limit the amount of licenses they issue.

 

[joebell]

they are revamping the process in MA right now - it is hard to get a straight answer from the state board of electricians - you should try there first though. My apprentice just told me they went over the new regs in school last week. He claims they told him you have to complete every module 1-8 and not repeat any of them. Before you could repeat modules if you needed more time and the module you needed wasn't being offered that semester.

It seems like some people are going to get screwed with this new system - also you can only miss like 1 class the whole semester- I guess they are trying to make it very hard to complete the program to try to limit the amount of licenses they issue.

Definately making it harder for people to get thier license

 

[Rockyd]

Worse comes to worst...There are other "better" schools in the country...and a license at the end of the road with a reciprocating state (see end of post).


Massachusetts
Approved CEU Courses: View List of Approved CEU Courses
State Board: BUREAU OF ELECTRICAL SAFETY AND LICENSING.
239 Causeway Street, Floor 5
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 727-9931 Fax: (617) 727-5012
www.mass.gov/reg/boards/el
Licensing Requirements: Journeyman
Requirements: 8,000 hrs. within 4 yrs. plus 600 hours board approved education. 300 hours if you have worked prior to July 1, 2001
Exam Given By: PSI
Passing Grade: 70%
Exam Hours: 7
License Fee: $
Exam Fee: $
Renewal Fee: $68
No. Times Given: Computerized, Daily

Master
Requirements: 1 yr. Journeyman, plus 150 hours advanced theory
Passing Grade: 70%
Exam Given: PSI
Exam Hours: 7
License Fee: $
Exam Fee: $
Renewal Fee: $102
No. Times Given: Computerized, Daily
Continuing Education Requirements: 21 hours every 3 years - 15 code
Renewal: July 31
Renewal Year: Every 3 years
Other Licenses: Fire Alarm, Burglar
NEC Adoption Dates: Has adopted the 2008 NEC
Next Projected NEC Adoption Date: N/A
Notes: Stay up to date with your state's recent Code Activity by visiting the Code Alerts Website: www.nema.org/stds/fieldreps/codealerts/
Reciprocates: Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, Vermont, Washington