Aussie seeking license in USA

[Rebzy]

Hey there people. I'm currently looking into moving to California sometime next year and was wondering on the procedures on procuring an electrical license in the United States. As for experience, I have 4 years experience in Industrial Maintainance and Installations & Commercial Construction and I am also a licensed Telecommunications Tech and certificate in Clipsal CBUS2. I put that down because I'm not too sure do I have to do a type of apprenticeship in the US before applying for my license? Any help would help me a whole lot. Thanks for reading

 

[BryanMD]

Hey there people. I'm currently looking into moving to California sometime next year and was wondering on the procedures on procuring an electrical license in the United States. As for experience, I have 4 years experience in Industrial Maintainance and Installations & Commercial Construction and I am also a licensed Telecommunications Tech and certificate in Clipsal CBUS2. I put that down because I'm not too sure do I have to do a type of apprenticeship in the US before applying for my license? Any help would help me a whole lot. Thanks for reading

In a few hours the California guys will wake up and repeat most of this but with better detail but the odd thing about the *united* states is that we aren't very united at all in most matters.

Each of the 50 states and several of the cities and counties in each state can and do make up their own rules of standards and requirements for licensing.

The common theme among them all though is hours worked and tests taken based on work performed HERE and on the codes HERE. Theory is theory but that won't get you a license.

Based on anecdotes I've heard from other immigrant electricians, I suspect that with a crazy series of hoop jumping you may be able to get *some* of your hours recognized here it still won't be many of them.

Good Luck.

 

[nakulak]

I think the hard part is getting a work visa. I believe there are parts of california that don't have any licensing requirements (? not positive)

Come on over, surfs up !

 

[electricguy61]

I think the hard part is getting a work visa. I believe there are parts of california that don't have any licensing requirements (? not positive)

Come on over, surfs up !

Not true. There is a state journeyman's license. Supposedly, you're not supposed to do any electrical work unless 1) you're a licensed electrical contractor, 2) you're a licensed journeyman, or 3) you're enrolled in an approved apprenticeship program and work under the direct supervision of #1 or #2 above.

Funny thing is: there's no penalty or enforcement.

Oh, I forgot, you can also do electrical work on your own job if you have a general contractors license and it's 10% of the total contract (something like that), which is an even bigger joke then the journeyman requirements. (And I have both an electrical and general contractors license)