Can I become a qualified Journeyman Electrician if I am a foreigner?

@Gerrie Stander

Welcome!!! Get on line and find the MN requirements. I live in MA which is fairly strict. Although all states have different requirements most usually allow some method to bypass at least some of the usual licensing requirements (MA Does) if you have experience from another state or country.

What I would do is bury them in paperwork.

Detail all your experience and go into detail
Get letters detailing your work experience from all employers
provide them with any details on education electrical related or not
Military service
Training classes ETC ETC you get the idea

The more you can provide them the better,

And better yet see if you can talk to whomever runs the licensing board, not some clerk standing behind the counter

Good luck!!
 
Besoeker3 said:
I don't know where is Gerrie is located in SA but I have been to quite a lot of it from Pretoria down to the Cape. The whole country is mild as I recall it - like 16C (61F) 26C (76F).
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I would imagine it is similar to why northwestern North America or northwestern European areas generally have milder weather than areas well inland even though those areas may be closer to the equator. Not nearly as much direct influence from the oceans on the weather, particularly wintertime temperatures. Central South Africa isn't as far from the coasts as central North America or Europe and Asia.
 
rambojoe said:
And quite a long stretch from mamba and lion territory!
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A little tale.
I was working on a VSD on a plant on a mine on Elandsrand Goldmine (hence the name).
I was about move a small pony motor check some parameters. I thought the motor moved moved. Imagination......no it wasn't! It was four foot long snake!
It was late in the evening and I was about to pack up before the last checks for the day. That decided it.................

 
sameguy said:
Try the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) could test to higher level.
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IBEW connections won't necessarily matter when it comes to eligibility to attain a city/county/state license.

They may help you in any way possible, but most those AHJ's have individual requirements that apply to anyone applying.

Successful completion of college/trade school education or even an approved union training program may be able to accelerate requirements.

When I applied to test for journeyman license 30 some years ago you needed 5 years experience to even apply, completion of two year trade school allowed you to apply with only 4 years experience. Think it is still that way today in this state. IBEW may possibly have programs that are considered equivalent and if so they would accept those.

I have seen guys that worked industrial maintenance or similar get some acceleration in being eligible in the past, but I think they have become more strict on what they will accept in more recent years. Those were not automatic either, AFAIK they needed case by case consideration and probably some extra documentation to prove said experiences and approval was by certain AHJ staff where most of what is written in the rules is somewhat automatic and approved by general secretarial staff (they can do so just off AHJ's records) if you meet requirements that is written.

Out of state or even out of country or military experience likely gets special review if you don't meet the state general requirements. This probably only to get journeyman license. The main requirement to apply to test for a contractor license is to have held a journeyman license for one year.
 
Quite a few unions/shops here in phoenix have been doing walk in's..
I think they are fishing for the tough background/high security jobs like intel and the powerplants...
 
Gerrie Stander said:
..My wife landed a position at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN..
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Hospitals need bodies for ICU's nearing capacity, and for high-risk exposure to covid-related care.

If you're willing to put your life on the line, a nurses aid can find work anywhere in world.

Merit shop Electrical contractors are always in need of able bodies to squeeze into tight crawlspaces with vermon feces, suck up mold & asbestos in their lungs, and rub against fiberglass insulation that sticks to clothes & skin for several wash cycles.

Organized labor tests your meddle with shovels in deep trenches, perhaps without shoring, in pouring rain. I've been there.

During production crisis the desire of "safety first" can become defacto last.

After sitting on wait lists for months on unemployment, JW's will do the hot work. I witnessed more than one JW get hit with 480vac.

For those that don't survive electrocution, trench cave-ins, or falls from scaffolding / ladders, a hat is passed around requesting $2.each for the greiving family.

If you don't complain, go with the flow, and keep putting your $2. in the hat, you can do electrical work anywhere in the western world.
 
ramsy said:
Hospitals need bodies for ICU's nearing capacity, and for high-risk exposure to covid-related care.

If you're willing to put your life on the line, a nurses aid can find work anywhere in world.

Merit shop Electrical contractors are always in need of able bodies to squeeze into tight crawlspaces with vermon feces, suck up mold & asbestos in their lungs, and rub against fiberglass insulation that sticks to clothes & skin for several wash cycles.

Organized labor tests your meddle with shovels in deep trenches, perhaps without shoring, in pouring rain. I've been there.

During production crisis the desire of "safety first" can become defacto last.

After sitting on wait lists for months on unemployment, JW's will do the hot work. I witnessed more than one JW get hit with 480vac.

For those that don't survive electrocution, trench cave-ins, or falls from scaffolding / ladders, a hat is passed around requesting $2.each for the greiving family.

If you don't complain, go with the flow, and keep putting your $2. in the hat, you can do electrical work anywhere in the western world.
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Yes he can, but he is asking if he can do so with a journeyman license or if he will need to "put in his time" before he can get the license
 
Gerrie Stander said:
Hi guys,

Im a qualified electrician (10 years experience) from South Africa. My wife landed a position at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.
I would like to know if i will be able to get a job in the electrical industry and if ill be able to qualify as a Journeyman and maybe in the future as an Master Electrician?

Regards,
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Gerrie you might do best working as an electrician in the facilities ( maintenance department ) of a company. Doubt if you would need a license. After a few years and getting fimilar with the NEC you should be able to get a better paying electrician job with an electrical contractor. I had a great cheif electrician that came here after he was discharged from the Spain Navy. He was a hard working dedicated man and was the most qualified when he got promoted to cheif electrician. Live over 1,000 mile from the Mayo Clinic but it has a great reputation. Look at the Mike Holt code picture & electrical code question he puts out 5 days a week. Also read Charlie Trouts code question of the day. Check out the IAEI in your location. They have 6 to 8 evening continuing education classes a year where you can reach out to some very talented electrical inspectors, engineers and electricians. Good luck.
 
@Gerrie Stander

You can also contact Mike Holt Enterprises directly for more information about this. Please call our office at 888-632-2633 and ask for Angela Willcox she will be able to point you in the right direction.
 
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