Electronics tech to electrician

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Mark33067

Member
Location
Parkland S Florida
Hi all, I live in S FL and have been an electronics engineering tech for over 20 years. I am college and Army trained in electronics.Now wanting to be an electrician. What would be the first step for me? I have done electrical work for friends and myself, so I do have experience. Should I try to get a job as a helper? Thanks. Mark G
 
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haskindm

Senior Member
Location
Maryland
I don't know what the specific rules are in Florida, but most jurisdictions require that you have experience "under the supervision of a Master Electrician" before you would be qualified to take an examination. In Maryland the requirement is 4-years for a Journeyman (In the 5 jurisdictions that offer a Journeyman License) and 7-years for a Master Electrician. In Maryland, you must hold a Master's License in order to contract work with customers and request inspections.
The "experience" that you have working with friends, etc. will probably not count toward these requirements. You will need to work for some time as a helper in order to gain the requisite experience. Unfortunately this makes it difficult for experienced workers from other fields to enter the trade, but it is the system that is in place in most areas.
 
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jeff43222

Senior Member
Location
Minneapolis, Minnesota
It might be worthwhile to talk to other people in the trade in your area and get their take on whether it's worth pursuing. My impression of the situation in Florida from reading this board is that the pay is low since it's generally not a requirement to be licensed to work. Apparently as long as there's one license holder for the company or the job, everyone else can be unlicensed. This makes it easy for ECs to hire cheap labor and difficult for electricians to make decent money.

Several posters from Florida have essentially said that they wouldn't recommend someone to get into the trade for this reason.

Of course, I've never lived or work anywhere near Florida, so I could be totally wrong. I imagine the situation is very different in other parts of the country.
 
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wmgeorge

Member
Location
Iowa
Occupation
Retired
Electrical in Florida

Electrical in Florida

jeff43222 said:
It might be worthwhile to talk to other people in the trade in your area and get their take on whether it's worth pursuing. My impression of the situation in Florida from reading this board is that the pay is low since it's generally not a requirement to be licensed to work. Apparently as long as there's one license holder for the company or the job, everyone else can be unlicensed. This makes it easy for ECs to hire cheap labor and difficult for electricians to make decent money.
Click to expand...

Would not all these un-licensed workers need to be under the direct supervison of either a Journeyman or Master?
 
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BradLeff

Member
Florida M. Electrician

Florida M. Electrician

Ignore the northerners. They don't understand. You will have to "pay your dues" for the first 6-9 months to get "Florida Experience". For you, with your backround, that means about $10 per hour to start.

The fast wage track for you is to start in residential. Learn to wire Florida houses, small and large, at a good-sized residential electrical contractor. Buy a copy of Mike Holt's "Electrical Exam Preparation" and the "2005 NEC" immediately. Work your way through Mike Holt on weekends. The person you will be working under will NOT have a license.

Demonstrate that you can wire a house to code without supervision as soon as possible. The contractor will then assign you as "lead" and give you both a truck to drive and a helper. Work in this capacity for six months and ask for a substantial raise. If no raise, switch to another residential contractor for a raise. That is the way it works in Florida.

After another 6 months, switch to residential "service". Work in this position until there is no challenge and finally change to commercial. Stay with commercial until you qualify for a Journeyman license by testing.
 
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andy s.

Member
With the advent of "Off the Books" type of work out there, lowers the prevailing wages.

I fall pretty much in that mold. I too have 25+ years in the arena, 95% hands on approach which makes it very difficult in the job market. Even the Electrical Engineers often look towards the seasoned vets for advice, and follow it through with their slide rule approach. Early in life, I had to earn a living and for-go College/University,

But when it comes time for marketability we're pretty much stuck w/ only a HS diploma and tonnes of experience. I'm looking into a way of getting a P.E.

My secondary is from an Environmental study as well. Only problem is, I have to get my work underwritten by a third party review (P.E.) Being 50+ yrs young and going to College part time would be a monumental endeavour to say the least.

What would be the best grounded path to achieve the goal. No shorts please LOL
 
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