FL & Colorado military license issues

[TommysparkyUSAF]

Any ex military electricians out there?

I am trying to get a license in order to work for myself & do some side jobs part time (already have a part time corporate gig).

Long story short, I logged 8000 logged hours while on active duty, even submitted 10 pounds of time sheets to the Dept of Labor & got a Completion of Apprenticeship cert.

FL wont let me sit any exam, cert is too old. Colorado will let anyone sit any exam, but will give zero info regarding which test (Journey or master) to take or if they will actually accept your experience or not after you pass the test (they say "case by case" for military folks). So I could study my ass off, pass the test on the first or second time & still not get a license if Colorado doesn't accept my time.

My plan is to then transfer my CO license to FL under the military license (MV003) which states that you "must hold a valid license in another state" & be a veteran.

Adding to the pain, FL doesn't let journeyman or masters do anything. Its all on the Electrical contractor. So a transferred Journeyman from CO would not help me work for myself anyways.

Any guidance would be appreciated. I'm kind of lost in the sauce at the moment trying to think this through.
Thanks.

 

[hillbilly1]

Not sure how the military thing works, but I know many years ago, Colorado would not reciprocate with anyone else. Florida reciprocates with quite a few states, and I’ve heard South Carolina is easy to get, and reciprocates with quite a few states including Georgia and Florida. I think Mike Holt has a page that tells what is reciprocal.

 

[TommysparkyUSAF]

Thanks Hillbilly. South Carolina does look easy. Ill take a harder look there. Probably wasted $180 applying to Colorado....but that's the price of doing biz I guess.

 

[roger]

Even though FL reciprocates (the actual term is endorse) other states licenses the others have to be one of the most strenuous the other state has. The paper trail to get there is pretty hard in itself and when I thought about doing it after retirement it was just to aggravating not to mention expensive.

I was told by a few others that you will never get through with out hiring a professional outfit to make sure all the I's were dotted and T's crossed.

Since I had no intention of actually starting a business, after getting some reference letters together and doing some other leg work I just let it go.

Looking at SC licenses it doesn't appear as though FL does reciprocate

Electrical licensing, exam, and renewal information.

Mike Holt worked his way up through the electrical trade from apprentice electrician through electrical contractor, to become one of the most recognized experts in the world as it relates to electrical power installations. He was a Journeyman Electrician, Master Electrician, and Electrical...

www.mikeholt.com

Reciprocity; Alabama, Georgia (non-restricted), Mississippi, North Carolina (intermediate or unlimited), Pennsylvania (Reading, PA only), Tennessee (TE).