Getting a license Is getting out of control??????

[khixxx]

I'm looking to relocate to the state of Texas. I have a AST degree 7 years field experience in residential, commercial, and industrial, and I currently hold a WV state masters license in good standing for the past 2 years and I had a journeyman's license the 5 years before that. Texas says I'm not qualified to take the exam to be a licensed journeyman because I'm missing 2 years of direction under a master electrician, my old boss is MIA (not at the company anymore and I can't seem to track him down). States and local governments need to get their acts together. I thought these exams are based on the "NATIONAL electrical code" states like Texas are hurting themselves by not letting skilled workers come to work in there state. Whats a guy to do?

 

[celtic]

Texas says I'm not qualified to take the exam to be a licensed journeyman because I'm missing 2 years of direction under a master electrician, my old boss is MIA (not at the company anymore and I can't seem to track him down).

Have you asked if your W-2's/Tax returns would be acceptable "proof" ...what if the guy is dead and that's your only proof?

....states like Texas are hurting themselves by not letting skilled workers come to work in there state. Whats a guy to do?

Don't work in Texas , go North - East or West - and make more money

 

[khixxx]

Don't work in Texas , go North - East or West - and make more money

True the north does pay a lot better. I guess it depends on the company. I am from the Pittsburgh PA area. I use to live in MD/WV for 7 years and sold my house and made a killing. I was looking at the Forth Worth area because the homes are still cheap, and not a lot of snow. In MD I would have to pay around $350,000 for a small house. I don't really feel like working the rest of my life to pay for a house. After selling my home in WV I made $174,000 I can buy a home in TX cash and still have money left over. oh well I guess it's 6 one way half a dozen another. It just sucks that there is not a common law with all the states so once you take the journeyman/Master exam all the state recognize it.

 

[celtic]

It just sucks that there is not a common law with all the states so once you take the journeyman/Master exam all the state recognize it.

At the risk of having this deleted, I'll continue anyway

Have you considered the IBEW?

Their JW cards may allow you to cross borders unemcumbered by legislation - maybe not true for every single state, county and municpailty in these United States...but maybe true for most.
Granted, you won't be "the boss" (as in EC), but you could make enough to live where you want to...get those credits you need to show...etc

 

[brian john]

I am an IBEW member and it has not helped in the licensing (in the states I have applied too), as a matter of fact the most locals unions HATE others coming their way. In New York I had to hire a worker to sit and watch me work, so I could complete some testing for a firm I do work for. The worker was not interested in learning anything (I tried to explain what I was doing), finally he asked if I could cover his time so he could go home. I was fine with that as he was slowing me down.

I hold the belief that most locals jurisdictions (union and non-union influenced) do what they can to limit outsiders.


When I had a short two weeks in the trade this electrician was cursing the DC goverment for the proff of employment they required (at that time 1970), I decided then and there to get letters when I left employment. I still have the originals from 1972 to date.

 

[celtic]

... it has not helped in the licensing (in the states I have applied too)....

I think you would have to have the documented work experience for the State licensing board. The simple act of holding an IBEW card doesn't entitle anyone to a license for a particular state.

 

[khixxx]

I did consider the IBEW 2 years ago. It just doesn't seem to be my cup of tea. I was part of the united steel workers union a few years back which seemed ok, but I never really seen the union or heard about them when I was employed at the plant. I would just like to base my pay and advancements on my job performance and skill level. I was employed by a municipality nonunion which based its pay rate on the number of years you were employed. Here I was an I&C Tech Master electrician licensed, Programming PLC, VFDs and what ever else and I looked outside at a guy cutting grass thats been employed for 30 years making $20,000 more than me. That just gets to a guy after awhile. I just talked to a company today and they didn't see a problem hiring me at journeyman's wages. We'll see how things go. I bottom line is you have to look at for your best interest.

 

[celtic]

Good luck where ever the road leads you to.

 

[ASK_EDDIE]

Tdlr

Tdlr

Welcome to the TDLR FLASH for December, 2006

This is the second installment of our newsletter which is intended to keep city
officials and electricians throughout Texas informed of the Texas Electrical
Safety and Licensing Act and TDLR's efforts to enforce the associated
requirements...........ESLA Board Met in November
TDLR's Electrical Safety and Licensing Advisory (ESLA) Board met on Thursday
November 30, 2006. An audio file of the meeting was archived and is available
for listening. Some of the topics discussed include:

1) ESLA Board approval to establish an Electrical Enforcement Task Force;

2) ESLA Board approval of proposed amendments to the Electrician Penalty Matrix;

3) ESLA Board approval of journeyman reciprocity with Arkansas (with
mid-December effective date) and Washington (with possible effective date
sometime in January);

4) ESLA Board approval of the Department's on-going negotiations towards a
master reciprocity agreement with Arkansas and a possible multi-state journeyman
electrician reciprocity agreement (current members include Alaska, Arkansas,
Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Oklahoma, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico,
North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming).

 

[khixxx]

Eddie thanks for the update. The funny part about this is that I was told I could use my masters license for the sign off. Meaning sense I had my master license in WV for 2 years I only need the 2 years of documented work under another license master or wait 4 years and sign off on my own time? Maybe I miss interpreted the guy. Oh well I'm sure this stuff looks good on paper.

 

[petersonra]

I hold the belief that most locals jurisdictions (union and non-union influenced) do what they can to limit outsiders.

Of course they do. They exist primarily to benefit their own members, not outsiders. This is not just true of the electrical trade, but is pretty universal.

 

[jeff43222]

I don't know that's it's universal. Sure, I've seen situations where it was pretty obvious that there was discrimination against outsiders (e.g., only in-state experience counts when applying for a license), sometimes to the point that it was codified in the law or contracts (contractor financially penalized if less than ___% of its employees lived in the city). But not always. I never ran into any discrimination when I got my master and EC licenses.

 

[John Valdes]

For as much as I cut down my state (SC) I did not have any problem getting my masters with 80% of my career in industrial maintenance. I had to provide no names (masters), just the companies I worked for. I have never had a jouneyman's card. Now, I took a state elect. contractors exam, which I was told was the exact exam for a masters license. After I passed the test I called the municipality that covers the trades and was told to send them $50 and my test scores. Within one week I now had a contractors license and a masters card (both State). Now get this, SC recips with TX. Not FL. where I want to move to!

 

[hockeyoligist2]

For as much as I cut down my state (SC) I did not have any problem getting my masters with 80% of my career in industrial maintenance. I had to provide no names (masters), just the companies I worked for. I have never had a jouneyman's card. Now, I took a state elect. contractors exam, which I was told was the exact exam for a masters license. After I passed the test I called the municipality that covers the trades and was told to send them $50 and my test scores. Within one week I now had a contractors license and a masters card (both State). Now get this, SC recips with TX. Not FL. where I want to move to!

You took the MASC test, then called the other one? I forget the name, and got contractors? I don't need it now, but, you never know? Do you have the # you called? I have the MASC master, and was told I had to take 2 tests to get the contractor.

 

[tom baker]

Washington state just signed a recoprocal agreement licensing agreement with Texas. To become certified in WA State you need to prove 8,000 hours of experience for a journeyman for a non reciprocal state. If your current license is from a state that reciprocates, you only need to take and pass the WA exam.

 

[tom baker]

And while is may be a national electrical code, licensing is not required by the NEC, its a local or state issue.

 

[I n f i n i t I]

Possible Loop-Hole

Possible Loop-Hole

I?ve heard of a few individuals go through what you?re going through. I believe the loop hole around that is to get a Louisiana license and then reciprocate with Texas because for some odd reason, Texas likes LA?s electrical program. ::: shrugs:::: Up until a couple of years back, there was no State Electrical license so this program has been bumpy for us local legit electricians as well. Hope that helps.

 

[dereckbc]

All, this is a friendly warning. Please do not go down UNION Street.

 

[dduffee260]

Go to the TDLR website. I think we filled out a form for a former employee the other day, and it seems like the first form I filled out on accident was a form which was for a person who could not get a former employer to acknowledge their time. If someone worked under me, I verified time, nothing personal to me about a former employee trying to better themself.

Private message me if you need any info. We have been in Texas all our lives and will be glad to help.

 

[brian john]

khixxx:

Not sure how long you have had your West VA license, I took the test one of the first times West Va. offered it, this was a very good test, one of the tougher ones I have taken. You past that test you should be given the Texas license, IMO.