Help with Missouri statewide licensing

[Whale Rage Forever]

Hey there. I don't really have anyone else to ask this, unfortunately.

I have my hours and passing exam score to become a master. I was looking at the Missouri statewide licensing and a section on the application asks for:

Qualifier data-The following employer, at which I currently or will serve at a supervisory level, has named me its qualifier: (Please type or print clearly)

I don't really know what to put there and the clerks won't answer becuase they don't want to be responsible for legal questions-even though it's their form.
It looks like they want an established contractor to name me as qualifier at the time of the application, but I'm not sure.

This is my first time striking out on my own, and I, unfortunately, just simply don't have anyone to educate me on the bureaucracy side of it. I was planning on forming an LLC for myself, and I just want to know if I need to do that prior to submitting the application.

I was hoping someone here could give me a direct answer. The beuracracy sucks and I don't want to pay like a grand to a laywer just to answer 1 question before I submit the application.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[petersonra]

Before you do anything related to forming your own business you need to spend the money to get a good attorney to help you not do something that will cost you far more than the legal fees.

If you cannot pay the money to get professional help to start your business, you probably should not be in business.

Your lawyer and your accountant are your friends. They will make your business work better for you. They can help you set up the right kind of business structure and the right tax structure for your situation.

They can also help you with figuring out the right kinds of insurance that you should have to protect both your business and yourself.

They will also be able to help you with understanding the things that you should not do that may negate the advantages of the business and/or tax structure you select.

 

[Whale Rage Forever]

Ok. I am aware of that.

But the application for statewide licensing has a spot for qualifier data that, if left blank, will reject the $200 non-refundable application. The state won't say what they will allow, and any business laywer that I have spoken to doesn't really care about me beyond doing the paperwork for actually filing the business. Most of them have no idea about licensing regulations and just simply don't give a poopoo when asked about it.

I don't really think it's a hard stretch for me to reach out to already licensed electricians and ask a really simple question like "Do you have to register a business prior to getting a contractor's license?" without having to first shell out a grand to a laywer who's going to try to process me out as fast as possible without giving actual legal counsel. How many people are here that are licensed through MO state that just obviously know the answer?

Are you telling me not a single person here CAN answer whether or not it is typical to need to have a registered business before getting an electrical contractor's license? Or that they WONT answer?

If anyone I've worked around gave enough of a damn to actually help educate me on the licensing bureacracy, than I would ask them. But no such individual exists for me.

That's why I'm reaching out to ACTUAL licensed electricians. Hopefully in the state of Missouri. Because I just need to know if I have to have a business formed prior to the filing the application to be an electrical contractor so I can just name myself the qualifier. It seems to be that way, but I also don't know if you can make a business entity that requires licensing prior to having a license. I don't know because every contractor I've ever worked for clams up hard the moment you ask questions about how the business side actually works.

So I ask again.

Typically, regarding licensing for electrical contractors, do you need to have a business entity to name you as a qualifier before you can even get the license?

 

[jim dungar]

Are you starting a contracting company?

 

[Tulsa Electrician]

You could try calling your local SBA ( small business administration) for your area. They should be able to help out. Sorry, I can not ansawer your question for you.

 

[Buck Parrish]

Wher's JamesL at " He's from Mossori, Alot of Missouri Electricians are probably grandfathered in to a sate license. The state just stared requiring them a few years ago.

 

[James L]

Hey there. I don't really have anyone else to ask this, unfortunately.

I have my hours and passing exam score to become a master. I was looking at the Missouri statewide licensing and a section on the application asks for:

Qualifier data-The following employer, at which I currently or will serve at a supervisory level, has named me its qualifier: (Please type or print clearly)

I don't really know what to put there and the clerks won't answer becuase they don't want to be responsible for legal questions-even though it's their form.
It looks like they want an established contractor to name me as qualifier at the time of the application, but I'm not sure.

This is my first time striking out on my own, and I, unfortunately, just simply don't have anyone to educate me on the bureaucracy side of it. I was planning on forming an LLC for myself, and I just want to know if I need to do that prior to submitting the application.

I was hoping someone here could give me a direct answer. The beuracracy sucks and I don't want to pay like a grand to a laywer just to answer 1 question before I submit the application.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Yes, bureaucracy sucks in Missouri.
The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.

There's a difference between being certified as a master electrician and being licensed to do business.

If you wish to become licensed, then you're wishing to open a business.

If you're not planning to do business, you don't need to be licensed.

 

[Buck Parrish]

Yes, bureaucracy sucks in Missouri.
The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.

There's a difference between being certified as a master electrician and being licensed to do business.

If you wish to become licensed, then you're wishing to open a business.

If you're not planning to do business, you don't need to be licensed.

But James, Whales does not know what to put on the application where it says " Qualifier-Data__________________ " Can you help him out?

 

[James L]

I'm not 100% certain of my whole answer because I don't deal with the state unless I absolutely have to.

My huess would be that you first need to register a business with the Secretary of State first.

It can be a DBA if you're not ready for an LLC

Then fill in that business name.

Knowing Missouri, The electrical license office will probably say you need to file with the Secretary of State first.

The Secretary of State's office will probably say you need to file with the electrical license office first.

Then there will be 14 phone calls iver the bext 8 months trying to bring the two offices together. Then you'll hive up and just go get a license in each municipality you want

 

[Whale Rage Forever]

I'm not 100% certain of my whole answer because I don't deal with the state unless I absolutely have to.

My huess would be that you first need to register a business with the Secretary of State first.

It can be a DBA if you're not ready for an LLC

Then fill in that business name.

Knowing Missouri, The electrical license office will probably say you need to file with the Secretary of State first.

The Secretary of State's office will probably say you need to file with the electrical license office first.

Then there will be 14 phone calls iver the bext 8 months trying to bring the two offices together. Then you'll hive up and just go get a license in each municipality you want

I do want to open a business, and I have filed an llc with the secretary of state.

I'll submit the application with my llc's information in the qualifier data and see what happens.

Your description of Missouri bureaucracy is very correct. It sucks a big giant one. I'm just trying to minimize things before I send it off.

There's a difference between being certified as a master electrician and being licensed to do business.

If you wish to become licensed, then you're wishing to open a business.

If you're not planning to do business, you don't need to be licensed.

A master still has to have a master's license to be a qualifying individual for a business though, no? I know there are seperate licenses for contractors and tradesman, and the missouri state license is basically kind of just a merging of the two. That's what it seems like to me.

 

[James L]

A master still has to have a master's license to be a qualifying individual for a business though, no? I know there are seperate licenses for contractors and tradesman, and the missouri state license is basically kind of just a merging of the two. That's what it seems like to me.

You're blending/confusing the terms "license" and "certification"

You become "certified" as a master electrician.

You become "licensed" as an electrical contractor so that you can put your certification to work

Please let us know how it works out at the state level. I don't know anyone who's done it.

 

[James L]

Your description of Missouri bureaucracy is very correct. It sucks a big giant one. I'm just trying to minimize things before I send it off.

I was thinking the other day to add this, and just now thought again....

It's most likely a waste of time and brain function to try to get out in front of state-level paperwork problems through the mail. You never know which imbecile is gonna open it and turn it into a total fiasco.

Everything from wrongful child support to reinstating a driver's license after a bogus suspension, I've never had success via mail-in forms.

I think you need to drive to Jeff City
(Jefferson City for those not in Missouri)
Go to the office in person.
Ask your questions face to face and fill out the form in front of them and turn it in there

 

[Whale Rage Forever]

You're blending/confusing the terms "license" and "certification"

You become "certified" as a master electrician.

You become "licensed" as an electrical contractor so that you can put your certification to work

Please let us know how it works out at the state level. I don't know anyone who's done it.

If this is ignorance on my part so be it, but between two unlicensed electricians are you basically telling me that there is no real differentiation between a master and a non master other than that one has passed an approved exam? That licensing is purely for business purposes for an electrical contractor, and that master certification is done at that time since there is no individual "Master" license?

I was thinking the other day to add this, and just now thought again....

It's most likely a waste of time and brain function to try to get out in front of state-level paperwork problems through the mail. You never know which imbecile is gonna open it and turn it into a total fiasco.

Everything from wrongful child support to reinstating a driver's license after a bogus suspension, I've never had success via mail-in forms.

I think you need to drive to Jeff City
(Jefferson City for those not in Missouri)
Go to the office in person.
Ask your questions face to face and fill out the form in front of them and turn it in there

Yeah. I was planning on driving there in person because I don't trust anyone here either.

They were really rude and non-cooperative over the phone, so I don't really expect them to be much better in person. I've got all my documentation and my LLC is setup. The only thing I'm waiting on now is the commercial liability insurance.

 

[Whale Rage Forever]

For what it is worth, for anyone who helped me out here, I am now officially a licensed master electrician through the state of Missouri.

I handed them my documentation on a friday and I was approved the next tuesday. Honestly, I was surprised at how fast it was.

Thanks all.

 

[James L]

For what it is worth, for anyone who helped me out here, I am now officially a licensed master electrician through the state of Missouri.

I handed them my documentation on a friday and I was approved the next tuesday. Honestly, I was surprised at how fast it was.

Thanks all.

That's really good. I'm sure presenting it in person made a huge difference.

Can you come back after you've pulled a couple of permits? I'm curious how it'll work in real life

 

[Whale Rage Forever]

Well, from offhand experience, I know I've heard the stl inspectors complain about state licensed contractors because most of them don't actually do work in the stl area and thus do a bunch of local stuff wrong. It doesn't seem like there's much difficulty for the state licenses in pulling permits, but I'll report back when I do.

 

[zbang]

Congrats on getting this straightened out.

For people who later find this thread- sometimes your state rep/senator can make things happen, no bureaucrat wants someone from the state house calling to ask unpleasant questions.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Make sure you have the correct form. To be a qualifier in NC you need a license so I am not sure what they are after. I would call back or better yet, go there and get the info you need.

 

[kwired]

Wher's JamesL at " He's from Mossori, Alot of Missouri Electricians are probably grandfathered in to a sate license. The state just stared requiring them a few years ago.

Not knowing much about their system there, I'll just say he is also in KC metro area which may or may not have separate licensing and requirements.

 

[Whale Rage Forever]

Not knowing much about their system there, I'll just say he is also in KC metro area which may or may not have separate licensing and requirements.

Nobody's grandfathered into anything yet as far as I'm aware. Each local county is still licensing seperately. The state license is basically a big, silent option. There's no requirement to license at the state level.

Yet.