I'm clueless here...

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Dave85

Dave85

Member
Location
NJ
First off I looked through this board and its great. My electric 4 teacher, (an electrical contractor) told me to check this site out and i'm glad I did.

I'm currently an electricians apprentice and have worked for an electrical company for 2 years part time. I have also been going to my Monmouth county vocational school for electrical training. I'm on the 4th year of the 4 year course now and am learning the NEC05.

There's just a few things i'm clueless about here.
I keep hearing about the contractors test but I don't know what the current requirements are for it. My electric 1/2 teacher said 2 years of algebra were required but my current electric 4 teacher said that wasn't true from what he has heard.

So what are the current requirements for taking the contractors test?

I have been working part time as i'm going to college currently but does this still count to those hours that are needed before you can take the contractors test?

Where do I take this test and how do I sign up?
When does this test take place?


And one final thing. I have one of these electrical calculators:
http://www.amazon.com/Calculated-Industries-5065-ElectriCalc-Calculator/dp/B000I4HH04
It's a great tool and I use it whenever I can but I was just wondering if they would let me use that in the testing center.

My goal for now is to work with a company and make money so I don't go broke as well as finish college. I eventually want to start my own electrical company so I can get more income and work the hours I choose.


Told ya I was clueless about all this...lol
Thanks for any and all help.
 
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starbright28

Senior Member
Location
Minnesota
First of all I would check you state's website to see what they require you for hours, how you apply (if needed) to take the exam, etc.

I did a google search for New Jersey Electrical Contractor's Lisence and here is what I found. Hoep this helps you out.

the website with all this information is this:
http://www.contractors-license.org/nj/NewJersey.html#nj1

Electrical Contractor's License

You need a license to do electrical work in New Jersey. To apply for an electrical contractor's license, contact:

Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors
124 Halsey St., 6th Floor
P.O. Box 45006
Newark, NJ 07101
(973) 504-6410
http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/nonmedical/electrical.htm

The Board does require you to pass an exam to get a license. To take the exam you must be over the age of 21, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and one of the following:

five years experience working with tools to install, alter or repair electrical wiring for light, heat or power
completion of a four-year Board-approved apprenticeship program and one year of Board-approved work experience
completion of 8,000 hours of experience working with tools to install, alter or repair electrical wiring for light, heat or power and 576 hours related classroom instruction
a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and two years of Board-approved work experience
The Board will review your application and if you're eligible they'll send you information on the exam they require. Experior gives the exam. For information on the exam or scheduling, you can contact Experior at:

Experior
261 Connecticut Drive
Burlington, NJ 08016
(609) 387-7944
http://www.experioronline.com
If you e-mail Experior for information, please specify either NJ Plumber or NJ Electric in the subject field of your e-mail.

The electrical contractor exam has three parts -- one on business and law, one on the trade, and one on alarm systems. The business and law exam is open book with 50 multiple choice questions. It lasts two hours. Here's a summary of the subjects on this part and the approximate percentage of questions on each:

Subject Percent of exam
Business organization 4
Licensing 10
Estimating & bidding 14
Contract management 16
Project management 10
Risk management 8
Safety 8
Labor laws 8
Financial management 10
Tax law 6
Lien law 6

The trade exam is open book with 100 multiple choice questions. It lasts four hours. You may need to use arithmetic and/or simple algebra on this exam. There may be figures, drawings, tables, or charts. Here are the subjects on the trade exam and the approximate percentage of questions on each:

Subject Percent of exam
Grounding, bonding 11
Services, feeders, branch circuits 12
Raceways, enclosures 10
Conductors 10
Motors and controls 11
Utilization and general use equipment 12
Special occupancies and equipment 6
General knowledge of electrical trade, calculations 25
Low voltage circuits, alarms and calculations 3

The alarm systems exam is open book with 30 multiple choice questions. It lasts one and one-half hours. Here are the subjects on the alarm systems exam and the approximate percentage of questions on each:

Subject Percent of exam
National Electrical Code 60
General electrical knowledge 15
Equipment 15
Signals transmission, conductors 5
Systems design 5

Electrician's license fees: It will cost you $100 to file an application for a license. The business and law exam will cost you $50, the trade exam is $90, and the alarm systems exam is $50. All fees are nonrefundable. You'll also have to pay $5 to rent the NEC book at the exam.

The Board issues licenses every three years. Your license will cost you $50 to $150, depending on when you get it during the three year period.

Before doing any business in New Jersey you must post a bond to the state for $1,000. You must also carry $300,000 property damage and bodily injury insurance and $300,000 combined property damage and bodily injury insurance.
 
Pierre C Belarge

Pierre C Belarge

Senior Member
Location
Westchester County, New York
Dave85 said:
My goal for now is to work with a company and make money so I don't go broke as well as finish college. I eventually want to start my own electrical company so I can get more income and work the hours I choose.


Told ya I was clueless about all this...lol
Thanks for any and all help.
Click to expand...




As the owner of an electrical company, especially a new company, expect to work harder and more hours than you thought a person could. As the boss, you may not have the luxury of choosing your hours, your hours will choose you.
The goal of becoming an EC are good goals though!!!

P.S.
You will not be able to use a programable calculator in NJ. You had better learn some of the formulas.
 
celtic

celtic

Senior Member
Location
NJ
Dave85

Dave85

Member
Location
NJ
Pierre C Belarge said:
P.S.
You will not be able to use a programmable calculator in NJ. You had better learn some of the formulas.
Click to expand...

yea i have a TI-85 for school and i was told that they would not allow that because you could put the answers in memory but they didn't Im not sure about these other electric calc pros

also, is the work put towards my total hours for the test part time or full time work?

I can only work part time with school and all that.

I however will search this in all the links and info everyone posted

Thanks once again everyone.
 
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C

Chris Simms

Member
Location
Cohutta GA
Dave85 said:
yea i have a TI-85 for school and i was told that they would not allow that because you could put the answers in memory but they didn't Im not sure about these other electric calc pros

The State of GA says if the calculator has a alfanumeric keyboard it CANNOT be used but the electric calc pro was ok to use.
Chris
Click to expand...
 
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