Journeyman Exam Eligibility

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

mdaetwiler

New member
I am a 46 year old practicing electrical engineer and am looking to possibly take the electrical journeyman exam this year. At some point in the near future I would also be interested in working for myself in that capacity or as an electrical contractor. What are the requirements for being eligible to take the exam as far as working in the field is concerned? Or is there any particular requirement(s)?

Michael Daetwiler
Tampa, Florida
 
iwire

iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
Re: Journeyman Exam Eligibility

Michael given the limited info you have provided I have to ask why you feel you would be qualified to be an electrical contractor without any experience?

Anyway if you go here you will find the FL requirements along with the contact numbers.

It looks like in order to be an EC in FL you need a minimum of 3 yrs. proven experience with W-2 forms.
 
B

bphgravity

Senior Member
Location
Florida
Re: Journeyman Exam Eligibility

Here's another example of Florida wacky-ness. The journeyman license is a local certification that requires 8,000 of documented and verifiable experience. This work experience must be directly related to the electrical construction industry.

On the other hand, a person with at least 3 years as a licensed electrical engineer may qualify to sit for the contractors exam. Otherwise, a non-engineer requires 6 years of field experience or 3 years of contracotr management experience.

Go here to read the exact requirements:

Florida Statutes
 
D

DaveTap

Senior Member
Location
Currently Flowery Branch, GA
Re: Journeyman Exam Eligibility

You aren't kidding I just moved down from Illinois, licensed in Chicago for over 10 years, couldn't qualify for Florida so I'm taking North Carolina test... in Orlando...
Then I'll use reciprocal

[ January 04, 2006, 06:10 PM: Message edited by: DaveTap ]
 
J

jimwalker

Senior Member
Location
TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: Journeyman Exam Eligibility

Ok Bryan, here is one for you to think about.If the owner pulls the permit to wire his own house IN fl is he allowed to hire helpers or journeymen the same as if he was an EC ?
 
B

bphgravity

Senior Member
Location
Florida
Re: Journeyman Exam Eligibility

Jim, its the other way around. A person is not allowed to contract work in the state of Florida without a contractors license and insurance. So it would be against the law for a person to accept payment from a homeowner to perform electrical work in their home even if the homeowner is acting as the owner/contractor.

Now the loop hole. A homeowner can pull a permit and have his buddy "help" him do the work. Its not against the law if he is only "helping" and not being "hired" by the homeowner.

There is very little enforcement of these laws by the building department for the main reason that we are too busy, however if an accident were to happen or a fire/electrocution were to happen in the future, I am certain the insurance company will have a lawyer(s) that will do whatever they must to limit the liability of his client.
 
J

jimwalker

Senior Member
Location
TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: Journeyman Exam Eligibility

What i am suggesting is that a person with electrical ability of a journeyman offers his services as a helper.Helpers can work by the hour and some might know everything.Are you saying its illegal to hire someone as a helper ? An EC can hire that same helper.This helper needs no license to work for the EC and the owner builder is the EC for that one house.
 
B

bphgravity

Senior Member
Location
Florida
Re: Journeyman Exam Eligibility

Yes, if the owner/contractor wants to hire help, that help has to be a licensed contractor. The homeowner is not viewed as the EC for the job though he is permitted to do the work for himself. This works for any licensed profession in FL. He is also permitted to paint his own home, however if he wants to pay someone else to do it, they must be a licensed painting contractor.
 
I

Ima Lektrishun

Member
Re: Journeyman Exam Eligibility

Engineers should automatically be elegigible to receive electrician licenses. (provided the appropriate examination is passed).

How many electricians do you know that could actually attend AND pass electrical engineering school? IMHO These people are the "MOST" qualified.
I say this after working side by side with an EE, doing some light residential wiring in a basement, and roughing in for a genset. This guy could look at a blueprint and completely understand (And even catch a few errors) and was able to install and fascillitate installation competently and correctly. I am not sure if he had prior experience or not, but he tought me a few things.
I mulled over a problem I encountered on another job, and he definitely set off a light bulb for me. The problem included a heater element on a spa that was opened, yet it still worked (115V).

I just wanted to express my respect for the Electrical Engineers because I see alot of flaming (on other forums too)for those in the "EE" industry. Its almost as if some electricians feel "elitist" because they know a code book, and have some klein tools and what have you, While EE's have the mechanical, electrical, algebraical and physical understanding of the trade, far beyond what most people realize. Sure they need to know the code, but beyond that they understand "WHY" the code is enforced, implemented etc.

I am done ranting. Good luck, and go for the license!! Get you some hands on in your local community.
 
J

jimwalker

Senior Member
Location
TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: Journeyman Exam Eligibility

Ima Lektrishun ,and if you managed to pass the masters test how will you know anything about actually doing the work ? I think your in for a shock as to what its like in the field.
 
iwire

iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
Re: Journeyman Exam Eligibility

Originally posted by Ima Lektrishun:
Engineers should automatically be elegigible to receive electrician licenses. (provided the appropriate examination is passed).
Click to expand...
I only wish you where kidding. :eek:

Originally posted by Ima Lektrishun:
How many electricians do you know that could actually attend AND pass electrical engineering school?
Click to expand...
Quite a few.

And quite a few engineers could learn my job as well.

But being able to pass the test to become an electrician and actually being able to arrive on a job and know what to do are entirely different.

To be an electrician is a lot more than knowing the NEC. Knowing how to engineer an electrical system is not going to be much of an aid out on the job.

I say this without any disrespect to the many fine engineers out there.

But unless they have spent time using the tools and installing electrical systems they are not qualified to become a 'Lektrishun'


Originally posted by Ima Lektrishun:
EE's have the mechanical, electrical, algebraical and physical understanding of the trade, far beyond what most people realize.
Click to expand...
They do?

Can they run pipe?

Do they know what supplies to order for a specific task?

Can they look at a muddy construction site and know where to get started?

Again this not to say an engineer could not do these things, of course they could, it ain't rocket science by a long shot. But they like anyone would need the experience before they would be qualified.

JMO, Bob

[ January 07, 2006, 08:36 PM: Message edited by: iwire ]
 
H

hardworkingstiff

Senior Member
Location
Wilmington, NC
Re: Journeyman Exam Eligibility

Originally posted by DaveTap:
You aren't kidding I just moved down from Illinois, licensed in Chicago for over 10 years, couldn't qualify for Florida so I'm taking North Carolina test... in Orlando...
Then I'll use reciprocal
Click to expand...
I think reciprocity only works if you reside in NC and work in FL. If you reside in FL, I believe you need the FL license/exam.

Let us know how this works out, good luck!
 
I

Ima Lektrishun

Member
Re: Journeyman Exam Eligibility

Originally posted by jimwalker:
I think your in for a shock as to what its like in the field.
Click to expand...
I have been in the field, the trenches too. For quite some time. I am not an engineer, I just have respect for em thats all. I was mainly responding to the reply that said
"What makes you think your qualified?" I mean cmon, such arrogance? WHat makes you think he is NOT?
LOL
 
J

jimwalker

Senior Member
Location
TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: Journeyman Exam Eligibility

I see plans every day and ask whatis this engineer thinking.They will have us runing wires from same phase to a room that needs 2 or 3 circuits instead of sharing a neutral.Sometimes i get the idea that they never wired anything.They might be qualified to draw prints but dont hand them a pair of klines.
 
J

jeff43222

Senior Member
Location
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Re: Journeyman Exam Eligibility

Originally posted by Ima Lektrishun:
Engineers should automatically be elegigible to receive electrician licenses. (provided the appropriate examination is passed).

How many electricians do you know that could actually attend AND pass electrical engineering school? IMHO These people are the "MOST" qualified.
I say this after working side by side with an EE, doing some light residential wiring in a basement, and roughing in for a genset. This guy could look at a blueprint and completely understand (And even catch a few errors) and was able to install and fascillitate installation competently and correctly. I am not sure if he had prior experience or not, but he tought me a few things.
I mulled over a problem I encountered on another job, and he definitely set off a light bulb for me. The problem included a heater element on a spa that was opened, yet it still worked (115V).

I just wanted to express my respect for the Electrical Engineers because I see alot of flaming (on other forums too)for those in the "EE" industry. Its almost as if some electricians feel "elitist" because they know a code book, and have some klein tools and what have you, While EE's have the mechanical, electrical, algebraical and physical understanding of the trade, far beyond what most people realize. Sure they need to know the code, but beyond that they understand "WHY" the code is enforced, implemented etc.
Click to expand...
Well, I went to engineering school and even got a BS in EE, and I can tell you that apart from the theoretical background in how electricity works, engineering school does very little to prepare someone to be an electrician.

I agree with Bob. Someone who has been trained as an engineer is probably well suited to learn how to be an electrician, but they still have a lot to learn in order to be able to do it. Engineering school was a lot of advanced math (mostly calculus) and theory, whereas being an electrician requires a lot of hands-on work with a wide variety of tools and materials.
 
A

andy s.

Member
Re: Journeyman Exam Eligibility

I have been on both sides of the fence. I started out as a bott apprentice working for family. My earliest recollection was when I was wiring a 480 motor. I learned real quick that phase rotation MUST be checked prior to coupling a device. Luckly for me, the grinder wasn't coupled, thus preventing costly damage.

Back to the issue... I also have a BSEE after going through the trade. Some may think that if an Engineer hasn't pulled their share of 500MCM, they don't know squat. It's a matter of opinion.

I have seen a few, very few that can walk the walk.
 
M

michael_daetwiler

Member
Location
Tampa, Florida
Re: Journeyman Exam Eligibility

Wow. I didn't expect my question to generate so many replies. Perhaps I should qualify my original statement by the fact that I was an industrial, electrical controls technician LONG before I became an electrical engineer. So, I know a little something about getting my hands dirty. That is not true with all engineers and I agree, we would be benefit greatly by actually doing some of the work we design but that is not always possible. How many nuclear engineers actually build a reator?? I was simply asking about the requirements to test. I have designed power distribution systems for commercial building and none have burnt down that I know of.....thank goodness. I just want to get into business for myself with a focus on residential and very light commercial. I realize that I must also take the contractors exam. I'm sure you all know about the dream of one day not working for the man. Thanks for the responses.
 
W

Wes G

Senior Member
Re: Journeyman Exam Eligibility

[/QUOTE]I have been in the field, the trenches too. For quite some time. I am not an engineer, I just have respect for em thats all. I was mainly responding to the reply that said
"What makes you think your qualified?" I mean cmon, such arrogance? WHat makes you think he is NOT?
LOL [/QB][/QUOTE]

Like you I have utmost respect for engineers. However their training tends to narrow the focus rather than broaden it. My son has his PHD in EE and can really give you some fine points regarding shielding properties of various materials but had no knowledge of the Code.
;)
With the training they have they are usually able to be qualified with less training than most, but that is a different question! :p
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top