Kentucky Proposed Provisional one Year License

[Greg1707]

There is an article in the current ECM magazine regarding a proposed change in Kentucky's licensing of electricians. Citing a shortage of licensed electricians, which is disputed by others, legislation is in the works to provide a one year non renewable license to people with sufficient experience in the field. A contractor is quoted saying he has several great electricians working for him that, unfortunately, are unable to pass the state exam and therefore are unable to obtain their licenses. His hope is that having a provisional license for one year will give these guys the confidence to pass the written test. That does not make any sense to me. But to my question.

I am based in Virginia. When I am out and about on residential jobs I don't think anyone working on the job has a licenses. This includes all trades not just electric. Of course, there must be a master back at the office, but the people in the field are considered technicians. So if this is the case in other states as well, I can understand a concern about a labor shortage in the trades but not the concern that insufficient numbers of people are passing the state exam.

Any insights in this. Perhaps, this is a good discussion for LABOR DAY!

 

[growler]

His hope is that having a provisional license for one year will give these guys the confidence to pass the written test. That does not make any sense to me.

I used to know a guy that had over 30 years of experience and maybe 20 years as a job foreman and couldn't pass the written test. He refused to study for the test.

He only did light commercial work and I kept telling him that the test is broader than that. Even if you never hook up a mobile home there may be questions on this area of electrical.

If you are smart enough to be an electrician you can pass the test with enough study. Some people are just lazy or hard headed and refuse to open a book.

 

[ptonsparky]

....

If you are smart enough to be an electrician you can pass the test with enough study. Some people are just lazy or hard headed and refuse to open a book.

Are you really an electrician if you can’t pass the test?

That said, I make sure I have my CEUs because I do not want to test again.

 

[Coppersmith]

There is an article in the current ECM magazine regarding a proposed change in Kentucky's licensing of electricians. Citing a shortage of licensed electricians, which is disputed by others, legislation is in the works to provide a one year non renewable license to people with sufficient experience in the field. A contractor is quoted saying he has several great electricians working for him that, unfortunately, are unable to pass the state exam and therefore are unable to obtain their licenses. His hope is that having a provisional license for one year will give these guys the confidence to pass the written test. That does not make any sense to me.

Are we talking about a JW license or a master's license?

If it's a JW license, I'm not too concerned since the Master is supposed to check their work. (Yes, I know they probably aren't.)

If it the master's license, then I object. These tests are designed to make sure a person is qualified to do this work safely and not endanger others. It's pretty sad in my opinion if they are making it easier for people who can't pass. They are going to hurt somebody.

If someone is too dumb or too lazy to pass, they do not deserve the license.

 

[tortuga]

Here is the info:
http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/18rs/SB78.htm
http://dhbc.ky.gov/ed/ei/el/Pages/FAQ's.aspx
Sounds like a mess.
What happens when these guys cant work legally anymore in two years?
"Cash Electric" opens up shop out of a unmarked pickup truck near you.
Why not just create a residential only license that requires 4000 hours?
Now you get a influx of less experienced workers doing the resi, and experinced workers can move on to more complex projects.
Then the resi guys can gain experience and test up to a JW after two years.

 

[Adamjamma]

Why not require a group of tests and hands on to qualify for residential... showing you know that part but not allowing you to contract..only to work for others, until you get enough hours or pass a higher license? I mean, you have got a load of guys like me that have never been able to afford the trade schools and every penny goes into the home and kids and such, even with two incomes... yet we are smart enough and have enough knowledge to test our way up... just cannot seem to get on the ladder...
Worse yet is the ones that truly do try to learn the code, on their own, at the public library and other such places, and know more than home diyers but just cannot get the right job... I used to drive taxi 18 hours a day just keeping a roof over my daughters heads, food in their bellies, and books paid for for them... only to have two of them tell me that because I was always at work i must not have loved them... would love right now to be living in Kentucky so I could try to get that test done and get a chance..lol...

 

[tortuga]

Why not require a group of tests and hands on to qualify for residential... showing you know that part but not allowing you to contract..only to work for others, until you get enough hours or pass a higher license?

Yeah a JW (Journeyman Wireman) and (out in the western US where we have a Limited Residential Journeyman license)they are not allowed to contract. Only a master ("administrator" in WA/"supervisor" in OR/ "C10" in CA as they are called) and even then only with proper insurance/business registrations/business licencing etc.

I mean, you have got a load of guys like me that have never been able to afford the trade schools and every penny goes into the home and kids and such, even with two incomes... yet we are smart enough and have enough knowledge to test our way up... just cannot seem to get on the ladder...
Worse yet is the ones that truly do try to learn the code, on their own, at the public library and other such places, and know more than home diyers but just cannot get the right job... I used to drive taxi 18 hours a day just keeping a roof over my daughters heads, food in their bellies, and books paid for for them... only to have two of them tell me that because I was always at work i must not have loved them... would love right now to be living in Kentucky so I could try to get that test done and get a chance..lol...

Yeah I here ya
Is trade school required in Jamaica? What would it take to get a license there? I know they use the NEC there.
Some Jurisdictions dont require trade school you just need to be employed by a contractor as a "trainee" longer.

 

[romex jockey]

There is an article in the current ECM magazine regarding a proposed change in Kentucky's licensing of electricians. Citing a shortage of licensed electricians, which is disputed by others, legislation is in the works to provide a one year non renewable license to people with sufficient experience in the field. A contractor is quoted saying he has several great electricians working for him that, unfortunately, are unable to pass the state exam and therefore are unable to obtain their licenses. His hope is that having a provisional license for one year will give these guys the confidence to pass the written test. That does not make any sense to me. But to my question.

I am based in Virginia. When I am out and about on residential jobs I don't think anyone working on the job has a licenses. This includes all trades not just electric. Of course, there must be a master back at the office, but the people in the field are considered technicians. So if this is the case in other states as well, I can understand a concern about a labor shortage in the trades but not the concern that insufficient numbers of people are passing the state exam.

Any insights in this. Perhaps, this is a good discussion for LABOR DAY!

More fodder for the WOL (war on labor) engineered to devalue us

~RJ~

 

[Greg1707]

There is an article in the current ECM magazine regarding a proposed change in Kentucky's licensing of electricians. Citing a shortage of licensed electricians, which is disputed by others, legislation is in the works to provide a one year non renewable license to people with sufficient experience in the field. A contractor is quoted saying he has several great electricians working for him that, unfortunately, are unable to pass the state exam and therefore are unable to obtain their licenses. His hope is that having a provisional license for one year will give these guys the confidence to pass the written test. That does not make any sense to me. But to my question.

I am based in Virginia. When I am out and about on residential jobs I don't think anyone working on the job has a licenses. This includes all trades not just electric. Of course, there must be a master back at the office, but the people in the field are considered technicians. So if this is the case in other states as well, I can understand a concern about a labor shortage in the trades but not the concern that insufficient numbers of people are passing the state exam.

Any insights in this. Perhaps, this is a good discussion for LABOR DAY!

This sounds like a solution in search of a problem. There may be a shortage of people willing to work in the field but I doubt there is a problem with insufficient numbers of licensed workers.

 

[Adamjamma]

Yeah a JW (Journeyman Wireman) and (out in the western US where we have a Limited Residential Journeyman license)they are not allowed to contract. Only a master ("administrator" in WA/"supervisor" in OR/ "C10" in CA as they are called) and even then only with proper insurance/business registrations/business licencing etc.

Yeah I here ya
Is trade school required in Jamaica? What would it take to get a license there? I know they use the NEC there.
Some Jurisdictions dont require trade school you just need to be employed by a contractor as a "trainee" longer.

Jamaica does not officially use the NEC... the last partially adopted standard was the International Electric Code..lol.. before that was an early BS7671... and the closest current standard to the hodgepodge of electrical code in Jamaica is the old Canadian.. Wire colors are old Canadian/ old British... IE Red Live, Black Neutral, Green or Green with Yellow Stripe or Bare ground... Max 3 outlets on any kitchen circuit, Max 10 lights per lighting circuit...lol... Recent changes are dedicated fridge, freezer, and microwave circuits...No GFCI or RCD so far...
But they are talking of adopting the NEC... it has been talked about since 2001, however...lol...