Licenses In Different States

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bigsid

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Why Do We Have To Take Another Test In Order To Get Our License In Another State If Were Already Licensed As A Master Or Journeymen Electrician? I Think We Should Only Take One Test Because There Is Only One Nec, Right!! I'm Currently In The Navy And Hold A Master License From Virginia. I Can See Paying A Small Fee But, Paying To Take Another Test On The Same Information And Being Told That U Have To Start All Over In Texas As An Apprentice Is A Joke. Let Me Know What U Think About This Situation.
 
Some states are entering into reciprocating agreement with other states. This is based upon mostly politics in my opinion, but they also are concerned that other states have a NEC test just as difficult as their own and that they have similar apprentice documentation.

Texas new state license is a big deal to them. My Oklahoma license will not reciprocate with theirs, yet. But, Oklahoma reciprocates with Arkansas, and Arkansas with Louisiana, and Louisiana with Texas. I think it would be faster for me to take the Texas test than to jump all those hurtles. :rolleyes:
 
It's not really as simple as having a one license fits all. Some jurisdictions have local licensing which translates into big dollars for their local governments. IMO that borders on corruption but we can leave that argument for another day.:roll:

And not everyone follows the NEC. Some have their own versions of the NEC. Jurisdictions are free to adopt whatever code standards that they choose and to charge licensees accordingly. It's more about home rule than safety.
 
bigsid said:
Why Do We Have To Take Another Test In Order To Get Our License In Another State If Were Already Licensed As A Master Or Journeymen Electrician? I Think We Should Only Take One Test Because There Is Only One Nec, Right!! I'm Currently In The Navy And Hold A Master License From Virginia. I Can See Paying A Small Fee But, Paying To Take Another Test On The Same Information And Being Told That U Have To Start All Over In Texas As An Apprentice Is A Joke. Let Me Know What U Think About This Situation.
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Ever hear of States rights?

Be careful what you wish for.
 
LawnGuyLandSparky said:
Ever hear of States rights?
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What about my rights? My right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?

I don't need to take a driving test in any of the other 49 states (as well as Canada, I'm not sure about Mexico) if I drive there. Yet am I not as lethal (in regards to my capacity to kill others) with a 5,000-lb vehicle as I am with electricty? If I can go driving along, merrily text-messaging my buddies as I go, and take out some poor family going to the grocery store, I can also be text-messaging on the job, screw something up, and kill everyone in the building.

OK. I'm done ranting. :smile:
 
480sparky said:
What about my rights? My right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?

I don't need to take a driving test in any of the other 49 states (as well as Canada, I'm not sure about Mexico) if I drive there. Yet am I not as lethal (in regards to my capacity to kill others) with a 5,000-lb vehicle as I am with electricty? If I can go driving along, merrily text-messaging my buddies as I go, and take out some poor family going to the grocery store, I can also be text-messaging on the job, screw something up, and kill everyone in the building.

OK. I'm done ranting. :smile:
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Hey, don't hold back on my account. :grin:

Licensing has always been a local thing, because enforcement doesn't work too well then the contractor from California who violated codes in NY is thousands of miles away. Remember, due to our intimate contact and familiarity with inspectors and codes, they're not a big deal, but the reality is that when a contractor violates code s/he has committed a crime.

If you don't correct a red tag, a court appearance is required.

It has always been in the best intrests of the public at large that contractors are local, and not fly-by-night bands of disappearing gypsies.

Your right to transport yourself anywhere in the country is far greater than a perceived right to the unfettered ability to ply a professional trade anywhere you want. There are a vast array of reasons behind this I won't get into, but as we can all witness from this site - despite using the same code, local conditions, variables and translations certianly differ.

BTW - if your hands so much as touch a cellphone in NY while you're driving, you've committed a crime. Here it's hands-free only.

You may, however, wolf down Big Macs to your heart's content, or read the paper. (We have no "distracted driving" laws.)
 
Not all States use the same code cycle of the NEC as well....NJ is currently on the '05....some States are still using '02, '99 ~ even earlier; some States may have even adapted the '08.
....and all with their own amendments....like NJ having NOT accepted 210.12(B).

What code year is Virginia on?
 
celtic said:
Not all States use the same code cycle of the NEC as well....NJ is currently on the '05....some States are still using '02, '99 ~ even earlier; some States may have even adapted the '08.
....and all with their own amendments....like NJ having NOT accepted 210.12(B).

What code year is Virginia on?
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Seems VA has been moving some of there sites, or bad listing from Search engines based on find things "VA Baby" :)

VA Dept. of Commerce - State Board of Contractors is who controls the electrical liscense ( the home site seems Down) from a google cross link but
http://www.commerce.virginia.gov/ is up !

based on http://www.dpor.virginia.gov

http://www.dpor.virginia.gov/dporweb/tra_reg.pdf
shows some direct numbers and one of those is,

"To make an inquiry regarding the board or its regulations" (804) 367-8511
based from
http://www.dpor.virginia.gov

Editted to add
Look at the Date of this page May 15, 2007
http://deb.dgs.virginia.gov/NEC_training.asp

I hope I got all this Right ! "Oh, that Sweet Va Breeze ..."
 
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And some states take the NEC more seriously, having a more comprehensive test. Took a few test that IMO were way too SIMPLE, one that had trick questions and several that were very thorough.
 
it's been my experience that their is a huge difference when it comes to j-man license's from state to state. One shop I worked at had a Florida 2yr, Boston Master, Chicago Master, Ohio 2 yr and a Virginia 2yr. I currently have a 2 yr from Washington and the hours/tests needed to get my card were way different than some of those guys. The guy with the Virginia card had zero field experience (vocational school if I remember correctly) and had a card. The Chicago Master had 4 yrs of school+4 yrs in the field+a couple years as a foreman I think. Check out the requirements to get your card in Oregon if you want to see craziness. I think some states take their electrical certifications/qualifications more serious than others.
 
The guy with the Virginia card had zero field experience (vocational school if I remember correctly) and had a card.
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Then he lied or forged documents, It may that follow up on required letters of years in trade is minimal.
 
I don't know where you guys all got your licenses, but the CA test has very little to do with the NEC. It had trade related and blueprint reading questions and some calculations for the first 4 hours and then it was all business related questions for the next 4 hours. Of course that was twenty years ago, you can now take it on the computer.

My inspectors test, of course, was all NEC related.

I would not have a problem with transfering your license from state to state, but I think it should be like your drivers license. If you move there you have six months and then you have to pay a fee and transfer to that states license.

No jumping from state to state, for the reasons that someone else stated, as you could just run off and no one could track you down. If you just want to work in a seperate state then I think you should have to hold licenses in each state.

I don't believe that a national license would be a viable option. I believe that this came up about drivers licenses several years back and everyone balked that it smacked of communisim.
 
out of state licenses

out of state licenses

I felt the same way before I had my out of state licenses but have changed my opinion after passing the exam in other states. I origionaly got my license in MA, which is where I live. NH and VT are reciprical so I got thoses as well. CT and RI require that you take and pass their exam. The fact that I have those licenses makes me more valueable (expensive, HA HA) to my company compared to someone who has only passed the MA exam. If you want to make more money you need to invest more time and effort into making yourself more valuable, that's what it boils down to.
 
I've been doing electrical for years now and i think; we as electricians should be able to go to any state and adapt to local juridictions rules even if there not up to speed with new codes or have a certain way of doing things. Responsibility is still responsibility and that's just being smart and knowing that your doing what's right by the code and #1 being safe.
 
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