masters vs er vs ec

[Tom1472]

I am trying to clarify the differences in what licenses are and what work is allowed to be done for each. This is for Florida. Any links would also be helpful.

1. Is the Masters License Just like the Jmans, where you go and take the test with a letter from the employer vouching for hours, or is there business questions also?

2. Are there any requirements as to what is needed before taking the test, ie hours or supervisory experience?

3. Is the Masters License separate from ER or EC license?

4. Is the Master Electrician allowed to work for himself doing remodels / electrical work? Example: Pull permit and do a panel change or receptacle? Do you have to have a business license included with that?

5. The ER and EC license are the only licenses that can do new construction, correct?

6. Can someone holding an active Masters license do any work as a service tech for residential and or commercial properties? Im thinking there has to be some insurance involved somewhere.

6. Not working in the office with bids and contracts, how does someone in the field get to learn the skills and knowledge or any part involved? Its almost as if you would have to know someone to teach you or get lucky and have that position fall in your lap considering project managers and owners are mostly involved.

This is what I am trying to figure out, can I go take my masters test working for a commercial contractor and have myself as an asset to that company (especially during these economic times and layoffs), and if later decide to start working for myself I can do so, doing remodels, learning how much things will cost, making mistakes on a small level first. Eventually going from residential to banks, then where ever from there. The steps of learning to someday becoming a contractor myself is what I am trying to accomplish with these questions.

Thanks,

Tom

 

[hardworkingstiff]

WHEW! OK, here goes my best effort.

I am trying to clarify the differences in what licenses are and what work is allowed to be done for each. This is for Florida. Any links would also be helpful.

1. Is the Masters License Just like the Jmans, where you go and take the test with a letter from the employer vouching for hours, or is there business questions also?

2. Are there any requirements as to what is needed before taking the test, ie hours or supervisory experience?

3. Is the Masters License separate from ER or EC license?

4. Is the Master Electrician allowed to work for himself doing remodels / electrical work? Example: Pull permit and do a panel change or receptacle? Do you have to have a business license included with that?

5. The ER and EC license are the only licenses that can do new construction, correct?

6. Can someone holding an active Masters license do any work as a service tech for residential and or commercial properties? Im thinking there has to be some insurance involved somewhere.

All of the above should be answered by reading the State Laws that cover these questions. You should know the answers from the State laws, not from someone in here (although they will most likely be correct).

6. Not working in the office with bids and contracts, how does someone in the field get to learn the skills and knowledge or any part involved? Its almost as if you would have to know someone to teach you or get lucky and have that position fall in your lap considering project managers and owners are mostly involved.

There are basically 3 ways you can obtain this knowledge. One is like you said, learning on someone else's nickel by doing these tasks for someone else. This is how I learned and it's the reason I knew how much money can/should be made. How to understand your overhead. How to budget. Sales efforts, contracts, safety training, documentation, etc. It's a good way to learn, and IMO the best way.

Another way is to go to school and be taught how a business works and could be run. This is the 2nd best way IMO.

The worst way (but the most common) is to get all of your licenses to be an EC and not have business training or experience. You wind up selling on price, not planning nor understanding what it takes to operate a business.

This is what I am trying to figure out, can I go take my masters test working for a commercial contractor and have myself as an asset to that company (especially during these economic times and layoffs), and if later decide to start working for myself I can do so, doing remodels, learning how much things will cost, making mistakes on a small level first. Eventually going from residential to banks, then where ever from there. The steps of learning to someday becoming a contractor myself is what I am trying to accomplish with these questions.

Thanks,

Tom

 

[mcclary's electrical]

I am trying to clarify the differences in what licenses are and what work is allowed to be done for each. This is for Florida. Any links would also be helpful.

1. Is the Masters License Just like the Jmans, where you go and take the test with a letter from the employer vouching for hours, or is there business questions also?

2. Are there any requirements as to what is needed before taking the test, ie hours or supervisory experience?

3. Is the Masters License separate from ER or EC license?

4. Is the Master Electrician allowed to work for himself doing remodels / electrical work? Example: Pull permit and do a panel change or receptacle? Do you have to have a business license included with that?

5. The ER and EC license are the only licenses that can do new construction, correct?

6. Can someone holding an active Masters license do any work as a service tech for residential and or commercial properties? Im thinking there has to be some insurance involved somewhere.

6. Not working in the office with bids and contracts, how does someone in the field get to learn the skills and knowledge or any part involved? Its almost as if you would have to know someone to teach you or get lucky and have that position fall in your lap considering project managers and owners are mostly involved.

This is what I am trying to figure out, can I go take my masters test working for a commercial contractor and have myself as an asset to that company (especially during these economic times and layoffs), and if later decide to start working for myself I can do so, doing remodels, learning how much things will cost, making mistakes on a small level first. Eventually going from residential to banks, then where ever from there. The steps of learning to someday becoming a contractor myself is what I am trying to accomplish with these questions.

Thanks,

Tom

I don't knoe where you're at, so my answers are based on VA

1) Yes, you prove your documented and notorized experience, and then test. Yes there's a regulatory exam along with it.
2) 10 years to test for master,,,school and work combined
3) Yes
4) Yes, lots of places allow you to pull permits with just a Master's,bnut alot of places don't. Some allow a combination of Master & Conractor, and some will not accept a tradesman card, you must have the ELE designation on your contractor's license. Also must have local business license. Many cities and counties will allow you to operate off the license in the county you are based out of,,,,but many make you buy their local license.
5) Not those licenses alone, but in combination with others.
6)Yes, if licensed to do so. Yes to insurance.
6)-2 Years of experience, paying attention, and asking questions. Yes, knowing someone to teach you can help. Come here everyday and study

 

[nyerinfl]

1. Is the Masters License Just like the Jmans, where you go and take the test with a letter from the employer vouching for hours, or is there business questions also?

You need the letter from the employers, but that is a very small portion of what you need in the application process.

2. Are there any requirements as to what is needed before taking the test, ie hours or supervisory experience?

If you're talking field experience, it's 6 years verifiable with W-2s.

3. Is the Masters License separate from ER or EC license?

The ER and EC are different classes of the master license. ER is a regional license and EC is state unlimited.

4. Is the Master Electrician allowed to work for himself doing remodels / electrical work? Example: Pull permit and do a panel change or receptacle? Do you have to have a business license included with that?

You can't do anything with your license until you qualify it to a business. You also can't pull a permit without an occupational license.

5. The ER and EC license are the only licenses that can do new construction, correct?

They are capable, if you are doing electrical work you most likely need to obtain one of these classes, preferablly EC.

6. Can someone holding an active Masters license do any work as a service tech for residential and or commercial properties? Im thinking there has to be some insurance involved somewhere.

With a master license you can run a 100% service oriented business, you need liabiliy and workers comp. However if you're the sole worker and the owner you can use a workers comp exemption, still need liability though.

6. Not working in the office with bids and contracts, how does someone in the field get to learn the skills and knowledge or any part involved? Its almost as if you would have to know someone to teach you or get lucky and have that position fall in your lap considering project managers and owners are mostly involved.

Just learn how to review the drawings, and try to pay attention to what material cost. Also try to pay attention to how many man hours go into certain tasks, then you can assign a labor rate that works for you. Also you can get something like Mike Holts Estimating guide, I've never used it but am thinking about it for the future, but for someone without experience it could be valuable.

You really need to start here;
go to mikeholt.com and on the homepage click 'Florida'
www.myfloridalicense.com - here you can download the license application, and this will provide you a lot of information. You really need to do some basic research here. Look at the application, it is large, intimidating, and a lot of work to put together.

Good luck.

 

[bphgravity]

I just want to clarify that in the state of Florida there is no such thing as a journeyman license or master license. Having a certificate of competency as a journeyman electrician or master electrician is not a LICENSE, nor qualifies an individual to perform ANY type of contracted work, INCLUDING service work.

You must obtain a license through the DBPR - ECLB (Department Business and Professional Regulation - Electrical Contractors Licensing Board) to perform any type of work in Florida OR be employed to a person licensed through the board.

Download this form to view the legal scope of work depending on license type:

http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/pro/elboard/documents/know_your_scope.pdf

Go here for licensing rules and detail:

http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/pro/elboard/index.html