Moving from Georgia to Denver Colorado. Need advice please..

[IBEW4life]

Ok so im transferring from IBEW local 613 to Local 68 in Colorado and found out that I need a license to work in the state but does that include still working under a contractor? In Georgia, I dont need a license to be hired by a contractor and work so Im not familiar with Colorado's rules. Also, I have done union work for 7 years in commercial and industrial work and started non-union doing residential for 3 years. The areas I lack in are motor controls and Theory which i left off taking dc/ac theory in school.

I'm planning on moving sometime early 2015 to Colorado and would like some advice on books, or online prep classes i could take to prepare for the Colorado master or jw license.

Also, I assume I can show proof of work history and hours by having my union hall submit my work hours to colorado's electrical board right or how does that work?

 

[kwired]

Do you hold any kind of license now? If so check to see if it has reciprocity with CO. You may still need to pay for a CO license but likely wouldn't need to take any exam to get equivalent license.

Not knowing CO requirements - here you could always register as an apprentice - but that would mean you need to work under journeyman or higher supervision. (basically you couldn't work alone or as the worksite supervisor with only an apprentice registration) This optoion at least would allow you to work immediately with conditions, all you need here for apprentice registration is to fill out the form and submit registration fee.

 

[IBEW4life]

No I dont have any kind of license because in the state of georgia you can perform electrical work without being a licensed electrician even if you are a journeymen in the union, the state only requires a license to permit work thats it. Colorado doesn't accept licenses from Georgia so I have to basically study and take their test for a license to work there. I just did some research earlier and found some more info out. I heard Larry Bobo makes a workbook and offers classes to prep for the exam so im thinking about getting his workbook first and maybe taking some prep courses if needed. http://www.bobotechnologies.com/ <-- that Larry's website for prep training and workbooks.

 

[sparkyrich]

moving to Co.

moving to Co.

Congratulations for moving to Colorado. Its a great place. I am not an IBEW but I am a current electrician. If you are going for your JW, you will need letters of hours worked from all of your previous employers. As long as you have those, Colorado will give you the opportunity to test. BoBo has a pretty good crash course on the test. Good luck.

 

[amir7500]

You need license to move here.

 

[IBEW4life]

Cool thanks everyone for the info. I have Bobo's workbook on the way and I'm already studying with practice tests and going over the code book on possible test questions. I also have all my working hours and all i have to do is request those hours from my union hall and they'll have everything on paper with all the companies iv worked for and hours of each company so I'm good there.

 

[kwired]

You need license to move here.

To move or to do electrical work?:blink:

 

[IBEW4life]

Another question i have about Colorado and the exam.. Are you allowed to bring a calculator and/or use your NEC codebook?

 

[Ponchik]

You need license to move here.

To move or to do electrical work?:blink:

I was going to ask the same question.

I think we know what he meant. :happyyes:


What??You don't have a license??? You can't move. :lol:

 

[texie]

Another question i have about Colorado and the exam.. Are you allowed to bring a calculator and/or use your NEC codebook?

For the Colorado electrical exams you have to use their code book. Not sure if they still allow you to use your own calculator. PSI now does the testing for Colorado. Here is the official test bulletin: https://candidate.psiexams.com/bull...actionname=83&bulletinid=558&bulletinurl=.pdf

You can also request to test out of state-see last page of bulletin.

 

[IBEW4life]

For the Colorado electrical exams you have to use their code book. Not sure if they still allow you to use your own calculator. PSI now does the testing for Colorado. Here is the official test bulletin: https://candidate.psiexams.com/bull...actionname=83&bulletinid=558&bulletinurl=.pdf

You can also request to test out of state-see last page of bulletin.

Ok, so basicaly its almost like the state test here which is use their codebook but the calculator must only be a basic calculator and not one that does fractions or be scientific... As far as testing out of state is not really necessary because i have family that lives in Durango CO, and my mother is retired from the airlines so i fly on a buddy pass which makes traveling cheap for me. BoBo's workbook came in the mail this morning and I believe ill pass the exam for colorado just fine. The calculations part of the exam is what i need major studying on but as far as knowing basic code, i learned that out in the field which my 7 years of industrial and commercial experience. Im going to study for about a month or so and then take the JW part of the exam.

 

[ActionDave]

Ok, so basicaly its almost like the state test here which is use their codebook but the calculator must only be a basic calculator and not one that does fractions or be scientific... As far as testing out of state is not really necessary because i have family that lives in Durango CO, and my mother is retired from the airlines so i fly on a buddy pass which makes traveling cheap for me. BoBo's workbook came in the mail this morning and I believe ill pass the exam for colorado just fine. The calculations part of the exam is what i need major studying on but as far as knowing basic code, i learned that out in the field which my 7 years of industrial and commercial experience. Im going to study for about a month or so and then take the JW part of the exam.

I'm sure if you study you'll be fine. I would not get hung up on the math. I passed first try and I am terrible at math. There is no question that would require anything more than a basic calculator... pipe fill, motor conductor sizes and the like.

The best advice I ever got about my JW exam came form my cranky 'ole journeyman, "The test is about knowing how to take a test and how to use the index in your codebook."

BTW, Denver is not a bad place to live but there are some better places... just sayin'.

 

[iwire]

as far as knowing basic code, i learned that out in the field

I would not assume that you know the code, look up each question in the book. The code is always changing and often things we think are codes are simply local customs or job specs.

 

[George Stolz]

That's the biggest thing on the CO JW test; navigating the code, and filling in the blank with the missing word they want you to find. You will need to have someone fill out the Affidavit of Time from the state, they haven't taken Letters of Time in a long time. They may make exceptions for out-of-state applicants, but it would probably grease the wheels to use the form they provide.

 

[IBEW4life]

I'm sure if you study you'll be fine. I would not get hung up on the math. I passed first try and I am terrible at math. There is no question that would require anything more than a basic calculator... pipe fill, motor conductor sizes and the like.

The best advice I ever got about my JW exam came form my cranky 'ole journeyman, "The test is about knowing how to take a test and how to use the index in your codebook."

BTW, Denver is not a bad place to live but there are some better places... just sayin'.

Good info. Ill definitely take your advice and as far as the math goes i just needed to refresh my mind on how to solve fractions, converting into decimals then to percents and vise versa without using a calculator which i've used all my life out of high school. Bobo's workbook covered fractions and all the basics pretty good in the beginning and Im breezing right along.

I'm actually moving to Aurora, CO which is just outside of Denver not actualy in denver, sorry. Colorado Springs was my first choice but the local there has no work and all the work is in Denver. Plus where my apartments are that im looking to moving into are 15 minutes from downtown, the mountains, and a 5 minute walk to the nearest light rail station so ill definitely conserve on gas and everything is very close to me within 20 minutes.

 

[IBEW4life]

That's the biggest thing on the CO JW test; navigating the code, and filling in the blank with the missing word they want you to find. You will need to have someone fill out the Affidavit of Time from the state, they haven't taken Letters of Time in a long time. They may make exceptions for out-of-state applicants, but it would probably grease the wheels to use the form they provide.

Thanks for the tip. And I'm not familiar with the whole process of turning in hours and taking the for the state board but what evers easier and faster ill sure do. I was getting first things done first which is study for the exam and get comfortable with everything before requesting to take the exam. I give it about a month and ill be ready to take the test though. Everything else I assume i can look up on the Colorado electrical boards website..

 

[IBEW4life]

I would not assume that you know the code, look up each question in the book. The code is always changing and often things we think are codes are simply local customs or job specs.

Im starting to see that. I just got a new 2014 codebook and I've been using the 2008

 

[kwired]

Im starting to see that. I just got a new 2014 codebook and I've been using the 2008

If I were you I would find something containing listing of 2011 code changes as well as 2014 code changes and read through them, as there have been a lot of changes, especially effecting the dwelling unit areas, you may not have done much work in dwellings but you are likely still going to see questions that relate to this area.

I believe NFPA has publications each code cycle with such change information, but there are other places you can find such information that may not even cost anything.

 

[IBEW4life]

If I were you I would find something containing listing of 2011 code changes as well as 2014 code changes and read through them, as there have been a lot of changes, especially effecting the dwelling unit areas, you may not have done much work in dwellings but you are likely still going to see questions that relate to this area.

I believe NFPA has publications each code cycle with such change information, but there are other places you can find such information that may not even cost anything.

lol.. It just so happens that one of the classes I attended at the NJATC which is the school for union members in atlanta, was the "Significant Changes to the NEC 2008" class back in 2010 as well as changes to 2011 back in 2012. I also still have the book for that class with the exact same title as the class i took in-case anyone might wanna buy it on amazon.com or look it up. So good tip bud and I will defiantly pay attention to that area as well!!