NJ Licensing-Welcome to the circus!
NJ Licensing-Welcome to the circus!
Journeyman's certificate is issued at the completion of an approved apprenticeship or the completion of 5 years of field time. It renews triannually and each Journeyman has to attend a registered 10 hour code update.
Contractors license is issued after passage of the Prometric exam, which you need to complete the state application for including the essay on work experience and the work certification signed off on by employers for the previous 5 year period.
I got my J-mans after my apprenticeship was completed in about 6 months in June 06.
I submitted my license application to the state in November 2009 and they responded with a test date of March 2010. I sat the test and passed (thanks Mike) and started climbing the beanstalk. I got my congratulations letter in May 2010. The application for the license and business permit was returned 3 times due to the company name reading differently on different forms (ie.Corp. vs. corproation or Inc.) I got the business permit and license in October 2010. Once you get rejected for the monthly meeting you have to wait until the following month. It's fun. You'll get to know Judy well. I got a letter to suffice in the absence of my seal while the seal was created. The letter is good until April 2011 or until Moses comes back down the mountain with them.
If you don't stay on top of the office and visit in person to Newark, you won't keep the ball rolling. I hand delivered the application packet to the board and visited each time there was an issue.
I expected some amazing office for the almighty board of electical contractors.I found 4 cubiles with a file folder sign hanging on a paperclip chain from the drop ceiling. There are 3 girls who run the applications for everything from jman to business permit. The fourth cubicle is literally filled with applications that have issues. The island of misfit applications.
I sat the test with 300 other guys, on the second day the test was being administered for the quarter. That means around 2500 guys taking the test every year. My best friend passed a year before me and our license numbers are only 519apart. The failure rate is high.
I don't know of any provision that provides for the honoring of your license here. I have had contractors from out of state ask to "rent" my license so they can work here. Guys that install the interiors for large warehouse stores. It's easier and cheaper than jumping through the flaming hoops up here.
That all said we have always concidered the Florida exam to be head and shoulders above ours. From the way Mike sets up the prep kit for the Florida master, and what my test covered here, you may want to just take it here.
