Passing the Oregon Supervisor Exam

[Calif.C10]

Correct me if I am wrong but from what I have read and continue to read, it sounds as if this test would be difficult for Licensed PE's to pass? Makes no sense to me why a "Master Electrician" would need to know how to do these complex math formulas when someone who went to college for at least four years and then did an internship with a PE has to be able to prove their system will work in order to get a permit?

Maybe I am reading into this but for someone to be proud of such a low pass rate is almost unbelievable. I hear that Oregon is hurting for electrician's and this kind of information sort of explains why. I get you don't want just any "Tom, Dick or Harry" being able to pass the test like a walk in the park but it should be so if you actually know your $hi_, you should be able to pass this exam.

Has anyone recently taken this exam and found it to be PhD level intelligence?

 

[Cow]

I took it a few years ago when it was harder. I hear it's easier now because too many people were crying about not passing.

 

[Ponchik]

I have not takes the Oregon test but I am glad it is a hard test. Not like California's test that I think is a joke. Anyone with some common sense and basic electrical & code knowledge can pass the exam.

So I would say say see what os required study it and pass it with flying colors. If it needs extra hours to brush up on the math, hey, why not, do it. Put yourself up to the challenge.

 

[Calif.C10]

I have not takes the Oregon test but I am glad it is a hard test. Not like California's test that I think is a joke. Anyone with some common sense and basic electrical & code knowledge can pass the exam.

So I would say say see what os required study it and pass it with flying colors. If it needs extra hours to brush up on the math, hey, why not, do it. Put yourself up to the challenge.

Edward,

California's test has become somewhat more difficult to pass just because of your comment. Probably around a 50% first time fail rate these days-mostly because people are too lazy to study-very simple reason-just too lazy... But if Oregon's test has a 15-20% first time fail rate, I would challenge a licensed Electrical Engineer to take the exam.

 

[Ponchik]

Edward,

California's test has become somewhat more difficult to pass just because of your comment. Probably around a 50% first time fail rate these days-mostly because people are too lazy to study-very simple reason-just too lazy... But if Oregon's test has a 15-20% first time fail rate, I would challenge a licensed Electrical Engineer to take the exam.

I do agree that people (the newer generation in skilled trade) are LAZY. And it is has a lot to do with technology (cell phone, youtube and and the ability to take online classes)

Just because someone has an electrical engineering degree it does not mean they can pass an electrician's exam or do any electrical work.

 

[stevenje]

Just because someone has an electrical engineering degree it does not mean they can pass an electrician's exam or do any electrical work.

Exam Specifics:
Open-book examination, two sections. Section one contains 52 questions with code and calculations. Section two contains 12 questions. This section is all calculation. (four hour time limit.)

The catch is you must pass each section with a 75% score or better. If you fail either section of the test you fail the entire test.

On the 12 question section they give you a multi-faceted load calculation for a building(s) that includes from high voltage transformers all the way down to branch circuit receptacle loads and everything in between. If you miscalculated something along the way it effects something else. One wrong answer leads to another. On the test that I took, 8 of the 12 questions where based on this massive load calculation. This one eats up the clock.

I have no doubt that most electrical engineers could answer at least 75% of all of the code and calculations questions correctly. I do question if they could pass the test, if only allowed the 4 hour time limit to complete it.

Always remember. I passed the test, so how hard can it really be!

 

[OregonSE]

Oregon GSE

Oregon GSE

Exam Specifics:
Open-book examination, two sections. Section one contains 52 questions with code and calculations. Section two contains 12 questions. This section is all calculation. (four hour time limit.)

The catch is you must pass each section with a 75% score or better. If you fail either section of the test you fail the entire test.

On the 12 question section they give you a multi-faceted load calculation for a building(s) that includes from high voltage transformers all the way down to branch circuit receptacle loads and everything in between. If you miscalculated something along the way it effects something else. One wrong answer leads to another. On the test that I took, 8 of the 12 questions where based on this massive load calculation. This one eats up the clock.

I have no doubt that most electrical engineers could answer at least 75% of all of the code and calculations questions correctly. I do question if they could pass the test, if only allowed the 4 hour time limit to complete it.

I passed it a few years back also and it took some studying. John Powell's class for the prep was a must. Without that class, I don't think I ever would have passed. I had heard back then it was a 5% pass rate. The first time I took it, I thought I knew everything. Boy was I humbled. For those in the future, I advise taking his course to know what your up against.

 

[Calif.C10]

Taking the test for the second time....

Taking the test for the second time....

Well, I got my butt kicked pretty hard on the first go at this exam. I wish I would have been able to find the John Powell website I have been hearing about and purchased his material. And I studied pretty hard for it but as they say, if you get question one wrong (On Exam second part), you are set up for failure.:weeping:

The test is as hard as everyone lead me to believe. It is a no joke exam and you had better know load calculations AND Oregon's OAR's or you are in trouble. I am going to hit the 2nd part first and get the load calc section out of the way first.

 

[benedetti]

Passed

Passed

I passed the exam but remember some tough calculation questions that had my head smoking a bit. Good luck!

 

[Sparky1999]

Oregon Test

Oregon Test

Not easy if you haven't taken John Powell's class. He helped write 90% of the tests and he will tell you that in his class. I took another class and had to figure out what he was doing in his class from someone that took it. Major calc problems with resi ranges and dryers and also taking a continuous load in factor on an optional calc which is CONNECTED load only. If you can carry two lines down for different scenarios like I did you can pass. It's just knowing what they are doing. I had to single line my ungrounded from balanced and phase balance my Neutral from single line. Little tricky but aced it. STUDY!!!