Starting from Scratch

[buddasak]

hello gents,

this is my first visit to this forum, and hopefully many to come. i just recently got out of active duty military, serving as an IC electrician in the navy. and am working in an electrical field, however not under any supervision of a master electrician. i wish to take the exam for maryland's "limited master" license, and to do so i was hoping you could share your vast knowledge with me about how i can do this. what would i study, how to get it, and if i should be going for a different license instead, as well as how to upgrade the license to full master electrician if at all possible in the future. thank you in advance, i will be in touch.

 

[tom baker]

Re: Starting from Scratch

The rules for taking electrical exams vary widely by state. In washington state, you have to prove experience, military time can be used. first you apply and then take the exam.
What state are you taking the exam in? On mike holts site there is a list of states and there licensing requirements.

 

[friebel]

Re: Starting from Scratch

To: buddasak, You state that you are in the state of Maryland. If you are located close to the state of Delaware, I teach a course for electricians who wish to get their electrical license.
I am using Mike Holt's book "Electrical Exam Preparation". So far I have had four electricians take the Masters Exam in the state of Delaware. Two passed and two missed passing by a couple of questions. It is my opinion, that it is very helpful to attend a class with electricians who are going for their license or who just want to become more familiar with the code. Being an instructor, I get stronger with my code knowledge with every class that I teach. I teach at Delaware Technical & Community College, Stanton Campus, Newark, Delaware. If you are interested, please contact me.

 

[buddasak]

Re: Starting from Scratch

friebel,

thanks for that offer, but im sorry to decline. i work in DC, and live slightly outside it in bowie md. a 1.5 hr 1 way trip is probably too much for me to take except for once a week or maybe every 2 weeks. however, i will take your advice on the book you use to teach. im using prince george's county as my license office, and they seem to want affadavits from master electricians or my previous superiors from the military. since i dont have any contact methods to get those, do you know of a way i can show experience via military w/o personal testimonies? and any help would be greatly apprecieated. thanks again.

 

[peter]

Re: Starting from Scratch

If you decide to get Mike Holt's book "Electrical Exam Preparation", then get the 1999 edition. It includes the answers in the back of the book. Not to suggest that you will peek, but it is more useful to independent study to be able to check your answers rather than being left in the dark.
If you decide to get the current edition, then order it directly from Mike Holt's website.
For the Experior exam, I found John Traister's book more relevant.
~Peter

 

[haskindm]

Re: Starting from Scratch

Contact the state master electricians board at 410-230-6270 and get their interpretation as to whether your military experience will count toward the experience requirement. If you take the state exam. your local county will have to recognize it, you will just need to pay the license fee in whatever county you wish to work. You may also want to visit the Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation website at www.dllr.state.md.us for direct information on licensing requirements. Most community colleges provide test preparation training. Contact Prince George Community College at 301-336-6000 to see what they have to offer. I work at The College of Southern Maryland which is a little south of you. If you need additional information you may contact me at donaldh@csmd.edu.