westernexplorer
Senior Member
If you are going to work in a metro-area or small geographic area, what is the advantage of being a State Certtified Contractor over just having your local license and being a Registered Contractor?
State Masters versus County Masters
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Podagrower
Member
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- Central Fl
Assuming your still talking Florida, if you want/need to work in just one county a county master's license and state registration will work just fine.
But...
You cannot pull fire alarm permits and a few other specialties, I'm sure DBPR has a complete list.
Now the biggest hurtle for an "outsider". Orange county(I cannot speak for others) required (may have changed) that you hold a journeymans license for six years before you can apply for a masters. When I took mine, this was a no if, ands, or buts rule. No substitions allowed.
Also, ER is required to be bonded by a lot more locations. You need a bond for the county your masters is from, bonds for the big cities, bonds for the next county
Good Luck
But...
You cannot pull fire alarm permits and a few other specialties, I'm sure DBPR has a complete list.
Now the biggest hurtle for an "outsider". Orange county(I cannot speak for others) required (may have changed) that you hold a journeymans license for six years before you can apply for a masters. When I took mine, this was a no if, ands, or buts rule. No substitions allowed.
Also, ER is required to be bonded by a lot more locations. You need a bond for the county your masters is from, bonds for the big cities, bonds for the next county
Good Luck
westernexplorer
Senior Member
Thanks,
I was talking about Florida, What about the counties that don't license electrical contractors. For the most part I can't see myself traveling all over Florida to work, considering I plan on working in a Metro-County....Most of what I will do will be in a 10 square mile area....
I was talking about Florida, What about the counties that don't license electrical contractors. For the most part I can't see myself traveling all over Florida to work, considering I plan on working in a Metro-County....Most of what I will do will be in a 10 square mile area....
Podagrower
Member
- Location
- Central Fl
The only county I have experience with that does not do it's own licensing is seminole. They reciprocate your county masters and register your ER license for just a small fee, with no bond needed. Sounds great, oh wait, you have to have been pulling permits with your ER for five years
.
I think it really comes down to more up front hassle with the EC versus more hassles down the road with the ER
.I think it really comes down to more up front hassle with the EC versus more hassles down the road with the ER
westernexplorer
Senior Member
From everything I have read, it seems to be the case that the State and Local licensing rules are set up to turn away even qualified people from starting Electrical Contracting Business. That can mean only one thing.......too many contractors in Florida already... I can tell you having worked in 12 States that it is not Rocket Science...it's just Electrical Work. I guess the other 49 States have it all wrong in Florida's eyes.....
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