This question keeps coming my way "Qualified/Certified"

[Strahan]

First let me point out this is referencing the state of PA and a rural community without any requirements besides for purchasing a permit. I have been asked many times if I was a certified electrician. My reply is in the state of PA there is no such thing except for certain areas (not mine). Here is a scenario homeowner wants addition wired and the local inspector tells him he needs a certified electrician to do the wiring other than the new general contractor liscensing going into effect which to me really means nothing as far as meaning someone is qualified to do the work what is he talking about?

Another scenario I have been asked to replace main panel at friends house and I said fine. He contacted insurance agency to see if it was covered due to water damage they said that they needed a certified electrician to determine if water was the cause and to replace the panel if it was. They seem to be throwing this term around very loosely maybe they should realize that PA has no statewide testing in place for electricians.

Other than feeling the way I do meaning PA should put a state wide test in place how do you guys feel about this? Comments etc.... am I missing something?

 

[brother]

First let me point out this is referencing the state of PA and a rural community without any requirements besides for purchasing a permit. I have been asked many times if I was a certified electrician. My reply is in the state of PA there is no such thing except for certain areas (not mine). Here is a scenario homeowner wants addition wired and the local inspector tells him he needs a certified electrician to do the wiring other than the new general contractor liscensing going into effect which to me really means nothing as far as meaning someone is qualified to do the work what is he talking about?

Another scenario I have been asked to replace main panel at friends house and I said fine. He contacted insurance agency to see if it was covered due to water damage they said that they needed a certified electrician to determine if water was the cause and to replace the panel if it was. They seem to be throwing this term around very loosely maybe they should realize that PA has no statewide testing in place for electricians.

Other than feeling the way I do meaning PA should put a state wide test in place how do you guys feel about this? Comments etc.... am I missing something?

I think they should!! It would definitely help with the 'wages' for a jw. What is an electricians wage anyways in PA?? not to mention a person has to have a license just to do hair, or go fishing, but they dont need a license to wire buildings that can cause a fire??

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

Maybe this is a sign for you to go to one of the areas that tests for licensing and take the test. It is not a bad idea to be able to say you have a license. How far are you from Scranton..do they test for licensing?

 

[Strahan]

Maybe this is a sign for you to go to one of the areas that tests for licensing and take the test. It is not a bad idea to be able to say you have a license. How far are you from Scranton..do they test for licensing?

Yes I agree and wish they had a state wide test so I knew exactly what test I needed to take. I never thought of testing in a different area but that sounds like a winner.

 

[Dnkldorf]

I think they should!! It would definitely help with the 'wages' for a jw.

Can you explain how?

What is an electricians wage anyways in PA??

It depends on the employer, and the employee, and the project.
As with anywhere, some employers don't pay diddly, and some employees aren't worth crap.

not to mention a person has to have a license just to do hair, or go fishing, but they dont need a license to wire buildings that can cause a fire??

The hair license is for health reasons, the fishing license is a scam for revenue by the government, and PA has no bigger problem with electrical fires than states with state wide licensing..(that I know of)

 

[ultramegabob]

If you take some of these classes, you get a certificate, and then you can say you are "certified".....

http://www.electricleague.com/content.agent?page_name=Education

 

[Strahan]

If you take some of these classes, you get a certificate, and then you can say you are "certified".....

http://www.electricleague.com/content.agent?page_name=Education

Wait a minute maybe I'm jumping the gun because I'm responding without reading your link but I attended vo-tech my senior year of high school and received a certificate does that mean I'm certified I certainly hope not. Sorry to jump but that just struck me. Besides for that I do have a degree also but that still doesn't deem me a "certified" electrician. I think the best approach for myself is to do what Pierre mentioned until PA comes up with something state wide.
As far as I'm concerned each city can still have their own but it would just make things easier for "electricians" if they had a state wide test. (maybe not the fly by night outfits though). What is stopping them from putting this into effect the state would benefit from this.

 

[Strahan]

Ok I took a quick look at this and 90% of this I had in college. Does my degree mean I'm certified? I don't mean to downgrade what your saying so don't take it the wrong way I just feel there needs to be some clarification for PA.

 

[ultramegabob]

what is your degree in?

 

[Strahan]

what is your degree in?

ET Electrical Technology Associates Penn College. Plus the senior year at Sun Vo-Tech "Electrical Occupations"

 

[ultramegabob]

I would think that that is enought to honestly say you are "certified" Its not a license, but it is a paper from an organization that says you completed a certain task and are qualified in what they trained you.... Now if someone wants to be specific in what your certification is in, it may or may not be enough....

 

[jimmyglen]

I might take a little heat for this

you have your degree

and if you are an insured and bonded electrician (that only does electrical work)

then I would tell them that I am a "certified electrician"

now this wouldnt hold water most places but in your case it sounds to me like you are as good an anyone else around that area

just my 2 cents

 

[ultramegabob]

My wife would say that I am "Certifiable"

 

[Strahan]

Thanks guys my last reply vanished computer issues! I feel I'am qualified and will take the path Pierre suggested until PA does something different. I just personally don't believe registering with the commonwealth and proof of insurance is enough; although certain inspectors and insurance companies like to throw the word "certified" out there as of now it really doesn't exist in PA. I would as well as you all deserve to be recognized for what you do. Thanks guys "I don't make the rules I just have to follow them"

 

[Strahan]

I might take a little heat for this

you have your degree

and if you are an insured and bonded electrician (that only does electrical work)

then I would tell them that I am a "certified electrician"

now this wouldnt hold water most places but in your case it sounds to me like you are as good an anyone else around that area

just my 2 cents

Thank you!! No offense to anyone please but what I've found in my area is that the local inspectors really have less credentials than the ones performing the work. They know the common things to look for nothing more. I was involved in a panel installation years ago the complete details slip my mind but anyhow he called me on my ground rod and my GEC size when I showed him my code reference he mumbled that him and all the other inspectors had agreed that was wrong and wanted their way. Yea he was baffled when I pulled out the code book and layed it in front of him.

 

[Rewire]

Our state has no required liscense but leaves it to municipalities,I hold my masters in the city I have my shop located but in several of the towns we work in their is no requirement.

 

[Sharpie]

I went through a 4 yr. apprenticeship program through PA dept. of Labor & Industry. My employer had to do some paperwork and applications to fall within L&Is guidelines. They wanted to see what educational courses (a certain amount of hours) I was taking (and my grades), and documentation of my hours (8,000 total) spent in various on the job training tasks.
I started with ABC schooling and then went to Penn Foster/Thompson home correspondence courses (all had to be approved by L&I).

I was working under other Electricians the entire time.

I've held my Journeyperson's Certification for a couple of years now. I would recommend the program to anyone, however this does not make you licensed (since there is no state-wide license).

 

[Len]

certified electrician

certified electrician

PA has a cert. for master electrician. You need to go to iccsafe.org
If you work in Pottstown you will need this. This is the State test that PA does not require YET! More townships are requiring it though.

 

[zog]

I would think that that is enought to honestly say you are "certified" Its not a license, but it is a paper from an organization that says you completed a certain task and are qualified in what they trained you.... Now if someone wants to be specific in what your certification is in, it may or may not be enough....

I disagree. You are confusing qualified and certified. The term cetrified gets used too freely in this trade. To be certified there needs to be a documented exam process controlled, distributed, proctored, administered, and graded by a 3rd party certifing body. NICET and NETA are 2 examples of certifing agencies in the electrical trade.

Also a certificate and certification are not the same either, just because you have some certificate does not mean you are certified.

 

[weressl]

My wife would say that I am "Certifiable"

I don't need my wife to tell me that!