UT Masters

[bdarnell]

Can anyone out there in Utah-land give me any insight on the practical portion of the exam ? I have the written and business done and just need to finish this one segment.

I hear that there is a transformer hook-up and motor control problems. What exactly do they have you bend on the conduit part and what is the motor control problem ?

The guidelines say that if you fail any part of the practical, you fail it all. Obviously I don't want to wash out on this last part. That doesn't hardly seem fair, but I guess it is what it is.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[raider1]

HERE is a link to the Utah electrical exam candidate book. This book will give you all the information that you need for taking the exam.

I haven't had much experience with the new testing system for the masters exam.

Chris

 

[bdarnell]

Yeah, thanks Chris. I have all that. I was looking for a local with first-hand knowledge. I hear most people that fail, fail on the practical.

I took the Theory and the Code today. I got 97 on the Code and a 79 on the theory. The theory portion was an SOB but I got through it. There were at least 10 voltage drop calculations.

Thanks

 

[Traveling Man]

I'm taking the journeyman's practical Sat. morning and have talked to alot of locals about the test. Most of them didn't do the masters practical because if you pass the journeyman's practical you don't need to take a practical for your masters. I am working with quite a few people with masters and will see if I can get some hints on the exam, harder than you think. Most of them don't like to give the answers to the test that they worked hard for.

 

[bdarnell]

Update

Update

I did not pass the practical portion this morning. I failed on the motor control section which is the hardest and, of course, they give you that one first when you are keyed up and nervous.

In my opinion, and this is just my opinion, this is an extremely unfair test. For the motor control, they give you a couple of beat-up contactors and an overload with all of the factory wires taken off. You have to wire a forward-reverse-off set up using a pile of wire that is all different colors, some with terminals on them and some not, and a pile of wirenuts. The test is timed and if you fail any portion, they show you door. No one would ever encounter this scenario in the real world and no one would wire a motor starter using a bunch of pigtails and wirenuts.

It may sound like sour grapes, but you can see that I have gotten myself licensed in a lot of other states and have close to 40 years in the trade. Utah must have some reason for making it so hard to get licensed in their state.

Thanks to all who responded.

 

[westernexplorer]

bdarnell,

How much time do you get for the practical exam...? If you qualify for the Oregon General Supervising Electrician License and pass the exam, we have a formal reciprocity agreement with the State of Utah to obtain a Master Electrician License.

Oregon's Exams is 2 parts, but only written, no practical exam....

 

[Traveling Man]

I was not very impressed either with the practical and I also failed. I have been an electrician for 12 years and have not seen such a mess of wires that they expect you to make work. I haven't even seen a mess like that in 100 year old paper mills that I do alot of work in. I think on my starter test I had to use orange, blue, red, black, white, purple and white wires to make it work, talk about confusing.:-? Though that was not the part that got me. I understand that they want to have competent electricians but they should have a person supplied with decent material to take the exam, after all we did pay enough money to the state to take all the exams. At least I know what to expect next time. I can't blame anyone but myself for failing the exam, but seeing 9 out of 10 in my time period fail the test should tell you something.

 

[bdarnell]

bdarnell,

How much time do you get for the practical exam...?

The practical portion is 2 hours. You get approx. 20 minutes per section.

And, by the way, the NECA labor unit for a reversing 3-pole starter is 1.5 hours.

 

[westernexplorer]

I agree, that 20 mins is really not enough time, to start from scratch and wire up a motor starter.

I would test in Idaho or Oregon and come in under reciprocity....if I were you. If I were me, I wouldn't waste my time getting a Utah License.....Just my opinion....

I wish you the best bro......