Getting Your Electrician’s License with Dunedin Electric

Interested in becoming an electrician? Depending on the state that you live in, you may or may not need a license. But what do you do if it’s required? You might have to hit the books.

A current trend involves specialized licenses for certain categories of electrical work, so you should probably look in this sooner rather than later. A grandfather clause can help you “dodge the bullet” so to speak, so being proactive is ideal. You can read more about it below thanks to Electrician-ElectricalContractor.com.

Electrician’s License

So you’re looking for information about getting an Electrician License or Certification? The licensing requirements vary from State to State and some may not even have an electrician license requirement.

Let’s assume for a minute that your State is one of the ones that do require a license, and more importantly they probably also require that you take a multi-part exam.

Some States even have license classifications, in other words, you may be classified as a residential electrician and not be able to perform work on a large commercial building. In this case, they would also offer an unlimited classification to perform all other electrical work.

If you’re experienced in the field, you may be able to get your license through a grandfather clause. This is still available in many states and municipalities, and it basically allows for someone to come forward, state (and prove) their years of experience in the field, and get their license without the educational background and formal testing that’s normally required.

The required experience level, is usually fairly extensive, but if you think you can qualify, then contact your State Licensing Board to find out.

If you hold a valid license in another State, you may be able to get your license thru comity. A comity agreement between States, means that they will automatically grant you a valid license in another State, since you’ve already gone through the application process and testing in another State. Once again, check with the State’s Licensing Board for their comity agreements with other States.

Many States are starting to require separate licensing for audio / video, tele-communication, fire alarms, and burglar alarm system installations and wiring. Not long ago, a licensed electrician would have been permitted to perform all of these types of jobs without having to obtain any other license.

So as the trend continues towards specialty licensing, it’s probably an ideal time (sooner rather than later) to get yours. In this way, when a change like this happens, you will have the opportunity to apply for the specialty license through a grandfather clause. It’s not an absolute that you will be offered an opportunity to get a specialty license in this manner, but it is very often the case.

Before we go into the details of getting your electrician license, you need to be aware of what’s involved in opening and operating an electrical contracting business.

There are some books out there on the subject and some are better than others. For example, try The Electrical Contractor’s Blueprint for Success. It’s current, well written, downloadable, and it gives you a detailed step by step on what’s going to be involved.

Assuming you’ve read it and/or you now understand what’s involved in opening your own electrical business, let’s look at what you need to get an electrician license in your State. First you need to go though the application process. This is where the board that has jurisdiction over electrical licensing determines if indeed you have met the minimum requirements to sit for the exam.

As we mentioned previously, each State has its own standards and requirements, so you need to check with your individual State. If you receive confirmation and are accepted to sit for the exam, then you should take a refresher course that will help you take it and pass.

Many good electricians take their State’s licensing exam and fail simply because they didn’t prepare adequately. The exam incorporates a certain number of questions that need to be answered correctly within a certain amount of time. If you are rusty with your code book, then you need to freshen up. You won’t have more than a minute or two per question, so you will really benefit from taking a refresher course.

Go to the Exam Preparation section of this web site to get more information on preparation materials. Also, check with your local electrical suppliers for their recommendation on who the best instructor is.

Keep in mind that if you don’t pass, then you have to wait for the next one. Between the time it takes to reschedule and then retake the test it can take you months, so plan accordingly.

The electrical field is hot and only getting hotter, especially with the introduction of Data – Communications & Cable wiring, and if you add to these areas Fiber Optic Systems integration, the demand for electrical contractors will become even greater.

So don’t procrastinate any longer. Go for it!