steel sparky

Hello,

First let me say this is a great forum and I'm a long time reader. I recently moved to Florida and had some questions about the licensing.

I did some research and found that I need at least 4 years experience in order to qualify to test. Now, I don't have the time put in yet but wanted to know where I stand with my situation. And I have no problem putting my time in.

I went to an electrical trade school, then worked for an electrical contractor for 1 year before being laid off. This was, however, in a different state. Now I work for a great company that has a general contractors license but we work in the electrical trade. Does this time count?

I'm not looking to set up shop any time soon, just want to know my options. Thanks

nolabama

i cant swear to what florida does but i think its verifiable EC work only - i hear fla is very strict with their licenses and if you dont have the experience now is not the best economic climate to learn in (to be an EC that is)

__________________
“Dammit, Smithers, this isn’t rocket science, it’s brain surgery!”

jrannis

Interesting to hear that a GC is doing electrical work.
You will need to get a County license and work up from there.
You will need W-2s to prove you worked for an EC or ER.
Dont even think about 1099s

__________________
"When a your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail"

B4T

I never heard of a GC doing electrical work without a license where the AHJ has license mandate

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There comes a time when people who volunteer their service need to step back and see if it is better for them to retire. A red flag is when they become "cranky" and lose all sense of reality by making decisions that really don't make any sense..

steel sparky

nolabama, thanks for the reply. I believe your right, and it makes sense, as far as being verifiable. And believe me I found out quick EC's are really hurting for work. I was lucky to find a good paying job still in the field. I just wanted to know if this counts towards a EC license of my own, should I ever try to persue.

steel sparky

First, I should clarify. We sub all electrical work out. We do mostly automation and controls. This is in an industrial work environment.

jrannis

You will need to prove that you worked for an EC.
GCs dont count.

__________________
"When a your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail"

ampman

i felt like i had passed the exam just by being accepted to take the exam. and yes its very tuff . you also have to show a certain amount of three phase experience to be accepted

nolabama

how do you do that - and how much three phase experience do the want

this is the devils post #666

__________________
“Dammit, Smithers, this isn’t rocket science, it’s brain surgery!”

ampman

i had to drive all around town to jobs i had completed and write down addresses and what work was preformed some was new const. some was service work i think i listed about 30 jobs

nolabama

that would suck

__________________
“Dammit, Smithers, this isn’t rocket science, it’s brain surgery!”

cobra50

40% of your job experience has to be 3-phase servive work.You need 6yrs trade,4yrs supervisory,and 3yrs management-15,20,or 30 jobs should be listed.If you have been on 1 jobsite for the entire than you can break up what you worked-( sevice,fire alarm,lighting,sub-distribution etc.) It took me 15 months to get my license

nolabama

so thats 13 years anyway you cut it - and i hear that they dont reciprocate with anyone is that true

__________________
“Dammit, Smithers, this isn’t rocket science, it’s brain surgery!”

cobra50

Not 100% sure...I herd nc,tx,cal.

steel sparky

Are you saying it was 15 months total work experience or 15 months for the total testing and paper work process? All of my work has been with 3-phase service work, and still is. All they request is an address you worked at? What exactly are they looking for?

I'm just trying to find the exact rules for applying for an EC license.

wdwelecinsp

Go online to Myflorida.com. Click on DBPR (department of Business and Professional Regulation) Click on apply for exam and then read the requirements. It is easier to get an ER license than a EC license, cost less too. For an ER license you will need to find a city or county Building department that will sponsor you. Look into taking classes at Contractors Institute in Hudson. Other locations are available. They have a staff that will guid you through to process. Lots of hard work. Good Luck.

cobra50

Yes contractors institute was very helpful.They helped me get through both tests.They are also located in the orlando area.

acwservices

They do reciprocate with NC. I received my FL license based on the reciprocity agreement with NC, but it was vey difficult to do. It took me over 12 months, and numerous documents that they required. I can only hope that NC makes it as difficult on FL contractors trying to reciprocate, because the level of assistance I received from DPOR, or the FL Board, was practically zero.

nyerinfl

I agree that mrflorida.com/dbpr is the best place to find info on FL licensing. You need 6 yrs of field experience, verifiable with W-2s and getting your old bosses to sign verification papers that you did work for them, so hopefully you left your previous jobs on good terms. You do also need to show the 3-phase experience as mentioned with a job list, the job list is something like 5 jobs per year for each of the six years (30 jobs total, complete with addresses, GC info, start/stop dates of jobs, etc.), plus felony and credit checks, you need to show assets of over 10K I think it was.

Best advice you will get is to download the information off myflorida.com, they have lot of instructional documents for getting through the process, good luck, you'll need it.

steel sparky

Thanks, one more question. I am in Lee county and when I look for ER license I find nothing on their county website. I do find 'Certificate of Competency" where they list JE or Journeyman electrician. Are these licenses the same?