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Passed the Maryland Master Electrician exam!

10K views 24 replies 15 participants last post by  brian john 
#1 ·
Almost two years ago, I made the decision to start preparing for the Maryland exam, with no formal training and only work-experience. I order books from Mike Holt which help me get much more familiar with the code, and started doing practice questions online.

Even after doing well with practice questions, I had the sneaking suspicion that no online resource would adequately prepare me as none seem to really work calculations. I started working with Holt's exam prep book and ultimately decided to take a prep class from Marty Schumacher. While Marty uses Holts book for the class, his supplemental calculations packet features some questions that are FAR harder than anything in the book.

At the start of Marty's course we were informed that the pass-rate for 1st-time test-takers is low (about 10-13%). Knowing this and having the supplemental questions I spent about 5 days in coffee shops grinding out calculations and re-reviewing material.

The night before the exam, I had the sneaking suspicion that it still hadn't been updated to NEC 2017, so I packed both my 2014 and 2017 editions just to be safe. Sure enough the exam was still 2014, so I used my '17 for calculations (I had all my tables highlighted and tabbed for quick access, and thumbed through the '14 for questions I was unfamiliar with.

I sat for the Maryland Master Electrician's exam this past Wednesday, May 9th 2018 at PSI in Crofton and passed the exam on my first try.
 
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#4 ·
Congrats.

I'm mere minutes from Maryland, and I still don't understand how their licensing even works. There's county licenses and the state license. Do you have the option or something? I used to have a Washington County license, and I don't think there even was a state license at that time.
 
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#12 ·
Several of the Eastern Shore Counties are a real pain I think they want to keep out of towners out.


The master has to go in person, got there and they wanted to see the state masters which I forgot and would not accept a fax. Another county wanted another document and same thing no faxes only the original, the woman in charge told me to get a fax sent at Staples and bring it back, she said no one would know. Saved a trip for me.
 
#7 ·
@MDShunk, Yes, licensing here is convoluted. The State issues a Master's license. All jurisdictions will accept that, but you'll be required to pay whatever fees are required. Some areas it's the county, and worse, some cities have their own "license".

Some counties test for Master Electrician, but the test books are provided by the State Board, so taking a county's test doesn't make it any easier. The state will reciprocate those tests so jumping between counties is easier.

There is a push to make Journeyman a statewide license - Montgomery County is lobbying against it, as they refuse to reciprocate other counties for a year (which encourages candidate's to take their test instead).

@Joebanan I'm going to Disney World ;) In all seriousness though, I originally wanted to go out on my own, but I've worked for painfully small shops, and I'm now seriously considering looking for a bigger outfit that would want a Master for Federal work.

I have a few short-term goals in mind:

1. Exposure to a large organization, and how they're successfully operated.
2. Security Clearance - They're difficult to self-sponsor and expensive.
3. Having a higher pay-rate to qualify for a mortgage.
(If I go out on my own, I'd need two years business income minimum vs. W2 documentation at the new rate for a year or less)
 
#10 · (Edited)
#8 ·
A I started working with Holt's exam prep book and ultimately decided to take a prep class from Marty Schumacher.

I sat for the Maryland Master Electrician's exam this past Wednesday, May 9th 2018 at PSI in Crofton and passed the exam on my first try.
CONGRATULATIONS



I have taken several classes from Marty and have always found him to be top notch.
 
#24 · (Edited)
I used to feel that way about obtaining the trade licenses that I have. Then years went by and I got older and wiser and decidedly more libertarian in my thinking. I now view licensing as am impediment to free trade and free markets. It's nothing more than a revenue stream and control mechanism of local governments, and the license itself is a government permission slip that allows you to make your living. Furthermore, it protects incompetence and rewards corruption.

If it were up to me, I would abolish all trade licensing immediately.
 
#13 ·
At the start of Marty's course we were informed that the pass-rate for 1st-time test-takers is low (about 10-13%). Knowing this and having the supplemental questions I spent about 5 days in coffee shops grinding out calculations and re-reviewing material.
Wow. When I took Tom Henry's 12 week code prep class we were informed the pass rate was much higher and if you followed the instructions set forth in Tom Henry's approach to testing, the pass rate went up from there.
10-13% sounds very low?

Congratulations!
 
#15 ·
First, Congratulations MFT

Barring any changes in the system, when I was contracting, with a state license, you had to also have the county or city license where you resided, then any county or city you wanted to obtain a license in only required the $'s to the ahj, only a couple counties in the state are still unlicensed afaik.
 
#20 ·
I sat for the Maryland Master Electrician's exam this past Wednesday, May 9th 2018 at PSI in Crofton and passed the exam on my first try.
Congrats.

I work in Catonsville on the UMBC Campus.
If you're ever around G&M for lunch I'll buy you a beer. Just give me a heads-up so I make sure to go there that day. They have THE BEST lunch specials anywhere, but Duesenberg's always has good food, so I usually jump between the two. But they don't serve alcohol, so it's G&M for a celebratory beer!

Congrats again, now go forth and conquer!

John M
 
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