on 6/4/2007 6:15 AM Tom Kendrick said the following:
A Master, Journeyman and Apprentice electrician are state licensing
categories. Plumbers can have the same categories.
Qualifications to achieve each category are specified by the state and
include:
Length of employment with a qualified employer (Master Electrician)
Passing a competency test (re-testing required)
Purchasing the license

The employer has to submit paperwork stating that the person has
worked for them for the required number of years.



In the NY County where I live, electricians (or any other home
contractors) do not need a license to work on a house, except for the
two cities in my County, where they do have to be licensed.
In the previous NY County I lived in, the contracting business has to
have a County permit and the permit number must be displayed on their
vehicles. Additionally, every worker has to be individually licensed,
and any homeowner wanting to do his own home electric work has to apply
for a temporary license.
In both counties, all finished work has to be approved by an inspector,
appointed by the local government, before a Certificate of Occupancy is
issued.
Curiously, these two counties abut each other.
If I had to do it all over again, I would prefer that all workers be
licensed. Not that everything isn't working right, but the wiring and
plumbing weren't done neatly. The plumbing in the utility room looks
like it was done by the designer of the Windows 'pipe' screensaver, and
the cabling for the TVs was done in series (one cable through the house
and split in each room) rather than parallel (each room having a 'home
run'), requiring that I had to have it rewired.

On Mon, 04 Jun 2007 02:28:22 -0700, John Ross
wrote:


I was wondering if the term "Journeyman Electrician" has a specific
meaning, or is used loosely (or is a Union term).

I did a web search and the definition was "works under a master
electrician". However, I did find a few states that offered license
tests to apparently be an "official" journeyman electrician (but
wasn't clear if you could call yourself that without a license).

The reason I ask is I have seen some ads on craigslist in my area that
say something like "Journeyman electrician with 15 years experience,
work done to meet NEC requirements." And they seem to offer not just
"minor" type work.

I have some minor type electrical things like changing switches and I
want some receptacles looked at to see if they can be grounded ('60s
house with hit and miss grounding). Anyway, I don't feel comfortable
with electric work and I don't feel comfortable with the electrical
skills of any "handymen" I have met (especially with older houses).
Anyway, for simple stuff it is a bit expensive to hire an eletrical
contractor so I was thinking about one of these "journeymen." What I
want to know is if someone specifically calls themself a "journeyman
electrician", do they have to have a certificate or license or is
this a vague term? What should I ask them (i.e. do you have a license
or certificate to prove you are a "journeyman").

And, in general, if someone says they have 15 years experience and are
a journeyman electrician, would you have any reservations about using
them for basic type stuff? Would you insist on seeing proof (and what
would you ask for?). Again, I just don't know if this term means
anything legally, skill-wise, or otherwise. Any comments appreciated.



--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
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