Journeyman licenses

The general HVAC exam is 4 hours long and contains multiple choice questions. HVAC contractors must take either the limited, master restricted, or master exam. HVAC contractors must also pass the business and law exam in addition to their specialty exam. This exam is 2 hours long and has 50 multiple choice questions. In order to obtain EPA certification, HVAC technicians must take an exam which has 80 multiple choice questions that must be completed within 3 hours.

Type I limits HVAC technicians to working on appliances which contain no more than five pounds of refrigerant. Each licensing jurisdiction determines the required number of hours an apprenticeship must last in order for an apprentice to qualify to become a journeyman.

For example, applicants for a journeyman electrician license in Colorado must complete at least 8, hours earned in no less than four years of electrical construction wiring experience for lights, heat, and power. Some states also have different requirements for those seeking a license as a journeyman lineman. You may also choose to satisfy the required classroom hours by completing an electrician diploma or associate degree program before beginning your apprenticeship.

Your electrical apprenticeship may be through a union or non-union organization or employer, including private employers, labor unions, the U.

It is during your apprenticeship that you will accumulate the on-the-job experience and classroom instruction required to become eligible for journeyman licensing. Although general journeyman licensing requirements vary from one licensing jurisdiction to the next, most require candidates to pass a written examination based on the National Electrical Code, electrical theory, and local electrical codes after completing an apprenticeship.

The next couple of years under this title will allow you to gain valuable experience working as an independent electrician as you work toward meeting the requirements for a master electrician license. Master electricians have extensive experience and knowledge of the National Electrical Code, all applicable laws and regulations, and the installation, design, repair, alteration, and construction of electrical systems and related equipment.

In addition, it is possible to improve your chances of landing a highly rated apprenticeship by earning a certificate or two-year degree before applying. Apprenticeships can also be found through a union or non-union trade organization. When deciding which route you will take to earn the credentials of a journeyperson, you will need to make a definitive choice between training in a union or non-union, merit-based program.

Union apprenticeships generally offer better pay and are more competitive to enter. Apprentices who participate in these programs will need to pay dues and follow union guidelines at all times, including a strict definition of job duties and division of labor.

Non-union apprenticeships are organized through local contractors and can be applied for like any other job. Although they usually offer lower rates of pay, there are no dues to pay and the on-the-job duties may include more than just electrical work. Journeymen are not required to be licensed in some places, but most states do have a specific licensing requirement.

In addition, you should be aware that even in states with no requirement for licensure, journey-level electricians may need to seek licensing locally. Also, if you are planning to do specialized work, such as become a lineman, you may need to seek additional licensing through your state. Most places will require candidates for journey-level credentials to take and pass an examination based on building codes. The most prominent code in testing is the National Electrical Code NEC , which is regulated by the National Fire Protection Association , upon which many local building codes are built.

Prior to sitting for your examination, it is recommended that you research the local requirements in your area and purchase a study guide or participate in an exam preparation course.

What do journey-level electricians do all day? Journeymen electricians benefit from the experience they have gained through many years of apprenticing under the tutelage of other journey- and master-level electricians. By the time you are ready to work as a journeyperson, you should be familiar with the ins and outs of the trade. Journeyman electricians are expected to be proficient in using trade-specific tools such as pliers including side-cutting and needle-nose , voltage testers, claw hammers, screwdrivers, channel locks, pipe reamers, stripping tools, tape measures and voltage meters.