How to Get a Florida Electrician LicenseFlorida is one of the five states in the U.S. that offers the most employment opportunities for electricians. Electrician license holders are in huge demand all over the U.S. including Florida. As per the statistics of the Bureau of Labor, electrician jobs are expected to surge by over 10% every year in the future. There is a continuous demand for both certified and licensed electricians in Florida. The Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board is responsible for licensing and regulating electrical contractors in the state of Florida. There are two types of licenses offered: certified licenses, which allow electricians to work anywhere in Florida and a registered license which enables them to work only in certain cities or counties that are mentioned on their registration card. Journeyman licenses are offered by the local municipality since there is not any journeyman license for Florida as such. The applications from eligible candidates are accepted at the board meeting where other issues pertaining to licensure and discipline are also considered. How to Obtain an Electrician's License An electrical license is mandatory for electrical contractors who undertake pump installation, drilling and plumbing, Heavy Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), among other aspects as well. To acquire a Florida electrician license, one has to join any accredited HVAC training program that include various topics such as the installation and repair of HVAC, temperature control, construction and equipment design, and so forth and is available online and as regular courses in trade schools and genuine colleges. Typically, a high school diploma is the basic eligibility for these courses. Florida electrician training might range from six months to two years depending on the type of course that you intend to do. Additional licenses are needed if the person with an HVAC certificate plans to engage contract services. Apart from having a thorough knowledge on the electrical installation and warm heating principles, a licensed HVAC contractor should be at least 18 years of age and should be proficient in speaking and reading the English language apart from having a minimum of 4 years of experience in warm heating. A Florida electrician license is issued after the certification by one of the most renowned international organizations in the electrical inspector domain. Those who are already employed as an electrical inspector are eligible to complete the practical exams. To reach the certification plateau as an Electrical Inspector Residential, the minimum eligibility is a GED, a high school diploma, or a successful completion of the Registered Electrical Apprenticeship Training Program, a B.S. in electrical engineering, or 4,000 hours of work experience as an electrician. Different Types of Electrician Licenses in Florida The licenses offered by the board include the following: Alarm Contractor I (All Alarm Systems): An alarm system contractor whose business includes the repair, installation, and maintenance of all types of alarm systems. Alarm Contractor II is in charge of all types of alarms except fire. Florida has a reciprocal agreement for the Alarm System Contractor II with the Georgia Low Voltage Alarm (LV-A). Specialty Licenses: The board also issues specialty licenses in a range of fields including the following: Residential Electrical Contractor: A licensed residential electrical contractor can carry out the installation, maintenance repair of electrical devices, or control system of any residence. Applicants who wish to be licensed under the residential electrical contractor shield should be a licensed electrical engineer for three years or should have a minimum of three years of management experience or experience as a foreman, supervisor, or contractor for a period of four years. Lighting Maintenance: A licensed Lighting Maintenance Specialty Electrical Contractor is entitled to install, repair, or replace lighting fixtures in bill boards, parking lots, parks, and road ways. To attain this license, the Lighting Maintenance Specialty Electrical Contractor exam must be passed. The Sign Specialty Electrical Contractor: Is in charge of structural fabrication, repair and wiring of electrical signs, and outline lighting. A contractor certified under this section will also have to fulfill electrical entrance requirements of billboards since they are independent of any building. Limited Energy Contractor: The scope of work includes the installation, repair, and fabrication of electrical wiring, fixtures, conduit, and fiber optics or any electrical item less than 77 volts including cable television, home theater systems, surround sound systems, telephone systems, etc. Maintaining Pace Apart from earning a proper license for the different types of contracts, licensed contractors should upgrade their skills and renew their Florida electrical license periodically. They should also keep themselves updated with the latest safety regulations, new information, and new technologies that change this landscape once in a while; failure of which might result in the cancellation of the license you once worked hard to obtain. |
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