Becoming a state licenced electrician, tips?

So I've been sailing as an electrician on ships for about 15 years now and I'm running into the combination of health issues and Coast Guard requirements and I'm having to swallow the hard pill that I may never sail again. Looking down the barrel of 50 I'm too old and broken to start another trade career so I've been looking for a job shore side that uses all my experience.

Sadly the USCG certifications don't mean squat to Washington state, so I have to get my electricians license and a pair of 60-B licenses.

They just adopted NEC2023 and I'm looking for anyone here who has done the process lately. I've got some of the older NEC2020 Mike Holt books, what should I grab for learning the tests?

What horror stories can you tell me about jumpimg through the hoops? Tips? Tricks?

Thanks y'all!

Back after getting out of the Navy in 1990 I checked Washington States requirements and it seemed to be mostly time working under licensed electricians as first an Apprentice, then Journeyman, and finally being allowed to jump up to Master Electrician. The only shortcut was an EE degree. It would allow you to test for Journeyman. Still have to put in the hours (years?) before getting Master Lic.

I do not know if it is better or worse now. Highly bureaucratic and favoring Union employment.

One thing I found that was less restrictive was Electrical maintenance.

Sorry about your career change requirements.

@Rednecktek , @Mattb4 thank you both for your service.

I don't know anything about Washington state but I bet there's an IBEW hall that you could at least stop by and talk to. They may turn you onto a path such that your previous experience counts for something allowing you to turn the 8000 hours (just my guess) to sit for the Journeyman test into something less.

Sucks to get old. My shoulders are wrecked from years of being an electrician. This may be the year I get at least one rotator cuff operated on. Landed me a mostly office job at an commercial lighting manufacturer that leverages my degrees, licenses and experience well. Look around for "field service" jobs. They need crusty old farts who can tell people like it is.

Look at Utilities, they love gobbling up Vets (even coast guard guys, lol) these days.

Many a time you won’t even have to be a wire biter/pole setter as many office jobs aren’t as glamorous to keep young hires for very long.

Good call, there's an IBEW just down from work, I'll swing in there this week.

As for hours... 12hr/day × 7 day/wk × 8mo/yr × 15 yr = LOTS!!! If they let me count them.

Rednecktek said:

So I've been sailing as an electrician on ships for about 15 years now and I'm running into the combination of health issues and Coast Guard requirements and I'm having to swallow the hard pill that I may never sail again. Looking down the barrel of 50 I'm too old and broken to start another trade career so I've been looking for a job shore side that uses all my experience.

Sadly the USCG certifications don't mean squat to Washington state, so I have to get my electricians license and a pair of 60-B licenses.

They just adopted NEC2023 and I'm looking for anyone here who has done the process lately. I've got some of the older NEC2020 Mike Holt books, what should I grab for learning the tests?

What horror stories can you tell me about jumpimg through the hoops? Tips? Tricks?

Thanks y'all!

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Sorry to hear about that.

I wish you luck in whatever you decide to do!!

I'm sure you have lots of troubleshooting experience.
This is a skill that is needed everywhere.
It takes time to gain experience. And this impatient world we live in now. Needs us old farts more than ever.

Depending on your experience you might be able to go directly into a supervisor role.

Rednecktek said:

They just adopted NEC2023 and I'm looking for anyone here who has done the process lately. I've got some of the older NEC2020 Mike Holt books, what should I grab for learning the tests?

Click to expand...

If you do think you're going to set for the J test then I would definitely talk to the folks at Mike Holt. Last I knew you we're looking at ~$1,500 for thier full training kit and it's excellent. Well thought out modules with tests at the end of each one.

I suppose you worked in a Civilian not Government role.
At least for California's PE requirements, have to work under a PE to get license, except if working for the government a non-PE supervisor could sign off on experience.

There are practice contractor's exams in books. And classes. But the exam itself isn't that hard. Not sure about "Electrician" vs. "Contractor" license.

Here's a tip: To get a specialty trade license, need to pass with a "C" grade (70% correct.) That will let you do just wiring. But if you go for a Class B general contractor's license, allowing you to build The Leaning Tower of San Francisco, and do every single trade other than well drilling and fire sprinklers (and only building, not roads/bridges), you will need to pass with a ...

"D" grade (60% correct)!

But then you can only do electrical if you also fix a leaky faucet, or some other second trade as well. Framing is the only single trade you can do by itself. At least for California license holders.

Rednecktek said:

So I've been sailing as an electrician on ships for about 15 years now and I'm running into the combination of health issues and Coast Guard requirements and I'm having to swallow the hard pill that I may never sail again. Looking down the barrel of 50 I'm too old and broken to start another trade career so I've been looking for a job shore side that uses all my experience.

Sadly the USCG certifications don't mean squat to Washington state, so I have to get my electricians license and a pair of 60-B licenses.

They just adopted NEC2023 and I'm looking for anyone here who has done the process lately. I've got some of the older NEC2020 Mike Holt books, what should I grab for learning the tests?

What horror stories can you tell me about jumpimg through the hoops? Tips? Tricks?

Thanks y'all!

Click to expand...

Here in Michigan, the high end marinas/boat repair outfits pay really well. You can work on boats, just on shore!

Consider county or city inspector. Read up on electrical code. I know that in places of the Bay Area and I’d imagine all of left coast is the same about the shortage of inspectors. Some departments have the new inspector double up with a veteran inspector for a few months before they go solo. Judging from what I’ve heard, it doesn’t seem like they are only hiring licensed electricians for inspector. Some of them have missed obvious code violations or pull invented codes out of a posterior orifice. The fact that you understand shipboard electrical puts miles ahead of most in the ability to understand circuitry so terrestrial systems should come to you fast.

I think that a maintenance position in a shipyard would be a great fit for your skills.
I was an outside contractor electrical supervisor at the largest inland ship builder in the US, for 16 years. I was in charge of wiring everything that was launched. Along with yard repairs and upgrades.
The maintenance guys had it pretty easy. Anything that got too involved was handed off to us.
That was my favorite time in my career, until starting my own business.

I would imagine there are a ton of shipyard type Electrician Jobs in the Puget Sound area. Government & Civilian. You will get scooped up in no time. Shipboard life and work can be grueling, the employers know it.