ECN Forum
Posted By: sparky On Line CEU's? - 01/30/10 03:42 PM
This has probably been said & done here, but i'm a tad slow with the search function.

I'd like to take an on-line CEU course, but have zero knowledge of them , other than what my state will accept (pdf below)


PDF

Are any of these any good? Are there some to stay away from? I haven't a clue where to start, so perhaps any of you that have gone down this road could spare a little advice.

Change ain't easy for us dinosaurs.....~S~
Posted By: gfretwell Re: On Line CEU's? - 01/30/10 06:20 PM
I have used Red Vector. It is OK, nothing special. You can go through them pretty fast and even though they say this is a timed course, if you end early they still give you the CEUs. You can test out of the courses if you already know the topic.
It all depends if you actually want to learn something or just get your ticket punched.
Posted By: homer Re: On Line CEU's? - 01/30/10 09:24 PM
Sparky,
There are many thorough courses in your list. The reason I like Mike Holt is that I feel that I have been required to learn the material. If you want a quick, just for the credit course, but a minimum of learning, his courses are not the right choice. Like many other instructors, Mike has more code knowledge than most electricians, because he works with the code on a daily basis. I cannot remember in all the years of reading EC&M magazine that he has had an incorrect answer to a code question. Good luck in your search!
Posted By: sparky Re: On Line CEU's? - 01/31/10 02:17 PM
hhmmm, well i think my biggest concern is not being able to ask a question via these on line courses i see

i could be wrong, just started investigating...

~S~
Posted By: gfretwell Re: On Line CEU's? - 01/31/10 07:34 PM
I had a question with Red Vector and it took the course author over a week to actually get back to me (I got some "we are looking into it" messages right away) but it was really pointing out a problem with the course, not a quest for knowledge.

I find I can get answers faster online in these BBs. The IAEI BB is really good if you want the sense of what my Florida AHJs are thinking. After all, what the code says is really what the AHJ says it says.
Posted By: sparky Re: On Line CEU's? - 06/27/10 02:32 PM
well i guess it only fair i report back here.

after some consideration and research, i chose Mike Holtz

i needed the 'New Hampsire' addendum course, in conjucntion with the code update course, and it seemed that they were the most accomodating

they also 'electronically submit' the course completion certificate, which i guess many states are requiring now

no more snail mailing them......?


Anyways, Mike puts on a neat little course. I did the whole thing every morning for about an hour. It's rather convienent to be able to log on/off anytime duty calls

and the course actually goes right on up through Chap 9, tables !

i mean, how many updates do we attend where all of us argue so much , the instructor never really makes it past Chap 3, save for cursory 'sunday afternoon shut up & listen' quickies?

plus, one can simply stop at any time in the on line course, and take as much time as one wishes to mull over any given update issue

the only critique i would forward is the quizzes have this function where one gets a 'second shot' at wrong questions

so it's relatively easy for one to achieve a perfect score

anywho, & overall, being a newbie at this, i'm impressed

~S~
Posted By: HotLine1 Re: On Line CEU's? - 06/27/10 11:34 PM
~s~:Nice to hear you're kinda happy with Mike!We can't do online CEU's here (NJ) yes, perhaps someday soon....
Posted By: schenimann Re: On Line CEU's? - 06/28/10 03:43 AM
In NC, we are required to attend 4 hours of classroom and 4 hours of correspondence. Online would be nice.
Posted By: KJay Re: On Line CEU's? - 06/28/10 05:46 AM
Well, my first online seminar experience was for the 2002 code. I got a flyer in the mail from the NFPA for the code course, which included approved CEU credits required for license renewal here
The flyer said the course was $140.00, so I sent in my check, took the online seminar and then got a call about a week later telling me that there was a misprint on the flyer and that the course was actually $440.00.
I said that there was no way the course was worth $440.00 and I never would of taken it at that price.

So I basically wasted my time and $140.00 taking that online seminar, didn’t get the CEU’s, and ended up having to take the seminar again at a local facility anyway, for $149.00, but at least that included coffee and donuts.
It’s one thing to get burned, but getting burned by the NFPA? That’s like getting burned by your own mother. smile
Posted By: sparky Re: On Line CEU's? - 06/28/10 11:53 AM
if mom's Cruella Deville KJay, just chuck all that nfpa stuff.

so, i hear a dz states require electronic submission via a 3rd party (the course provider)

and now NH wants a mug shot

i guess the worlds getting less trusting, yet i question thinking e-mail secure here .....

~S~

Posted By: HotLine1 Re: On Line CEU's? - 06/28/10 01:28 PM
~s~:
Photo Id & the wallet lic. card are & have been required here since the dawn of time.

Posted By: gfretwell Re: On Line CEU's? - 06/28/10 06:06 PM
The Florida license is just punched out of a 8.5x11 sheet of 30# card stock (the rest is the wall copy). You could make one with photoshop and a decent PC printer.
I have never showed my inspector license to anyone. I do still have a state capitol ID card with my picture on it and a mag stripe on the back from my job at DMS that probably opens some door in Tallahassee but I have never been there to try it. You needed that to walk around the prisons.
Posted By: sparky Re: On Line CEU's? - 06/29/10 12:54 AM
well i guess i'll have a photo ID here soon then

i suppose it's in step with the times , maybe weed out a few bad apples

but i can't help but think, what next? microchip implants?

~S~
Posted By: HotLine1 Re: On Line CEU's? - 06/29/10 01:25 AM
Greg:
Let me add a little clarification..

State issued EC Lic, Business Permit, etc are NOT photo documents.

The EC must provide a form of photo ID at sign-in for CEU courses.

The inspectors licenses are NOT photo from the state either. We are provided with municipal photo ID. DCA regs (for those that abaide) require photo ID for inspectors.

Posted By: gfretwell Re: On Line CEU's? - 06/29/10 04:05 AM
OK that is about the same deal then.
I still do not think I have ever had to show a photo ID for any CEU classes or even the inspector tests but that was a long time ago.
The CEU classes I go to are usually from our local IAEI and they know me fairly well.
Posted By: sparky Re: On Line CEU's? - 06/29/10 11:10 AM
i guess i work and live in a small pond, everyone in the trades knows everyone else, sight unseen by thier work in fact.....~S~
Posted By: gfretwell Re: On Line CEU's? - 06/29/10 06:39 PM
I suppose the problem in Florida is that you only need one license to run a company that might have 100 electricians and the license holder may not even live in the state most of the year. It is quite possible nobody in the trade has actually met him. I can see why you would want to see some ID when he takes his CEU classes. Unfortunately, if you do it online, nobody knows who is really doing it.
I would not be shocked if there is some guy out there doing the CEUs for a bunch of lazy license holders.

SAAAY I got some spare time ... but that would be wrong wink
Posted By: Tesla Re: On Line CEU's? - 07/02/10 04:25 AM
Are on-line CEU's available for California?

Mike Holt's web-link is not helpful.
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