Things are pretty good here in North Carolina. I first started in this trade up in the Boston area and first passed my journeyman's exam in 1986.

I'v moved to NC since, and this exam was extremely difficult compared to any other I had every taken. But classifications are much different here than in and around Boston. I had to PROVE 9 years of experience (4 secondary & 5 primary) just to take the Unlimited exam! And it was INSANELY difficult! It has a 92% failure rate for 1st time applicants.

Anyway, I have been self-employed now for about 5 years and things are going pretty well.....
How are things in your neck of the woods and what type of work do you mainly go after?

CJS

I'm having my best year ever thanks to a local commercial job. Aside from that work, the business I built is "residential after the builder", which has been average...much, much better than about 12-18 months ago when my phone died for about 6 months. It was a bad time for a lot of businesses, and many went out of business.

I've had my own business for 20 years, and started this electrical business 10 years ago. The electricians exam here was really a little too easy, though it was a scary moment when I was told I couldn't take the test again for a year if I failed it.

Dave

Where do you live/work?

Crystal Lake, Illinois