I note that on a few other sites they ask for your credentials as an Electrician or whatever.
I'd be the first to offer mine.
On the Internet you can be anything you want to be.
ECN is full of folks that I've known from day one here.
However, all though I hate to play this card, are we all on the same page?.

I did my time in Ashburton here and ended up with the following registrations:
Mike Trump: Electrician: E16715 (Reg No.)
Mike Trump: Line-Mechanic: LM18235 (Reg No.)

Don't get me wrong guys, I'm not down on you guys, but it would prevent a lot of silly things.

{Edit: If it's good enough for Ray to give his Reg # It's good enough for me!}

[This message has been edited by Trumpy (edited 03-30-2006).]

I have a C-10, and one of these...




Is that what you're looking for?


[This message has been edited by e57 (edited 03-26-2006).]

I have a list of boring technical qualifications from Slough & Reading Tech.'s and Warwick University, and my '5 years of slavery' Apprenticeship Papers. I am also very proud of my Glowing Testemonials, but that's for another day, I think!

Alan

My Lic. is posted on my website, along with the glowing testimonials.

Dave

As I've mentioned in a couple of my posts and am true to in my profile, I am _not_ an electrician.

I am a research scientist working on high performance electric motors, am very strong on theory, and have a professional interest in understanding code to understand how my work will eventually be applied. I also have a _hobby_ interest in puzzles, and in many ways correctly applying code is a form of puzzle

I try to write my posts to be clear about what I do know about, what I have guesses/strong hunches about, and what I am asking about.

-Jon

[This message has been edited by winnie (edited 03-26-2006).]

Guess I'm giving away my age here, but I enlisted in the Navy in 1970 when I received my draft induction notice in the mail. I went thru BE&E and Electricians Mate school, Naval nuclear power school, and a couple of others, then spent 4 years as a shipboard electrician on an SSN.

After I was discharged, I spent a few years in a couple of merit shops, first as a helper, then an electrician, and as an estimator / project manager. Then I had an opportunity to join the local local, and worked several more years as a JW, foreman, estimator, project manager - various jobs at various times. I have a California General Journeyman Electrician certification (#108635 - you can look it up online).

I also taught electrician classes at night at a local community college from 1980 thru about 2000 or so. I have a non-credit, community college teaching credential.

Today I work for a large public agency in the Los Angeles area as an estimator, but I also keep my membership in the local up to date 'cause you just never know about these government jobs.

I do not have a C-10 contractors license, and have no desire to run my own business. I admire and applaud those who do!

Radar


[This message has been edited by Radar (edited 03-26-2006).]

I don't know anything....


Dnk...

I am proud to say that NOTHING connected to my work glows!

This site has always lacked space for a small profile of the user:

sierra_electrician:
25 years electrician
21 years Journeyman
8 years Elec Contractor 1997-2005 (Currently Inactive)
25 Years Commercial/Industrial Wireman
Design Build Elec Systems
Ground up Elec Constuction
Major Remodels
Gen Sets/Transfer Sw's 5kW - 1100kW (Gas,Propane,Deisel & Keorsine)
Voltages 120 - 12k
On & Off Site Utilities
Telco Projects
Packing Houses
Dairies
Oil Fields
Schools
Govt Facilities
ect....

I am now working for a General Contractor. After all these years I'm trying something completley different? Bidding and Project Mgt. Not really so different, but I'm having fun again.

e57, that card is not far off for CA standards. LOL

Rob



[This message has been edited by sierra electrician (edited 03-26-2006).]

Licensed electrical contractor--NJ

20 yrs experience as industrial electronics technician.

Extra Class amateur radio license.

Major areas of work experience include broadcast transmitter repair/maintenance, industrial control systems, variable speed drives, and custom instrumentation/control panels.

Currently design/build instrumentation for a university research lab. Work on everything from tiny strain gages to 200 HP motor controls. Milliwatts to kilowatts....

Do mostly residential electrical work on the weekends as a side business.

[This message has been edited by NJwirenut (edited 03-26-2006).]

I recently passed my WV Journeyman's test with a 94. I expect to get my license when the 2nd semester ends at the Marion County Tech Center where I am taking the 1st and 2nd year Electrical Technology courses.

I have a BS in Computer Science from West Virginia University and have embarked on being an electrician after a thirty year career as a systems software engineer and operating system architect.

Other than the courses at the Tech Center, I've had no formal training in electricity. My father was an engineer at Monongahela Power Company (now doing business as Allegheny Power) from shortly after WW II to his retirement. He taught me a great deal.

Update: I just won the WV SkillsAmerica Motor Control contest in the post secondary division. This means my instructor Tim Gump and I will be going to the nationals. I'm very happy about pleasing him.

[This message has been edited by jfwayer (edited 04-02-2006).]

I am not really an electrician.

This is me at my real job.

http://www.starterupsteve.com/swf/burgerking.html

I currently hold a Master Electrician's License in the state of Maryland, USA.
I have 23 years experience in the trade.
Mostly in the commercial field.
Any questions feel free to e-mail me.

I have been a electrician for 32 years with 23 years of industrial experience including construction and maintenance.
I have completed the ABC electrical apprenticeship program at Brazosport College in Lake Jackson TX and I have a certificates in Industrial /Commerical Electricity and Air Conditioning.
My memberships include Refrigeration Service Engineers Society and until recently International Municipal Signal Association obtaining a level 2 traffic signal electrician certification.
Unrelated to work and the electrical field I an a certified railroad air brake technician . and a member of Railroad Passenger Car Alliance.
Neglecting to add a WV Master Electrician .

member IBEW 35 years card # _-_-_-
Journeyman Wireman
Certified Welder MIG/TIG/Stick
HV Cable Splicing/ Terminating...before kits were available

OJT:
Apprentice 4 years plus classroom
Journeyman 31yrs.
Foreman 12 years approx.
General Foreman 3 years

worked on
Residential 7 years ....on and off
Commercial 20 years ditto

Industrial.... Manufacturing, High speed production machines

HEAVY Industrial, Refineries, Steel Mills, PowerHouses, Paper Mills, Auto Plants,

Dept. of Energy facilities .... @ Fermilab, Argonne National Labs

Government, .....Fed, State, Local
Skools
Churches
Jails
Hospitals
Malls
Water Treatment Plants
Airports
Roadbuilding
and one heated dog house


blah,blah,blah

Good topic Mike.

My details: RODALCO
Registered Electrician E 18055 in New Zealand. 18 years here and 6 in The Netherlands.
New Zealand certificate in Electrical Engineering.
Transpower warranted as operator in grid supply substations for maintenance and switching. 33, 66 and 110 kV.
Vector ( Auckland POCO ) warranted for all types of maintanance in substations, local distribution subs, and HV and LV switching in their 11, 33 and 110 kV networks.
Group 11 / 11A warrant for working on LV overhead mains lines.
Aggreko and New Zealand Generator approved operator of their generators.
Qualified Metertechnician Transalta / United networks. T.O.U. metering. installation and calibration of electromechanical and electronic metering, CT and whole current.
In my Dutch years also approved generator egineer in the Royal Dutch Airforce. 1983-1984.

I have 6 years experience commercial and residential. Currently signed up for two license test. One being the city of Chicago.
also trying to get my contracting buisness of the ground w/sucess I might add.

Like e57, I've got a C-10, and a California Clown Card.
I'm also a member of the Hack Club.




(I started trade in 1970, so I'm working on year 36)

[This message has been edited by electure (edited 03-27-2006).]

Quote:
"sierra_electrician:
25 years electrician
21 years Journeyman
8 years Elec Contractor 1997-2005 (Currently Inactive)
25 Years Commercial/Industrial Wireman"

I'm assuming these were running concurrently.
Either that, or I'm not the oldest old coot on this forum anymore!

Associate Degree in Electrical Power Technology
32 years of distribution and transmission work in Technical Services (POCO )
including metering, relaying, transformer and breaker maintenance, sectionalizing and several things that nobody needs anymore (like how to use a slide rule). Everything from 120 volts up to 345 Kv.
Jack of all trades, master of none, and love what I do for a living.

[This message has been edited by WFO (edited 03-26-2006).]

[This message has been edited by WFO (edited 03-26-2006).]

8 years Fla State Elec Inspector
ICBO/IAEI 2A, 2B, 2C
SBCCI Residential, Commercial
Fl Lic BN2102

After 30 years IBM

Scott, where do I sign up for the hack club? I know enough computer code to screw something up, golf game is poor, smoking for 25 of 35 years, careless with framed saws, and posess a horrifing sense of ill-timed humor and candor, I think I qualilfy.

Oh, I was also an Electrical Equipment Repair Specialist in the USMC as an 1142 MOS. An EMT. (Ambulance not conduit) Forklift operator. (10Klbs) Training NCO. 1000 yard shooter, once shot a smiley face in a target at 500 for fun.

Almost achievemnts....
Almost Eagle Scout. (Caught smoking... General decline in additude...)
Almost HS grad... (Night school)

And a general nuisance on this forum...

WFO
I turned 80 today. LOL

Yes they are concurrent for a total of 25 years exp in the trade.

Rob

Randy Edge
23 yrs. in the trade. Industrial and commercial. Been to several training schools and short term classes through the years. The work I've done has never required me to have a license. My first 12 yrs. I was a traveller, and worked around the country for a few different contractors doing mostly industrial work on power plants (nuclear, coal, fuel oil, natural gas, refuse), paper mills, foundries, and the such. I was forunate during that time to be able to work on a wide range of applications. I worked equipment ranging from 4-20ma to 69kv. After I was married and the kids came along, I had to settle in one spot. So for the last 11 yrs. I've been with the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Florida, doing mostly commercial type work, although I take care of our 5 power houses that are up to 12,470vac.

23 yr. electrician
Several projects as a supervisor
Certified journeyman with Fluor/Daniel (for what that's worth)
Level 1 IR themographer
HV stress cones and splices
Airial lift operator
Certified lift operator by JLG
Security clearance with Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Appliance repair training by Maytag
Conduit, cable tray training
Too much more to list

>>>Almost achievemnts...<<<

We gonna need a bigger server for these


Dnk...

Master's Degree in Electronic Engineering
16th Edition BS7671 IEE Wiring Regs
Currently working on Inspection and Testing certification and my chartered engineer application.

8 years doing electrical installations (primarily domestic)
4 years in distribution and transmission (POCO) covering operation and maintenance work, fault finding etc on 240V to 132kV, senior authorised person and system control engineer.

Kaiser Steel 1969 laborer, instrument helper, boiler maintenance, electrican's helper, electrician 3rd, elactrician 2nd, electrician 1st, electronic repairhand,
Okonite Cables electronic technician 1983,
1984 maintenance supervisor of electricians, machinists, and boilermen
(looks harder than it is, all my crew are grownups no one to babysit)

For some reason I can't seem to graduate from the school of hard knocks. Been going for 30 yrs or so

I know I will forget something, but here goes.

I am a dynamic figure, often seen scaling walls and crushing ice. I have been known to remodel train stations on my lunch breaks, making them more efficient in the area of heat retention. I translate slurs for Cuban refugees. I write award-winning operas, I manage time efficiently.

Occasionally, I tread water for three days in a row. I woo women with my sensuous and god-like trombone playing. I can pilot bicycles up severe inclines with unflagging speed, and I cook Thirty-Minute Brownies in twenty minutes. I am an expert in stucco, a veteran in love and an outlaw in Peru.

Using only a hoe and a large glass of water, I once single-handedly defended a small village in the Amazon Basin from a horde of ferocious army ants. I play bluegrass cello. I was scouted by the Mets, I am the subject of numerous documentaries. When I’m bored, I build large suspension bridges in my yard.

I enjoy urban hang gliding. On Wednesdays, after school, I repair electrical appliances free of charge. I am an abstract artist, a concrete analyst, and a ruthless bookie. Critics worldwide swoon over my original line of corduroy evening wear. I don’t perspire. I have been caller number nine and have won the weekend passes. Last summer, I toured New Jersey with a traveling centrifugal-force demonstration. I bat .400. By deft floral arrangements have earned me fame in international botany circles.

Children trust me.

I can hurl tennis rackets at small moving objects with deadly accuracy. I once read Paradise Lost, Moby Dick, and David Copperfield in one day and still had time to refurbish an entire dining room that evening. I know the exact location of every food item in the supermarket. I have performed several covert operations for the CIA. I sleep once a week; when I do sleep, I sleep in a chair. While on vacation in Canada, I successfully negotiated with a group of terrorists who had seized a small bakery. The laws of physics do not apply to me.

I balance, I weave, I frolic, and my bills are all paid. On weekend, to let off steam, I participate in full-contact origami. Years ago I discovered the meaning of life but forgot to write it down. I have made extraordinary four course meals using only a mouli and a toaster oven. I breed prize-winning clams. I have won bullfights in San Juan, cliff-diving competitions in Sri Lanka, and spelling bees at the Kremlin. I have played Hamlet. I have performed open-heart surgery, and I have spoken with Elvis.

Author Unknown

None.

I could try to get one, but I have little to no money to begin with, and don't drive.

RCG

"Moby Dick"? I read that book once. Being a bit of a hypochondriac, I immediately caught it.



Alan

arseegee,

HA! That was great!

Oh GEEEEEZ, you have to have qualifications to post here???????? That was NOT on the application!!!!

NJwirenut: you did not say Extra light, or Extra heavy, I'm an extra heavy, so there.

I've been doing something for 34 years, some say it's electrical work, some say I've missed a heck of an opportunity to be a bus driver, oh well.

VA State Class A master - from 1982 (yes it makes a difference)
MD State Unlimited #16
DC unlimited - forget the #
Along with about 42 other masters related
Commercial radio - T2
20 years teaching apprentices
Extra Class amateur radio - AF4JH
Class A lineman certified by Local 77.
IAEI - All three levels.

Dang near cripple, full of asbestos and PCB, bald, fat, ugly. Grew a beard at the wife's request to cover some of it up!!

Title is "Electrical Engineer" for those of you that get e-mail from me at work, you'll notice I sign "Senior Electrical Inspector". When questioned about it by upper management, I replied "Because I qualify and I'd rather be known as someone who knows what the f#@! they're looking at" was the last time I was asked.

I'd still make a heck of a bus driver.

Hello from South Dakota!!!

Real name: Jon Niemeyer
Started out in South Dakota as a maintenance electrician in '89.
Moved to Colorado in '93 and continued as an apprentice.
RW license in '94, JW in '95, masters in '98.
Moved back to South Dakota in 2001.
The only thing that has never changed is the fact that this is the greatest trade in the world, and if I could do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing!!!

And thanks to all of you for the help over the years. This is truly the best source of knowledge I have ever had the pleasure to use!

Jon

26 years in the trade: industrial, commercial, residential & high voltage

Interprovincial and Trades Qualification exams (1984)

Started business in 1993 doing residential & commercial....currently have 2 employees

Class "A" Unrestricted Contractor's License

Many of my customers have passed away, but I'm proud to say that not a single one of them were a result of electrocution

Guys,
As I thought about 10 seconds after posting this thread, you guys will either chime in or you will knock me down to the ground for being too personal.
Thank you all for your input, I thought the pictures thread was enough.
I can assure you though there will not be a thread called "What does your wife look like"
I'd imagine that any Moderator here would get rid of a thread like that.
Kindest regards.
Mike.

Enterd trade in 1985
Master electrican in Massachusetts and New Hampshire
Residential commercial industrial
Favorite work is comm and ind could live without the resi.

Self employed for a few years in the early 90's
Been with present employer for about 7 years now. Best guy i've ever worked for.

I'm not an Electrician. Mechanical Engineer through school, designed conveyors for 3 years, then architectural fountains for the last 19 years. The electrical part of fountains is more interesting than the hydraulics, there's much more variety. I talk to Electricians from all over the country every day, and I have a great deal of respect for them and for those using this site (too mushy I know). There's a wealth of knowledge on this site.

Trumpy,
You got the right guy to be on the same page. I have 4200 documented hours as a apprentice in the state of Mass. No real claim to fame. Before that I was a CNC operator and programmer in a machine shop. Owned a candlepin bowling alley for 3 years and 4 years in the Navy. If the machine shop hadnt closed I probably would still be there. Which would be sad cause I like what im doing now & I never would have gotten to talk to all of you !!!!!!!!!

Papers??!!! I don't have to show you no stinkin' paper!!!

Virginia Journeyman Electrician 2710 042345.
North Carolina contractor license 26415-sp-sfd. Residential up to 25,000.00.
On Call Electrical Services, Owner.
Always worked commercial until I decided to get a residential license and go into all service work.
I was in a class going for unlimited license, but only need a residential license now. I have the option of taking a Virginia Masters test, or taking a limited or unlimited test here in NC, but only if I want to go back into commercial work.
I have 10 years experience in the trade, and I retired from the Federal Government. I have been a machinist, and a maintenance mechanic while working for Uncle Sam. I didn't find my "calling" until I was 42 years old. I went to school at night for four years to get my apprenticeship papers while working in the electric shop at the Pentagon. I took every class that I could get and even took night classes here in NC to help with the contractor's license test.
North Carolina does not recognize Journeyman or Master. They only allow licensed contractors to solicit work. Any bozo can call himself an electrician and get a 10.00 an hour job for a contractor. It really sucks to work for someone down here.

Florida is the same way. Add to that the fact that inspectors are overworked (30-40 tickets a day is not unusual) and the speed that they are slamming houses together these days and you see why I wonder who is looking out for the customer. I hope our contractors understand that they are ultimately the one responsible for safety.

My lawyer eats AHJs for lunch.

Started while I was in highschool working behind the counter for a local electrical parts supplier.. Did that for about 9 years, Finally started my apprenticeship for a C&M electrician... Got my first taste of fire alarm in first year...
I am almost at the end of fourth year and just started back to tradeschool Mar 28 / 06.... Boy, I can't wait until I get to write my C of Q!!

Many thanks to my Dad for getting me hooked on becoming an electrician at a very young age, (And many from him for not burning the house down )

A.D

Steve,
What's 'candlepin bowling'?

Alan

ps. They say a change is as good as a rest. For me a rest was as good as a change! Got redundant, [ re-engineered, downsized, rightsized, Knock-Knock! Whos's there? Not You!], in 1992, took a gigantic Gummint payout and pension and retired, aged 52.
Work?? Naaah! - Far too busy for all that crapola!

Electrician for 15 years from residential,commercial,Industrial,motor controls to license electrical contractor in the state of New Jersey, and I still have much to learned in this forum,since being a businessman is not my forted.
But thanks to a lot of You guys I am learning the business side.

Sorry forgot the name and license number, Camden Electric LLC, LIC# 15626.

"Ding! Fries are dooooooone!"

Bob, that was awesome!

I feel so small. My extensive experience includes wiring houses for three years. The end.

Just George,
The point, the VERY thing that SHOULD make this forum different, is that NO one should feel their credentials are too thin to post and question. THAT is what makes Bill's forum unique even though sometimes, some guys try to change that, I hope Bill will NEVER let it change.

Just know that there is a bill to pay for this, when it's YOUR hair that's gray (or not gray, gone in my case) and knees don't work too pretty good no more, that you owe the duty to a young guys question.....WITH civility.

Nothing shuts a guys learning down quicker than belittling a question he asks so be nice, even if it's the umpteenth time you've heard/answered that question.

All experience is good experience.....unless it's bad experience, and then it's a learning experience.

George,

Yes, the new guys have something to offer, they are asking questions, and reminding us of how, we all had to build on our learning experiences.

I might as well pipe in. I started out as a burg/fire alarm installer back in 1974-1975. Then I worked for an EC here in NJ for 8 years or so, got my state NJ lic. 7257. Went in my own business for 15 years. ( 1984-1999 ) I had at the peak of my career 7 employees and 4 trucks. We did Res. and com. work. Mostly maintenc jobs. We worked for a lot of schools, rest., bus, and some GC contractors. The trouble with maintence work is that they want you now. NOT later but NOW! I lost many Sat., Sun., and Holidays, trying to get things to work. (When the supply house was closed!)
I got my electrical inspectors lic. ( here in NJ it is ICS, HHS, sub code offical and construction offical ) lic. in 1995. I am now a working AHJ here in NJ since 1998. I work for 4 different towns at the moment.

GEES,

You guys are quick to answer posts here! By the time I finished writing my post, there were like 6-7 more answers. ( SOAP BOX PLEASE!)
I have said this more than once and I will be happy to repeat it each and every week for the rest of my life. This board is GREAT!!! We don't care how much you know, think you know, or want to know. This board is very nice, happy to answer questions, talk freely, share info, share jokes, ( we pick on one another once in awhile)but in general, we don't flame anyone. There is no dumb question, we can all learn from one another, the newbies have things to offer as well as the vets that have been here for years. I think it was Codewarrior that was concern being a newbie, but he nor anyone else should feel intimidated by this board. We are all here to help one another and offer our advice. I tell all the EC's I work with to stop by here and ask questions. I will get down from my soap box now. Sorry about that, I may not get here as often as I like, but I still look forward to stopping by to visit old friends.

I started my own low voltage shop in my basement in 85 working for a family owned corporation. They became one of the biggest security providers for large store chains in the US. I have helped configure and troubleshoot thousands of custom design Burg, fire and CCTV assemblies over the years. They would provide a schematic to me and many times I would have the prototype design built, debugged and shipped the same day. That was one of the ways they "trumped" their competition. In 99 one of their best engineers who was leaving the company "stole me away" to work for another large corporation building access control panels for industrial applications. My tiny company (still in my basement!) was key in helping them secure four of some of the biggest fortune 500 companies around. Then 1 year later they said "thank you" and bought an assembly company local to them with about 100 employees. Oh well. Lesson learned: (Contracts are good!) I then went out on my own with my Limited power and contractors license to find out how hard it is to sell security equipment -cold- without a sales team. To put it simply, unless someone had just been burglarized, it was a very hard sell. In 02, I decided to start seriously focusing on the biggest dream I've ever had - To become a certified licensed electrician. Since the age of 5 this electrical stuff has held me spellbound. I am now continuing into my second year of apprenticeship with a small residential/commercial contractor. I would have had my Journeymans license years ago if it were not for a misinformed individual in my past telling me how much advanced math was involved with the trade. (my weakness in school...) There is of course math to be learned but, I've found out it's not as bad as I had been told. This site is golden. After "lurking" here for years, I can say that I have (almost) learned more here than I have working with the union journeyman they placed me with. MUCH to my surprize, I have actually taught him some things. So - a heartfelt, sincere "Thank you" is due to all who have made this site possible. J

Wasn't Gonna but aaaa What the Heck
Master 9 States ,Journeyman 1. Of thoses States. Instructor 3, Inspectors License 2,
42 years in the trade in all fields from wiring houses to multi million dollar Industral and Commerical. Still Learning every day. Enjoy this forum very much.

And who isn't learning here?.
Shame on you Bill, making us learn so much!.

OK, please don't think I fell into the wrong forum...
I worked for an EC in the late 70's during HS and breaks from engineering and tech school.
1980: ASET anf FCC 1st Class Radio Telephone license. A short stint at the world's oldest commercial radio station (KDKA).
Another short stint building and repairing burglar alarms. Computer field service engineer for 16-bit minis and peripherals, later Depot Manager. Cable design engineer. Broadcast engineer, later Maintenance Supervisor WCLQ-->WQHS-TV. We were the first commercial stereo station in Ohio, pulling it off for under 8 grand by modifying an old FM modulator. Systems Engineer at EDR/Beachwood Studios. I got to be part of the design/build team on the studio, post-production, & computer graphics facility. Chief Engineer WPTT-TV. Video Engineer. Field Service Engineer on LPTV (1,5,10KW) transmitters and broadcast modulators and exciters. Finally, I'm working on my 13th year as a Testing Engineer for the CTA. I'm pretty sure that I've forgotten more than I ever learned in all those old jobs. Now, I know nothing but have great confidence.
Joe

I really thought I was an idiot posting this thread in the first place.
In hind-sight there are a few people that never replied to this thread that are making a bit of noise these days.
Please submit your quals, if you are so endowed.

Dual Trade Instrument tech and now electrician, licensed contractor Sth Australia, not running own business at the moment but holding the license is easier than getting it back. mostly industrial, mining, oxygen plants, steel making, petroleum, and analytical instruments.

Mash,
It wasn't you mate.
However, when I finished my time as an Electrician, I wanted to be an Instrumentation Tech, it used to be a Trade in itself here in New Zealand.
I was glad I'd already done the Line Mechanics apprenticeship, something to carry on with.

BTW, moot point, an apprenticeship is not a qualification, it goes under 'experience'. Even the complete nincompoops [present company excepted, of course!] get their papers, as long as they clock in regularly for x years.

hnd, hnc, c of guilds, Diplomas, degrees are qualifications, as they carry a pass mark.

And all totally useless if you are no longer actively engaged in the metier IMHO. I am not an Engineer any more, thank God.

Alan

Hello from Sunny Scotland

I started off in 1980 as apprentice Electrical fitter for Scottish Power at Kincardine Power Station (coal fired)

1984 Distribution Fitter Glasgow (11-33Kv)

1985-90 Electrical fitter Grid telecoms (Signaling and communications equipment)

kinda lost my way for a year then
1991-92 Approved Electrician varrious contractors both industral and domestic work.

1992- (present)Prison Officer HMP Glenochil
1999-2001 Electrician looking after all security systems in the prison
2002-05 Instructing inmates in the mantence and repair of whitegoods
2005-(present) Instructing inmates on basic electrical principles and construction wiring

Hobbies http://www.sen-no-kai.org.uk/

NC licensed since 1981 with overall 35 years experience in residential wiring, commercial wiring, electrical maintenance in local hospital, and local food industry.
Currently self employed, for the past 6 years. ( owner, secretary, accountant, sales rep., installer, etc. etc.....) I should be making big bucks for all them credentials Still learning. Appreciate all the input here at the forum. Steve

Alan,
Are you suggesting that we should have asked to start at the top on our job applications?.
IMO "serving your time" is a real qualification, look at all the poor treated apprentices through time.
First question at any interview I've been to, "where did you serve your time?."
Often the answer would get you the job.
Qualifications?.

Might as well put my two cents in this, although this really will date me. Started Television repair in 1973,
Electronic Engineering degree 1984
Started electrical apprenticeship 1988
Completed 1993 specialised in Commerical and industrial.
Started electrical designing for modular wiring in 2001 been doing that every since

Well, I’m not an electrician, but I have a long time interest in the field. I did the nuclear navy during the 1980’s, meandered thru various schools and electrical related jobs until I finished my BS in Electrical Engineering Technology in 1996. Since then it has been nuclear power plant robotics, metrology, semiconductor manufacturing, and pharmaceutical and medical device packaging.

I do not have my own business and I have the utmost respect for those of you who do make a go at it. I have lurked here for close to 5 years and have learned a HE** of lot.

Larry Coster

Don't take this the wrong way, but just 'serving your time' as an apprentice gives small indication of your skills, value, honesty, ambition, cleanliness, timekeeping, trustworthyness or any of the other things a prospective employer might like to see in the perfect job applicant, any more than a couple of years flipping burgers at MacDonalds. Valuable experience gained, oh yes! Potentially better than a man without papers, indeed yes, but a qualification? I must beg humbly to differ. Plenty of Old-Etonians residing At Her Majesty's Pleasure in jail will testify that having been there ain't the same as being good.

OK. Here's three [real] ex-apprentices of yore;
1. 'A', who joined my company, [ Alfred Herbert Ltd, Machine Tools of fond memory ], when I was in year 2 or 3 of my time, [ and who co-incidentally was a relative of my future wife to be ]. In 5 years of total incompetance he wrecked 3 machines, the most infamous of which was to put the table of a Stirk Planer, c/w half a ton of castings, straight into the Works' Ablutionary Facilities, ( taking our tea-swindle and my meat pie with it for good measure- unforgivable! ). He simply 'forgot' to replace the reverse stroke cam.
2. 'B'. Me. I've already described myself in these Forums, as a young person, by the epithet "Who was that idiot?".
3. Another of our apprentices, 'C', who won a coveted City and Guilds London Institute Gold Medal for Welding.

Now, we all duly got our 'papers' at the end of out time. No mention in them of my CGLI Distinction in Craft Practice Fitting and Machining, or Famous Gold Medals or of breaking the vise and all the teeth off the crown-wheel of a shaper with a badly-set toolpost or peppering the Turning Department with segments of a large unbalanced grinding wheel and frightening the bloody living-daylights out of yours truly.

Now, don't think for one minute that I am denigrating apprentices or the system in any way, nor indeed your good-self with 2 hard-earned sets under your belt. It was a hard road to trudge, I know that, earning a pittance with all your mates earning 'good money' drilling little holes in toothbrush-handles or stamping out thousands of scaffolding fittings on piecework, "flashing the cash" up the 'Palais' on a Saturday night. It gave us brilliant opportunities to learn real trade-skills, the latest techniques, go to tech., advance one's prospects etc., but in the end it was just 'experience', since what you got out of it was entirely up to you, whether you were properly time-served or a proper time-server.

No employer bases applicant selection just on the fact that you are time-served; and I don't care if it was Pratt and Whitney Aero Engines Inc. or Fred Karno's Auto Body-Bashers. He wants to see quality of experience, exams passed to show grasp of subject, [ even MacDonalds'employees can get Certificates in Public Hygiene ], relevance to the work-in-hand and committment, intelligence and perseverance in the form of some certs or diplomas if possible.

"Qualifications", [ as I said a 'moot point' so not, I'll admit freely, something set in stone ], are , to me, those certificates, diplomas, degrees, etc., that separate the 'wheat' from the 'chaff' and have, again IMO, to be qualitative- did you get a pass, get a credit or earn a distinction or fail miserably, ungraded? I doubt if there is an ex-apprentice still alive today who didn't get some opportunity to do 'day', 'block release' or 'evening' classes to get those valued 'Certs' or earn a 'License'. I still treasure mine- earned by tears, hard work and diligence. I'm proud of my Apprenticship Papers too, but they only really show that I stuck it out and finished the term of my sentence.

The days of chaining apprentices to the bench, so they don't run off to the fleshpots, are thankfully long gone. I must have missed that epoch by a couple of years at least!

Alan

Here's mine:

ND Contracting Masters #2387
12 years in the field
Work strictly industrial- new installs and maintenance.
Member of the IAEI.
Learned what little I know on the job.

Credentials? Who cares?

I have none.

I show up to work and do my job. I screw up sometimes. I like what I do and I try my best. I learn something every day. Those are my "credentials."

Peter

I used to fix them in a past life. When needed to the company would call me the state service manager which was kind of funny seeing as I lied at the interview and had never fixed a washing machine before then. Had a couple of "incidents" with gas dryers while working there.

Oh Well here goes.
I'm 63 now and started by holding flashlight for my older brother. We used to solder and tape connections back then.
1961 U.S. Navy Class A electricians mate school. 3 1/2 years shipboard electrician, LST.
Gave up on studying electronics when they said to forget the first year of classes on vacuum tubes because someone had invented transistors.
The worked for electrical transformer manufacturer (Jefferson Electric) in quality control.
Worked for two different elctrical supply houses, and three different contractors, from white paper ditch digging to stocking job trailers and pricing invoices.
Got certified as a 1 & 2 family inspector in Electric, Plumbing, Mechanical and Building when the certification test (NCPCCI) first became available (late 70's or early 80's) so I could inspect manufactured housing for HUD labeling.
Comleted college at 36 yrs with a BA in Business.
Passed local electrical licensing test and became the inspector.
Inspector duties used to include running the municipal elctrical department and maintaining traffic signals.
Shucked those duties off on the engineering department after 10 years and became just the inspector.
Was chairman of the state Electrical Inspectors Association. Still on the executive committee, ex-officio.
Took and passed the Block / Experior Master Electrician exam in 2000.
Have been the chief electrical inspector for the past 25 years and became certified throught the IAEI / NFPA program for certifying electrical inspector: hold Master level certificate number 138. There are less than 100 certified inspectors in the country. Only two of us in Indiana.
Still maintain all my certifications.
I've made proposals and even had some Code changes accepted over the past 20 years.
I'm a life member of the Moose and Mensa.
I write a bi-monthly column for Tom Henry's electricans news letter "The Informer" called Excerpts from an Inspector's Journal.

I love what I'm doing and still run into things I never saw before. I'm still learning. I am in awe of the uses and power of electricity. From lightning to LEDs.
Alan--