Electrician

Not with out an license. You have to take a test to determine if you are qualified. You then get the license.

You know the answer to that: depending on your local municipalities and union strengths you can do just about everything you know how to do as long as you don't try to sell it to other people....SO no you can not practice without a license and to get a license you have to have the training before you can even qualify for the exam engineers are not electricians as electronics Technicians are not engineers but that is the way the power flows through consumer products. As a certified tech I can repair just about any component and because the theory is the same I understand what electricians do but that does not mean I am licensed to do what they do the same as they are not licensed to work on aircraft radio equipment electrical engineers are not licensed to work on anything they are only licensed to DRAW diagrams and proof read blueprints. there is a great deal of skill in every craft and it takes years to learn how to make a thousand perfect connections every day all day long without fail......we depend on your ability please apply it where you have learned it and not to fields that are beyond your current reach. yes you need licenses school and theory and then 4years apprentice only about half of your school and experience will apply toward your training for the exam which is the first step toward getting an apprenticeship.

Now people backdoor the application process all the time but when they get discovered they get the boot and never get back in again even after they train.

as a young person choosing which way to go > AA, BA, PHD, or apprentice, journeyman, Master craftsman. it is a hard decision and one that they must live with changing mid stream because of economics is not always a good option. better to learn how to sell your personal skill then to keep changing trades.

even if you started a business designing the electrical facilities of structures you would still need to employ licensed electricians to oversee the installation of the physical material of the design. and they would need to have apprentices to do the actual work.

so if you know any out of work licensed electricians you could employ one to do your installations of your designs and after a few years of apprenticing with him you could probably set for the exam and possibly get your license but if the fellow you employ finds out what your about you will find out just what kind of friend you have because he would be cutting his own bread board in half. be aware that when you sign on a permit you are liable for the structure for life. not just 90 days

You must have a license. To get that license, you have to prove to the licensing board that you worked for so many years as an apprentice under a licensed electrician and pass a knowledge test.

Where is he/she from? The legalities vary around the world (and probably from state to state in the US (?)).

It is one thing to get clients and jobs and hire people and pay them, and another to do everything yourself.

You could incorporate, and start a business and do right fine by hiring Union labor, like the International Alliance of Electrical Workers, no: International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

In some cases I hired IATSE as a Director of Rigging since they came with Insurance and honed skills.

Great Managers and Great Leaders hire up instead of down.

If you are determined to work alone, you will need a license, and I can tell you for a fact there are good reasons for that since as a competent Motion Picture Electrician who attempted residential work, I found there were things that I did not know.

Electricians as a stereotype in film and in the trades are oddly similar in personality.

Often they are the most talkative to themselves, and least tactful.

Sometimes a tactful politician sort of Head of Department will find great compatriots and work mates if they do make it so the electrician is left alone to do the work.

In my work I was fortunate on a few things to have a Best Boy Electrician who was a better electrician than myself, but was happy to leave the "negotiations" to me.

Of course he did know that I could tie in live, same as he could, and it was odd that he would sweat more on a good box, than on one of the very dangerous boxes we tied into.

Don't know where you are, but if you can wire up a show, for ready work, you may consider IATSE.

If you have potential clients you may consider getting contracts and sub contracting to the Electrical Workers Union.

It does depend a bit on your people skills, but if you are to be in business one way or another make sure you have an accountant and an insurance policy.

In Arizona there is nothing to keep you from starting a, "business doing residential electrical work".

Getting, "residential electrical work" without the normal licenses and insurance may be the challenge.

You won't get any reputable insurance company to cover you, without some credibility.

Water heaters and light bulbs could be all you need to be happy, who knows?

Good Luck.

My Dad was an electrical engineer. He wanted to do electrical work (mostly on his own place) so he went down and aced the test and got the license. Not all municipalities require experience as an apprentice to be licensed, and ours did not at the time.

Bottom line is you need to find out the laws local to where you want to practice and then go from there.

Regulations vary greatly. A friend who was licenced as an electrician and had a Electrical contractor licence for 15 years in California moved to state of Washington. He applied to have his licence recognized and transferred to WA. NOPE! He was told he could not do that until he had worked for a locally licenced contractor in a subordinate role for one year. Its all about power and control over people.

"Its all about power and control over people"

It's really hard for a small brain to see the big picture.

Lunlynch before I assume your comment was intended as an insult concerning my brain size can you explain further. Certification is supposed to be about technical knowledge. Tests and exams can resolve such a thing. Working as a grunt does not.

Both CA and WA have state codes based on NEC and NFPA which are essentially country wide.

What does working at peon wages for a year have to do with technical knowledge. In the case of my friend he would be working in the marine field which is governed by ABYC in any case. And ABYC is federally recognized. He was told he could not even attempt to write the test without first having worked as a grunt for one year.

I have a similar situation. Although I have certification for the province of Ontario, BC does not recognizes it. They used to; but got into a political pissing contest and rescinded the bilateral certification recognition of each other's program. Meanwhile the Federal Coast Guard office in Vancouver BC was quite willing to recognize my American certification so that I could conduct certification tests of passenger carrying vessels and even sign off on Test Results done as part of the quadrannual Coast Guard inspections required for passenger carrying vessel. Go figure.

Try not to be so insecure.

My comment was directed toward the beauracrat who said, "he could not do that until he had worked for a locally licenced contractor in a subordinate role for one year". That's the small mind, not your's.

I used to live in one county in Kentucky that allowed electrical installations to be done by any individual that wanted to start a business as an electrician. The next county over had strict guidelines for becoming an electrician and I believe there were some politics thrown in as well. The bottom line was that no matter where you were, everything had to be inspected and pass inspection unless you were doing work for yourself on your own property of a minor nature that you didn't need a building permit for or anything. Even then, I would recommend inspection because electrical fires can be very costly in more ways than one as you probably well know. Electrical inspectors can make it really rough on you if they feel as though you don't know what you are doing or even if they just don't like your attitude. Play nice and, depending on where you are, you just might get away with it.

You get a license after taking a test on the NEC (National Electrical Code). When I took my test back in 70s, you either took a county or state test. Depending on which license you got, determined where you could work. A state license is more expensive, but you can work over the entire state. Addtionally, it has to be renewed yearly. Moreover, there are a number of continuing education hours you'll have to take every year. Regarding the county tests, sometimes counties, and even cities, have addtional requirements that you will see on the test. Study the NEC and find out all the extra requirements before applying to take the test. I seem to recall, that tests are only given twice a year. Classes are given at technical community colleges around the country or you can find some training companies that perform the service. Without a license, you will not get a permit to perform work, and all work has to be inspected by county inspectors.

must pay fee, show qualifications...obtain Contractor's License...apprentice, jourtney, master...pretty much immaterial in Contracts arena.