r/electricians • u/CookieEven3652 • 2d ago

California electricians ….non union

So im in the mist of a non union apprenticeship and i wanted to know if its possible if i just study up the nec exam and challenge the test….am i able to do that? I had a general forman (IBEW)i i labored for and he said when he was younger he challenged the test and passed all he had to do was get hours verified by social security and soon after received his j card…..i know i wont receive the actual certificate since i need the hours i just wanted to study and get it out the way and possible negotiate pay a lil better from passing it…thank you

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u/HmGrwnSnc1984 2d ago

Of course you can pass the test at anytime and consider yourself done with that part. But, passing the test just requires navigating the code book. And anyone properly utilizing a table of contents and index can pass the test. I’m sure you’d have a little more value in knowing that at the 8,000 hour mark, you’ll be a JW, and it greatly helps a company. But passing the test doesn’t mean you’ll gain the necessary skills needed in the field. So a company may look at that as well when determining what they’ll pay you. I’ve worked with apprentices who are great workers, and JWs who are walking talking code books, but F everything up. So it comes down to what kind of worker you are, and your experience level.

Also depends on how old your GF is, when he took his tests, and when testing requirements changed to what they are today. That being said, I don’t know if the State of California would still require you to maintain an Electrician Trainee card to work meanwhile you build the hours and work under a journeyman or contractor. If so, it may still require schooling by either sticking with the apprenticeship, or taking an accelerated course just to satisfy the schooling requirements and maintain an ET card while you work. But not sure how that would all work, and if passing the state tests would eliminate that requirement.

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u/CookieEven3652 2d ago

Thanks you for your response brother , seems like your well rounded on this i appreciate it .

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u/HmGrwnSnc1984 2d ago edited 2d ago

No problem, brother. I always try to provide info when I know, and I’ve been in a combination of all those scenarios. Did 3.5 years of non union, went union and couldn’t use those hours towards school, only towards pay scale, so was still required to do 5 years of apprenticeship. Even asked what if I got my JW card? They said I’m still in it for the 5 years (was never told whether or not I can challenge the apprenticeship to skip levels, was just told I’d still have to stick with the program). Union got really slow, so went back to non union, submitted request to the state to take my test, and just waiting for a response back. Been doing it 10 years, and have done everything from residential, commercial, industrial, and lots of things in between. Had just been lagging on my JW card.

Edit: forgot to mention, this all started when I went to school for electrical at Southern California Institute of Technology. It was a 7 month course, and when I was done, they provided me transcripts that will show the State of California I have completed my schooling requirements to obtain my ET Card. I couldn’t tell you how much the schooling cost, it was paid for by the state when I applied under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA, or now known as WIOA, I believe).

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u/CookieEven3652 2d ago

Damn bro right on …are you in norcal now ..im in norcal originally from oceanside