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(MN:USA) Becoming liscensed without an apprenticeship? (lemmy.dbzer0.com)

submitted 6 months ago by Canonical_Warlock@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/electricians@lemmy.world

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So I'm a refrigeration mechanic and I want to continue being a refrigeration mechanic. I love my job and I have no interest in becomming a full time electrician. However having the certs to do some light electrical work would be very helpful in my job because my state is very strict about what you can and can't do without being a licensed electrician. It is tremendously annoying that I can rewire an entire rooftop airhandler running 480V 3phase and drawing 100A without breaking any laws but I would be breaking the law if I replaced a faulty breaker in a pannel or fixed a miswired disconnect switch. I can't even run thermostat wire here without a low voltage cert. But as far as I can tell the only way to get those certs would be to quit my job which I love and apprentice for several years under an electrician. I don't want to wire up entire electrical panels or setup industrial motor drive cabinets, but being able to ocasionally replace a bad GFCI outlet or a crappy disconnect would be nice.

Is there any way to become licensed to do even light electrical work without having to quit my current job?

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[–] litchralee@sh.itjust.works 8 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

My cursory read of the Minnesota licensure requirements indicate two options: the first is if the electrical work you want to do is sufficiently related to the job, and a licensed electrician can supervise your work, then registering as an unlicensed electrician in MN would allow you to do that work.

If that's not possible, then option two would be to pursue a master electrician license, but not following the journeyworker path. That would mean you'd have to either have five years of relevant experience, or obtain an electrical engineering degree.

Also, hello again!

[–] Canonical_Warlock@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Hmm. I do live in a college town and my job does pay well so an electrical engineering degree is not out of the question. I may just go that route. It's wildly excessive for what I want it for but I like learning anyways. Thank you.

[–] litchralee@sh.itjust.works 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

If your employer is able to pitch in for the costs of that degree, even better!

As an aside, I'm a big fan of ongoing elective education, especially when it's available on one's own terms (eg night classes, flexible or hybrid assignments). It's part of my bent that learning ends only when breathing ends.

[–] Canonical_Warlock@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

My employer may not even need to pitch in because MN has a free tuition program and I don't think I put in quite enough overtime to put me over the income limit. If I did though then I'm sure my employer would chip in.

Also, same here. I have a habbit of collecting certs and licenses. Being licensed to do electrical work is kind of my white whale in that regard.

[–] litchralee@sh.itjust.works 1 points 6 months ago

Ah, Minnesota. L'etoile du Nord, how you always seem to be leading the country by example.