NASCLA Accredited Electrical Examination Program
The National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies (NASCLA) has partnered with several industry stakeholders to create one nationally recognized accredited trade examination for electricians. NASCLA will offer (3) different open book electrical trade examinations through the NASCLA Accredited Electrical Examination Program: Electrical Contractors (Master/Unlimited Electricians), Journeyman Electricians and Residential Electrical Contractors (Residential Electricians).
Faqs:
NASCLA Accredited Electrical Examination Program
What is the NASCLA Accredited Electrical Examination Program?
The NASCLA Accredited Electrical Examination Program was developed to meet the needs of regulatory agencies across the country and to improve the overall quality and validity of trade licensing examinations for electricians. The Examination Program consists of three (3) open-book electrical trade examinations: one (1) for electrical contractors (master/unlimited electricians), one (1) for journeyman electricians and one (1) for residential electrical contractors (residential electricians). The examinations were developed by Subject Matter Experts with diversified backgrounds from around the country to ensure that each exam accurately represents the work performed in jurisdictions throughout the United States. These examinations were developed under the highest psychometric and electrical standards.
What are the benefits for regulatory agencies?
For regulatory agencies, the Examination Program allows states to share a common standard, so that each state can review exam results from other states with the assurance that the results meet their own standards. The Examination Program allows regulatory agencies to pool resources with other states to continue developing consistently improved standards for electrical examinations. These pooled resources also make possible significant cost savings for the development and administration of the examinations for each participating agency. Finally, states can more easily provide a new and improved examination infrastructure with established expertise.
What are the benefits for electricians?
For electricians, the Examination Program offers the potential for greater mobility—allowing electrical contractors and electricians to move quickly between participating states to provide assistance during natural disasters, or to help meet demand in states with a high need but limited supply of qualified electricians. The shared examinations also reduce the need for electricians to spend time, money and stress traveling to different states to take multiple exams.
Is the NASCLA Accredited Electrical Examination Program considered a “National License”?
No. The Examination Program provides a shared standard for examinations, but it is not intended to create a “National License.” Each regulatory agency will maintain its sovereignty and will be in control of its state’s licensing requirements.
Who can take the examinations?
The Examination Program consists of three (3) examinations, one (1) for each of the following job types:
• Electrical Contractors (Master/Unlimited Electricians): One who conducts business in the installation, maintenance and repair of electrical work conforming to applicable standards and codes.
• Journeyman Electricians: An individual who has demonstrated capacity in the knowledge and skills needed to properly perform the installation, maintenance and repair of electrical work conforming to applicable standards and codes.
• Residential Electrical Contractors (Residential Electricians):
One who demonstrates competency in performing electrical installations, service, repair and maintenance typically encountered in a permanent dwelling unit.
How was the NASCLA Accredited Electrical Examination Program developed?
NASCLA invited Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) from across the country to a series of workshops to develop a job analysis for each examination. The SMEs had a broad and diverse background in the electrical field, including a variety of experience in residential, commercial, industrial, high-voltage, low-voltage, photovoltaic, electrical signs, and other specialized work. Following the initial SME Workshops, NASCLA conducted national surveys of electricians in each examination category. Survey recipients were compiled through lists provided by state regulatory agencies along with partner associations working with NASCLA throughout this process. The survey asked respondents to review the job analysis for each category and to rate the frequency and importance of the knowledge and skills needed to perform each task. A representative sample of survey responses was received from all states to confirm whether the SMEs were on point in the creation of each job analysis. In follow up workshops, the SMEs used these responses to revise or ratify the job analyses. Finally, the SMEs created the questions for each examination. With guidance from NASCLA’s Psychometrician, the SMEs crafted, evaluated and verified over 1,000 questions, covering the knowledge and skills needed for each job type. Regulatory agencies can review the scope of work described in the Job Analysis for each examination—as well as the Test Specifications—and make informed decisions about choosing the NASCLA Accredited Electrical Examination Program as their state standard.
How will the examinations be administered?
The examinations have been designed to make it easy for regulatory agencies to implement. The exams will be housed on a third-party hosted server that will allow each agency to utilize their preferred testing administrator to give the examinations. Each testing administrator will also be able to use their current scheduling system to register and schedule examinees for the examinations.
How are examination results stored and delivered?
Once a candidate has taken and passed a NASCLA Accredited Examination, their information is stored in the NASCLA National Examination Database (NED). Candidates can electronically send a regulatory agency their transcript through the database to alert the agency that they have passed one (1) or more of the examinations. Regulatory agencies can then pair the transcript with the candidate’s license application.
Who created the NASCLA Accredited Electrical Examination Program?
The NASCLA Accredited Electrical Examination Program was initiated by the National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies (NASCLA) in cooperation with the following associations:
• National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA)
• Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) • National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)
• International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI)
• Western Electrical Contractors Association (WECA)
Who is NASCLA?
The National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies (NASCLA) was formed in 1962 for the mutual assistance of its members in striving for the better regulation of the construction industry to protect the health, welfare and safety of the general public. It has since grown to a membership of forty-one (41) contractor licensing agencies in twenty-seven (27) states, Washington, D.C., two (2) territories, and one (1) foreign country
A "certified contractor" is a statewide contractor licensed at the state level. Certified license numbers begin with the letter "C".
A "registered contractor" is a contractor who has a county license (or multiple) who then had to register that license with the state because it was a major trade. Registered contractors can only work in the county in which they have a competency card. Registered contractors are designated by an occupation code which begins with the letter "R".
The Construction Industry Licensing Board does not have a reciprocal agreement with any other state, but applicable out-of-state work history will work toward your experience requirements.
The Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board will allow reciprocation for the Unlimited License with North Carolina, California, and Georgia. *restrictions apply
Experience is valid no matter where it was done as long as it was done legally in that area at that time and projects meet the minimum requirements.
For Construction Licenses, no one needs to sign. The Board requests project details now that meet certain requirements.
For Electrical Licenses if you worked under a Florida License holder who is willing to sign, your application will not require project details for that time frame. If the individual won’t or can’t sign, then notarized letters and project details are able to be submitted in its place.
There are a number of variables that can come into this. It depends on the severity, number of incidences and how recent these incidences are. Call us to learn more.
No, we don't have direct access to your background records as they are only made available to the Construction Industry Licensing Board; however, there are sources for obtaining your background history. If the incident in question was in Florida, you can purchase a report from FDLE (approx. $25), or if it’s outside Florida, you can obtain a full FBI background report (approx. $50).
Construction licenses do not require a minimum net worth. Instead, the requirement is based on your credit. Applicants with a FICO or BEACON score lower than 660 will require a financial stability bond. In addition, an applicant must be free of unresolved liens/bankruptcies/judgments to be eligible for licensure.
Electrical licenses do require minimums:
The applicant must have a positive net worth, regardless of which license they apply. EC, EG, and EF licenses require a $10,000 net worth of the business entity if there is one. All Specialty Electric Licenses require $5,000 net worth of the business.
The Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board does not allow the license holder to alleviate financial responsibility unless they are a secondary qualifier.
The Construction Industry Licensing Board will allow for a license holder to alleviate their financial responsibility by designating a third party, but this does not alleviate the financial stability requirement of a public record search and bond if they do not meet a minimum score.
General Liability should be in place for the license to be issued.
Since Worker’s Compensation Exemptions are filed after the license is issued, the state gives you up to 30 days after the issuance to have Worker’s Comp in place.
Certified Contractors need to complete 14 hours board-approved continuing education every 2 years by August 31stof an even-numbered year.
Registered Contractors renew in odd-numbered years by August 31st.
If a new report that meets the state’s requirement of 660 or higher is available, you can submit that to the state and the bond will not need to be renewed.
No, the only time this information is provided to the board is in the course of submitting an application.
No, you must license the Fictitious Name separately from the owner.
No, you would have to apply to qualify the joint venture just like you would any other business
Yes, but the joint venture must obtain approval of the Construction Industry Licensing Board’s Executive Director prior to submitting the bid on a construction project. The joint venture must provide the Executive Director a copy of the written joint venture agreement and a statement of authority signed by an officer of each company giving the proposed qualifying agent full authority to conduct the contracting business of the joint venture.