The difference between a Licensed Master Electrician and an apprentice electrician is simple; the licensed master electrician must be registered under the National Electrical Code and the apprentice must be licensed by his or her state, but not necessarily in the United States. The electricians are separated into two classes: Journeyman and licensed master electrician. The journeyman has a lot less experience than the licensed master electrician and must be certified by his or her state, as well as by the National Electrical Code. The licensed master electrician has all of the experience required by the code and may apply for a license from the National Electric Code Review Commission. The journeyman is a step up from a licensed master electrician and the licensed master electrician is a step down from the journeyman.
Licensed apprentices are the next highest level of electrician; these electricians must meet all the qualifications for the licensed master electrician plus he or she must be at least 18 years old, a citizen of the United States and a permanent resident of the U.S. It is illegal for non-residents to become licensed electricians in the United States, so an apprenticeship is a good way to get a job. Journeyman electricians usually take one to three years to complete their training before they can apply for a license; the licensed master electrician takes five to eight years to complete his or her training and is not eligible for a license until the electrician has passed the exam.
The differences between licensed journeyman electricians are slight. The only difference is that licensed apprentices need to have passed the national exam for licensed electricians while licensed journeyman electricians do not have to take the national exam. Both licensed journeymen must be bonded by the state; the licensed master electrician must be licensed by his or her state, the licensed journeyman by his or her state, but not necessarily by the National Electric Code Review Commission. This is done because a licensed electrician must not only pass the certification exam, but must also make sure that the certified electrician that comes after him or her has not been convicted of a crime or is subject to a lawsuit.
It is important for an apprentice to be licensed by his or her state and he or she should pass the examination in order to become a licensed master electrician; however, the apprentice will not get any credit for passing the national exam if he or she fails the state exam. because he or she is not licensed by the National Electric Code Review Commission.
A licensed master electrician can work anywhere in the United States as long as the electrician has been certified; however, it is advisable that he or she starts out working in a residential area such as a home, a small business or a construction site before going onto larger areas, such as a hospital, apartment complex or retail store. Many states do not allow licensed electricians to work on commercial property, even though there are exceptions, so an electrician has to work within the building that he or she works in before moving on to a different building.
There are many ways that an electrician’s education can be paid for, such as through apprenticeships, through grants, through the sale of books and through a combination of both, either through books and work. A lot of schools and colleges offer continuing education programs. Other ways that an electrician can become qualified include earning online degrees or earning online certifications through accredited universities or online colleges. However, an apprenticeship is still a good way to gain experience and become certified to work as an electrician.