Mike Holt's Rating of the Electrical Industry

Mike Holt’s Rating of the Electrical Industry – 2009 – Update

Our March 17 Newsletter rated the electrical industry based on the state requirements at that time.

We received your comments and information and have made updates accordingly. While some of the changes relate to information that was not accurate, we’re pleased to report that 4 points were added due to states that adopted the 2008 NEC since our newsletter was prepared: Indiana, Iowa, New Jersey and Wisconsin.

We have been asked to consider other ratings in our review, such as states’ electrical accident statistics. We have also been asked to consider the fact the ICC requires licensing and CEUs that supersede “formal” state requirements because of the imposed industry standard by ICC. These suggestions have not been implemented in this update and will be considered for the 2010 Rating. We ask you to continue to give us your feedback and comments so that we can grow this report and build on its accuracy as we continue with our mission.

States that have the most room for growth are: Arizona, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri and New York.

States with an A+ rating are: Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota and Wyoming.

We acknowledge you and congratulate all those states that continue to set high standards in electrical safety.

This chart shows the updates. Click here or click on the map image to see the complete spreadsheet.

* indicates change based on the data we reported in March, and not based on State changes.

STATE	09 GRADE	09 UPDATE	CHANGE	REASON FOR CHANGE
ALABAMA	B-	C-	-3	*NEC not adopted at state level
ALASKA	B+	B+
ARIZONA	D	D
ARKANSAS	A-	A-
CALIFORNIA	A-	A-
COLORADO	B-	B-
CONNECTICUT	A-	A-
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA	C	C
DELAWARE	B+	B+
FLORIDA	B	B
GEORGIA	B	B-	-1	*No CEU required for JE
HAWAII	C+	C	-1	*NEC not adopted at state level
IDAHO	B+	B+
ILLINOIS	D	D
INDIANA	D+	C-	+1	08 NEC adopted 6/2/09
IOWA	B+	A-	+1	08 NEC adopted 2/1/09
KANSAS	D+	D	-1	*NEC not adopted at state level
KENTUCKY	A-	A-		08 NEC not adopted; *PD req'd. for Eng.
LOUISIANA	C+	C+
MAINE	A	A
MARYLAND	D	D
MASSACHUSETTS	A-	A+	+2	*Inspector License & CEU req.
MIGHIGAN	A-	A-
MINNESOTA	B+	A+	+3	*Insp. Lic/CEU; Appr. before JE
MISSISSIPPI	D+	D+
MISSOURI	D	D
MONTANA	B	B
NEBRASKA	B	B
NEVADA	C-	C-
NEW HAMPSHIRE	A-	A-
NEW JERSEY	B+	A-	+1	08 NEC adopted 4/6/09
NEW MEXICO	B+	B+
NEW YORK	D+	D+
NORTH CAROLINA	A	A
NORTH DAKOTA	A+	A+
OHIO	A-	B+	-1	*No CEU required for JE
OKLAHOMA	A	A+	+1	*08 NEC adopted 7/1/08
OREGON	A+	A+
PENNSYLVANIA	C-	C-
RHODE ISLAND	A	A
SOUTH CAROLINA	B-	B-
SOUTH DAKOTA	A+	A+
TENNESSEE	B	B
TEXAS	B+	A-	+1	*Apprentice before JE
UTAH	A	A
VERMONT	B+	B+
VIRGINIA	A-	A-
WASHINGTON	A	A
WEST VIRGINIA	B	B
WISCONSIN	B+	A-	+1	08 NEC adopted 3/1/09
WYOMING	A	A+	+1	*Apprentice before JE
PUERTO RICO	B-	B-

Comments

Your information on professional development for P.E.s in Nebraska is incorrect. Nebraska does require PD for license renewal.
Steve
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We at Parsons Electric in Phoenix, AZ provide the most comprehensive education to all our JW's. Our entire installation team must meet our education requirments that we also have in MN where we are based.
John Turilli
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We are very glad that you did not include Iraq & all the USA contractors doing work in that country.
Michael K. Lenihan
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Why did Texas change from SBC to PSI for testing? What states does Texas reciprocate with?
Ron
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I work extensively as a licensed electrical engineer in both Tennessee and Kentucky. Tennessee's electrical inspection program is far superior to the one in Kentucky. Kentucky has a much superior plumbing inspections system. What was your basis for comparison?
James K. Goddard, Jr.
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Indiana entry is not quite correct. Both the Attourney General and the Governor must still approve adoption of the 08 NEC. They may be rubber stamps but the process still requires 90-105 days before the adoption is complete. Sept 2009 will be the earliest that it goes into effect.

Further the adoption excludes one and two bedroom residential that will remain 05 NEC.
PFalcon
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We received information that Pennsylvania inspectors do require continuing education in order to renew their certification. This takes Pennsylvania from a C- to a C rating. The change will be reflected in our next publication. Thanks for your feedback.

Paula
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Your list says CA Journeyman are required to be licensed. This is incorrect. We are required to be State Certified. The wording in the law is that the person doing the final terminations is to be certified. This means a laborer can do just about everything else. This state certification is not enforced by anyone but the IBEW on their own JWs and only when they are dispatched out of the hall. As far as a Master Electrician, there is no such thing here. Anyone can get an electrical contractor's license, we call it a C-10, for $250 from the state. You don't have to prove any experience and if your worried you can just pay around $600 to one of the state licensing schools and they guarantee you will pass. You can retake the test as many times as you like, for $50 a pop, until you get it right.
Shawn
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Mike, Just wanted to let you know that the state of Ky. has adopted the 2008 code as printed. It has been a real struggle but we finally got it done.
Mel Trivette
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Why can't we get a electricial license that is good all over the country? Its hard to work in other states when you have to have there state license.
Gary Johnson
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It would be great if there was more reciprocity for all of North America. I am specifically thinking of Canadian electricians who go to Southern States for the winter. How about those linemen who go back and forth between States and Provinces every time there is a major storm that takes out all the hydro lines ? Do they have some kind of reciprocity agreement ?
jim green
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