As the nation’s economy continues to improve and homeowners tackle more improvement projects, leaders in the electrical industry say a shortage of qualified electricians makes it even more important for homeowners to hire smartly.
“The No. 1 challenge contractors are facing is not the amount of work, it’s a manpower issue,” says Thayer Long, CEO of the Independent Electrical Contractors, a national trade association representing 3,000 member companies. “Nationwide, there is a growing shortage of electricians in this country — trained electricians.”
With homes becoming smarter with new technology and the growing popularity of LED lighting, Long says it’s vital for homeowners to make sure the electrician they hire is properly trained to do the job and holds required trade licensing. But even though the company might be licensed and employ a master electrician, that doesn’t mean the person doing an electrical job in your home meets those same standards.
In about half of all states, he says, individuals performing the work are not required to be licensed electricians, even though the company must at least have a licensed electrician on staff who is expected to provide oversight. “That’s why asking about training is really important,” Long says. “You could be in a state that doesn’t have (individual) licensing (requirements), and the guy you’re working with learned it on the fly, and you’re really playing with fire.”
Licensing regulations vary from state to state and county to county, so homeowners should first learn their local jurisdiction’s requirements before hiring an electrician. Then follow up with the company to understand exactly who will be working on your home and their qualifications. Many counties require a licensed electrician to pull a permit before beginning any work or completing inspections. A reputable company also will require staff to attend regular training courses and stay current on the National Electrical Code, which is amended every three years.
Kent Crook, owner of highly rated Wiremasters Electric in Miami, says he works in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, where electrical contractors can send unlicensed workers on jobs provided they have oversight from a licensee.
“In our state, you don’t have to have a licensed electrician on every job,” he says. “You just have to have a licensed electrician overseeing the job to make sure things are done properly and up to code.”
He adds that a license holder remains responsible for the work done by employees and is required to make sure they only do work they’re qualified to handle.
In Minnesota, unlicensed workers need to be directly overseen by a licensed electrician, says Randy Smith, owner of highly rated Randy’s Electric in Maple Grove, Minnesota.
“You need to have a journeyman’s license to be on a job by yourself,” Smith says. “Sometimes we send apprentice helpers along who are learning and sometimes we don’t, but we always send a licensed electrician out to the house.”
Crook says responsible electrical contractors take steps to ensure that qualified individuals work on appropriate jobs. “If you’re hanging a fan or fixture, you don’t really need a guy who has a license for that,” he says. “But if we’re doing a panel change, I feel like we need a licensed guy. We know that what we do isn’t a game. If an electrician messes up, a house might burn down. It’s serious.”
Angie Hicks is the founder of Angie’s List, www.angieslist.com, a resource for consumer reviews.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
