Certified vs. Licensed Electrician: Key Differences Explained

Electricians provide an efficient solution for your electrical installations, maintenance, and repair. Multiple electricians claim to be licensed or certified with years of experience. It is the most important part of an electrician’s journey to be licensed or certified. Because it provides proof for an electrician to be competent, it can be a clear headache for someone while hiring an electrician, which one is better and what specialties each one has. C&J Electrical Services is an electrical company that can assist you with its expert electricians in your area. 

Certified Vs Licensed Electricians: What Makes Each One Special?

Do you know what the differences are between licensed and certified electricians? Is there any difference between their services? Which one is better for you according to your needs?

 If you need an electrician and you don’t know about the differences between licensed and certified electricians, you are at the right place for assistance. 

The following are some differences between certified and licensed electricians:

  • Legal Requirements:

There are some legal requirements for an electrician to be certified or licensed in states. Local government sets some credentials for certification or licensing:

uncheckedCertified Electricians:
There is not much need for legal requirements, like a license. The electrician should be educated to be a certified electrician. Certification enhances the scope of job opportunities. 
The minimum age requirement to be a certified electrician in many states is 18 years. 
uncheckedLicensed Electricians:
Someone must be educated and have years of experience in the electrical field to get a license from the local government to operate in a certain area. 

The minimum requirement of being a licensed electrician is 21 years in many states, which provides you with legal authority to offer services. 
  • Scope of Work: Opportunities to be Hired

Have you ever wondered whether an electrician’s license or certification affects their job scope? If not, no problem. 

Here is the right guide for you. 

  • uncheckedLicensed Electrician:

A licensed electrician has years of experience in handling problems with electrical appliances. So, he can get jobs related to electrical installation, maintenance, and repair. Licensing enhances the trust among locals.

  • uncheckedCertified Electrician:

A certified electrician has more scope for jobs related to certifications, like electrical project management, certified electrical safety technician, and solar/green energy installation. 

  • Industry Related Knowledge:

The certified and licensed electricians also differ in their knowledge based on their training and experience. So, it is a must for you to read this before hiring the right electrician based on your needs. 

  • uncheckedCertified Electrician: Industry-Specific Knowledge

Certified electricians have more industry-related knowledge due to their hardcore training for specialized work. They have proficiency in a particular field in which they are trained. 

  • uncheckedLicensed Electricians: High Familiarity With Building Codes

Licensed electricians are more familiar with building codes because they can perform multiple tasks at the same time for residential and commercial buildings. They are also well-known for the safety standards in a particular field. 

  •  Types of Electrical Licenses and Certifications:

There are multiple types of licenses and certifications for electricians. Ensure to check them before hiring an electrician. 

  • uncheckedTypes of Electrical Licenses:

The following are the types of electrical licenses:

Apprentice Electrician: Entry-level license to work under the supervision of a master. 
Journeyman Electrician: Higher-level license with a wide range of scopes. 
Master Electrician: The highest-level license to work independently or for the supervision of other electricians.  
Residential Wireman: Specializes in working with residential electrical problems.  
Electrical Contractor: Offers their services as a company and can hire master electricians. 
  • uncheckedTypes of Electrical Certifications:

The following are some electrical certifications for the services specialty:

OSHA Safety Certificate: Knowledge of workplace safety regulations and practices. 
Low Voltage/ High Voltage Certificate: A special certificate to indicate someone’s specialty to work with low or high-voltage supplies. 
Electrical Maintenance Technician: Expert in the maintenance and repair of electrical appliances. 
Project Maintenance: Valuable for handling large projects. 

Conclusion:

To sum up, it is a must to know about the difference between a certified and licensed electrician before hiring someone. It gives you peace of mind that you are hiring the right electrician. Certified electricians are well-trained in certain fields, but licensed electricians have diverse experiences in handling commercial or residential electrical issues. Ensure to choose the best electrician for your needs. 

FAQs:

Which electrician is best for some specialized electrical tasks?
If you have some specialized issues with your electrical appliances, a certified electrician is best with the related certification. 

Which electrician is good for normal residential electrical problems?
A residential wireman-licensed electrician is best for normal household electrical problems. 

Is it possible to get services from professionals for electrical repair?
Yes, you can get services from professionals to solve your residential or commercial electrical problems.  

Is there a need for a special certificate to deal with high voltages?
Yes, a high-voltage certificate is provided to professionals after certain training to work with high-voltage supplies. 

What is the minimum age to be a certified electrician?
To be a certified electrician, 18 years is the minimum age for any individual. 

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