A Note to the apprentice.

A note to any apprentice who's on the verge of taking his test. If you have not been in an electrical school environment within the passed year and a half, I highly suggest a refresher course. I failed my test badly, both parts. I hadn't opened the code book or calculated any formulas-- not even simple ohms law equations since 2010, my final year at Leo Martin. In 2016, my paperwork approved by PSI, I figured what the hell, let's get this thing done. But like I said, I got my ass kicked with a 56%. I realized I was in over my head and I had to take a refresher course and mid September I signed up for the Leo Martin course. Right away he started hitting on questions and answers, many of which I saw on the test, scored right or wrong. I relearned how to use the ampacity tables, load calculations, grounding and yes ohms law. So the week after the last class I made my appointment in Fall River (closest immediate date), went in, shaking like a leaf. It was still hard, very hard actually and at one point I thought I might fail again. However, I had the knowledge to navigate some of the trickier questions this time and I knew now that PSI worded their questions sometimes to trick you or make you think you have a quick easy answer. Two examples come to mind. The question is about hallway receptacles. Most apprentices know that you need one every ten feet. But on test day when you're already jumpy, they ask, in a hallway, what is the amount of feet before you need a receptacle. You look down at the answers and there is ten feet, right there first answer and you automatically jump at it because you didn't really read the question. Before is the key word. You look further down and there is 9 feet, the correct answer. Another one involves switches and again most apprentices know that every six stairs where there is a platform, a switch must be installed. So you get the question, how many stairs must you exceed before you have to install a switch. Bam. There it is, first answer A. 6 stairs. But again, exceeds is the operative word. You exceed 5 stairs before you must install a switch. Anyway, the test is filled with little PSI tricks. If you want to just try and get it your first time by all means but if you fail, trust me, take a refresher course. It was the best $750.00 I've ever spent. On my exams these were the test properties, if you will.

Part 1
general knowledge 8
services 11
grounding and bonding 7
wiring methods and devices 18
motors 4
transformers 1
low-voltage distribution 2
special occupancies and equipment 5
overcurrent protection 6
lighting 2
alarm systems 6


Part 2
circuit calculations 5
electrical schematics and plans 5
materials and components 6
trouble shooting and testing 6
massachusetts amendments 6
licensing laws and regulations 2

So now the question asks. Do I want to go for my Masters? I mean at this point in my career I don't plan on starting up a business. By most accounts, its not going to give me a huge pay raise just having it. If I did go for it, it would most likely be just for the prestige of having a masters license. It's really just a business certificate anyway. I don't know. I really just want to be a writer. Good luck kids. Study,study, study!

Here's the motivation:

Me still making $18.75 an hour

Me now making $27.00 an hour

Somehow, I guess it was fitting that afternoon after I passed my test. I left the building and fell right smack into a children's Christmas Day Parade that was marching right down Main Street passed the test center and all sorts of celebration from the crowd and parade sort of capped the excitement in my brain.

Fall River, a minute after I emerged from the test center.