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Why Are Associations Fighting State Licensing?
Here in Florida, every trade that works on a residential construction project, from the framing contractor to the flooring contractor to the painting contractor to the landscaping contractor, is required to have a state contractor's license.
Every trade except for low voltage installers, where Fla. Stat. § 489.503 provides a loophole.
I started my career in the industry more than ten years ago working for an electrical contractor, but the only work I did was low voltage (home theater, audio/video, phone, television, data, intercom, thermostats, control, etc.).
I learned this trade via OJT and formal education from manufactures, distributors, conferences (CEDIA, Electronic House Expo, and others), and trade associations such as BICSI, CEA, and CEDIA.
I received numerous certifications from manufactures and trade associations alike, including BICSI Registered Residential Installer, CEDIA Certified Installer I & II, CEDIA Certified Designer I, CompTIA HTI+ and CEA-CompTIA DHTI+.
After working in the trade for six years, I applied to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations for a "Limited Energy Systems" (better know as Low Voltage Contractor or Electronic Systems Technician) contractor's license.
To apply for a contractor's license, I first had to have six years experience in the field, pass a credit and background check, pass a rigorous written examination, and complete an extensive application (which was the hardest part).
The primary components of the examination revolved around the candidate's knowledge of construction accounting and law, worker's comp and safety. There were also a number of technical, building code and electrical code related questions, which most any CEDIA Level II Installer would be prepared to answer.
The reason for the application, background checks and examination is so the state can see if you have the basic skills to be in the contracting business and that you are not going to burn anyone's house down. The state licensing process is no guarantee that an individual is qualified to be in the contracting business, and no guarantee that their business will succeed.
But it's a step in the right direction and ultimately benefits the public welfare of the community.
The other key to state contractor licensing is annual continuing education (CEU) requirements. In addition to requiring CEU relating to the technical aspect of your trade, you are required to obtain CEUs relating to Worker's Compensation Law, Workplace Safety, Business Practices, and Building Code (which is important for any person on a jobsite drilling holes and running wires or pipes through framing members that could affect the home's structural integrity).
Organizations such as CEDIA have always been proponents of certification and continuing education, so it has surprises me that they fight so hard against certification and continuing education at a state level.
Politically, I consider myself somewhat of a libertarian, and I usually give strong opposition to any sort of government-imposed regulation. However, I believe that state licensing helps to ensure that businesses and professionals provide quality services to benefit the safety and welfare of the general public.
For these reasons, I do not understand why members of the above listed organizations oppose state contractor certification (i.e. licensing).
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12 Comments (displayed in order by date/time)
The source of the article came out of the frustration I felt after receiving continual solicitation for PAC (political action committee) contributions from the above association, all of whom indicated their primary legislative activities were related to fighting licensing. As an active member of these associations I feel like an outsider just because I hold a license.
I agree that licensing and certification is no assurance of quality of work. That’s apparent in all professions from low voltage installers to auto mechanics to physicians.
The real question in my long winded rant is why would you require the landscaper or painter to hold a contractors license but not the low voltage installer? And even with licensing requirements there is no shortage of competition among painter, landscapers or any other contractor group that requires licensing.
Every time I see these “action” bulletins, it not because of the fact that newer restrictions have been proposed to license and regulate contractors, it’s more concerned with WHO IS BEHIND the proposed licensing and regulation.
IBEW.
The Union has many players in many State capitols in it’s pockets. If the legislation is pitched toward Union interests, then I am all for out trae organizations making a stand.
Personally, I would like to see a real standard being upheld, but only if the end-user is the primary beneficiary of the program. If cow-towing to special interests, or seeking another form of taxation is the goal, then I will never support it.
Rick.
Electronic systems technicians, aka low voltage specialist, need to have a national standard like electricians. The low voltage professionals need to be recognized as a trade like your HVAC guy or electrician, etc. This national standard is how everyone can benefit together.
Florida is terrible at fostering growth in a positive way because of their fascist rules to get a low voltage license.
For anyone in Florida, Georgia low voltage licenses reciprocate in FL. Meaning, one can take the low voltage test in GA and use that license in FL, thus circumventing the frat of low voltage contractors that are blocking qualified newbies from competing in FL. An Open market is the best policy. Our entire economy is based on this idea.
PS-the reason why FL has their fascist rules for low voltage guys is because there is no national standard. The state regulators only listen to the board members of the Alarm association, etc. and then set ridiculous rules to follow. They’re ignorant but have no other recourse to prevent fraud, etc.
Seems like the government is trying to find another way to make money from yet another license. i have been thru the license process for a number of fields and all it does is generate money for the politicians to spend. I have also found that many of the license holders don’t know anything. All the test are open book and as you said, most of the test have to do with rules, regulations and laws. My last test had 5% of the questions had to do with the actual knowledge of the profession. That was 95% of nothing else to show them I was qualified. We have enough licenses to pay for already. And as we all know, a license does not mean you know what you are doing. It just means you can pass a test. So NO to a license and yes to freedom
I am a C7 or Low Voltage Contractor in CA. I have seen my share of good and bad contractors licensed and unlicensed. I believe in the state license over most of the certifications from trade organizations. I agree that the state license system is not perfect but it does create a good base for any low voltage integrator. California is marginally tough on unlicensed contractors, and I do report these company’s to the state especially if they are way under bidding a project. Most of the unlicensed installers do no carry work comp, liability or a bond. Bottom line the state license is just like having a driver license, it’s just another part of being a professional in the industry. How many of you don’t have a driver license?
The other issue is the time and cost for an employee and the employer to secure a license.
There are class requirements, time on the job and fees that all increase the cost of business.
If I want to hire a new guy to train and move through the ranks I must have 1 licensed installer per apprentice, that’s nuts. Then he must apprentice for 2 years, take classes before he is ‘qualifed’ to take an exam.
That adds up to a lot of commitment on both the employee and the employer. A lot of guys want to experience the industry without committing 2 years of their lives. If a guy decides it’s not for him the employer has to start all over with the next guy.
Yes licensing is good. But it’s not being done right. And it’s even worse for those companies on the border of several states, paying fees and paper work for multiple licenses.
I’m not sure that you are entirely accurate in your portrayal of the various associations position on the issue of state licensing requirements. However, I would be very interested to see a response from one or more of the respective organizations you mention.
That being said, although I have not deeply studied the issue, I believe that some associations feel that a national standard would be preferable to a patchwork of conflicting state statutes. This way, an effective training program could be developed and deployed, and a performance standard that ensures professional work could be nationally executed.
Also, I have a feeling that each association would prefer that THEIR proprietary educational program be adopted as the national standard. This would help them recoup their development cost and drive a lot of potential training (and membership) business for them.
Ted Green
The Stratecon Group
http://www.stratecongroup.com
Things differ from state to state. But in Florida you only have to have one person licensed for the entire company, there are no other requirements journeymen, installers, apprentices, or helpers.
Licensing is done to qualify the company, more then any one individual.
I just received my 2008 Dues Invoice for CEDIA, and I was suppressed to see that the association wanted verification that members in certain states (including Florida) had a valid contractor’s license. Perhaps my original rant against CEDIA and others was unjustified.
I’m proud to see CEDIA requiring members to meet state and local requirements as a condition of membership.
So I am confused. Do you need to have a low voltage license in florida to install Digital cameras in residential and commerical buildings?
or is it just recommended.
Brandon
Brandon,
You are not the only one that is confused. There are people that sit on the state licensing board that are confused.
However, if you are running wires in the walls, ceiling, attic, crawl space (or anywhere in the building evenlope), then you need a lecense in Florida.
It get the feeling the author of this article is more interested in keeping future competition out of Florida than looking out for the interests of the “Community”. As a Computer/Networking systems provider in Florida thinking of branching out to other areas of opportunity, I would not be able to provide the low voltage installation services without hiring someone who has achieved this status. This would be cost prohibitive to a small company seeking expand their business. There are plenty of capable people that can not yet qualify for this licensing. In the course of my current business I have seen low voltage work done by “licensed individuals” that make me ashamed to admit I am associated with this Industry.