[scarecrowbob]

Yeah, I agree.

This is largely why I (almost 50, and who likes doing casual electrical work and has tools and knows some things) don't try to get into that trade.

If I have to start making money again, I might go into something like low-voltage install where there's not any licensing and my network admin and electronics skills might help.

I enjoy electrical install work- I put a solar power system up in the off grid cabins where I live- not big (4kw panels, 6kw inverter, 15kwh battery), but it has been fun wiring in a panel and placing outlets in the shacks.

What doesn't sound fun is 4 years of $20/hr work working for who the hell knows.

[mothballed]

There's quite a few places in the US where no electrician license is required to be an electrician.

Alternatively where I live (Arizona) a license is required to offer services but as long as the contractor is licensed the guy doing the actual work doesn't have to be, so in practice there are ways to minimize the licensing problem by having a license holder just be a shell company holder of your electrical service