Devastated, Missed the test Options

[Redpaw]

Hello Guys,
I'm devastated, I used to be an electrician and have been all my adult life and its all I've ever known and I'm always proud to say I was an electrician.

Well as many of you have known I got seriously screwed up in accident ( no fault of my own nor were drugs involved, I dont do that crap ) and I've tried to stay active with what's left and keeping it moving. I lost the license as a direct result of the injury and the lack of funding for continuing education while laid up last november in bed......

I took the re-test and missed it again by a single point, I failed all the contractor questions and the Oregon Administrative proccedings that are required as part of the test. I've never wanted to be a contractor, nor a supervisor and yet it is required and I missed it.

Hopefully I'll qualify for Job re-training ( just got back from interviews ) and can find something new in life because I'm not going to be going back to work as an electrician anytime soon....if it makes any of you feel better than I'll say this....

I passed all the hard shit, and failed the shit I don't give a rats ass about nor ever will.....man this just kills me, my life is so phucked up...and its all because of someone elses carelessness on the job this happened.

I want to go back and do what I'm good at and can't and now I have to tell everyone this miserable phucking story over and over again....

oh man this sucks, how am I going to tell my parents and people wanting me to get back on the ball?. This is HELL.

But I'm going to fight, I'm not giving up....I'm just hurting real bad right now with my second defeat in life....make the anguish go away...man this hurts.

There has to be a state that will take me on right now.....I'm on the look and will crawl there to be an electrician again, I so ashamed of myself I even took all the online tests you can buy over the internet and passed all of them with flying colors....This just wipes me out.

Redpaw

[Redpaw]

well there is some good news....

I can contest the test and have explanations to the exceptions quoted for correct answers....

that's the thing with electrical, some test rely on exceptions to the rule and others go with straight up answers most generally found in the field....

fine print notes are guidelines and not to be enforced and yet I'm thinking i got tripped up on dwelling classifications under Oregon specialty codes.

aw man.....i'm so freaking hurt, have you ever felt hollow?..like your a shell?...nothing left inside?.......take a number, I guess its my turn.

devastated.....the lawyers test isn't this screwed up.

[Matt Mattson]

Here's what you do:

You get up off your butt and study what you missed and go into that contest hearing loaded for bear. If the bear bites you, you take those skills and work under someone else until you can pass or you work under a licensed A&P doing C-checks at an airline or Boeing or you work for a marine outfit -- all you have to do is say: I know electrical -- and buddy -- you're hired.

Many have been through and are going through far worse -- get it done.

All the above said out of love not hate.

You'll make it.

We all did.

Matt

[Denise]

I'm sorry Dave.
Hang in there, you have so many good things going for you, just keep that in sight.
If its meant to be, it will happen, just keep trying if thats what you want, just never give up!
Just remember your loved by many......
Were here if you want to talk.

Sincerely,
Denise

[CP]

Sorry to Hear that Dave,

Denise and Matt hit the nail on the head.
You have a lot going for you and you will succeed, just keep knockin on the doors.
I think I'm qualified to say that I totally understand the hollow feelings your'e experiencing right now........MAN THAT REALLY SUCKS. But you can do the electrical stuff. Like Matt said, it's a darn good skill and you will be hired somewhere.....You just gotta figure out where that is...... ;)
Hang tough buddy, It's always darkest before the dawn.

Look! It's a brand new day and what beautiful sunrise.
Let's all take a deep breath and do it again....... ;) :)

We are here for ya Dave!
Dan

[russau]

dave, im also a wire bender! be at it for 38 years. 23 years at boeing in st. louis mo...ive been at it in the military, nonunion and union jobs. get that code book out and reread the dwelings section. i had a copy of the contractors electrical test here in st. louis mo. with the answers. and all of the math work! it is one h--l of a test. i dont want to try it!!! if your only off be one point,brush up and get with it! they dont call you radpaw fer nothin! the test in st. louis mo is a very "political" test to take!! if your buddies with someone that has a license, it helps! if i can be of some help dave drop me a line! and above all contest the results to see where youmessed up or if you really did! i took the apprenticeship test for local 1 IBEW here in st. louis mo. and the test was easy! i know i passed it! yet because of a phone call to the union hall, talking to a business representive, the result was that i failed the test. but after the test i wrote down all the questions and my answers in the parking lot. and then i reveiwed them against the code book. a talk to a shop steward and a 3 way phone call to the hall (without the busines rep, knowing) my shop steward was told for me to retake the test and that i WILL PASS THIS TIME) well i did, and yes i passed! that was 23 years ago! im not telling you something smells fishy or grease somebodys palm to get your license! your to smart to have to do that! let me know what i can do to help you! russ

[russau]

if im not mistaken, everytime you take the test you get a different test. isnt it? thats the way it is here! so having the answers to a test wont do you any good, cause itll be a different question maybe turned around or something. and that is one real hard test! i wish i could of done as good as you! i also i agree about contesting the test and being able to explain your answer. if you only missed by one point, maybe the explaination will push you over to a favorable score! dave, you have to much spit and vinigar to let this stop you now! remeber when you charge the hardest is when they say you cant! do your research on dwellings and go get them!

[JAW]

Hey Dave, contact John Powell and Tom in Salem and talk to them, I do know that Tom has a good head on his shoulders.

Being an old electrician in oregon and fill in for other inspectors ( to have money to prospect ) I do know that they will listen.

JAW

[Redpaw]

Thanks Jaw,
I'm going to contest the test, as an electrician you know about exceptions to every rule as it pertains to each area and wiring method employed and what works in one county will not work in another.

When they changed to this new test, they added all the administrative policy and specialty codes containing exceptions to the exceptions....Washington county doesn't accept the specialty codes, yet marion county does.

What is accepted on the Coastal parts of Oregon for wiring methods ( Storms and High Wind ) is not accepted in the Willamette Valley ( Ice and Snow ).....so unless you are aware of which area and county they refer to on the test ( which they don't say ) then your left scratching your head.

But regardless, I'm back at trying again....the sun is out and so am I.

Rp

[JAW]

Dave, Tom Phillips is a darn good one to talk with. Give it a shot and remember, I can't never did anything.

JAW B)