I've worked as a "Journeyman Electrician" in sawmills for the last 4 years. I got hired based on my knowledge and skill, and having completed an AA degree in Electrical Power and Process Automation from a state funded technical school. I worked my way up passing all of our internal "journeyman" tests to top out at a level II. a few years ago, I decided for nothing more than personal enrichment, I wanted to be a licensed electrician. 07 (non residential maintenance here is Washington) General journeyman (01) requires atleast 2 years of NEW commercial or industrial installations.
Long story short, called L&I and asked what I had to do. She said get 2 years experience under a licensed journeyman 07 or 01 and then come back and you can take the test. I waited 2 years, went to take the test and they asked what my trainee card number was. I said what trainee card? Turns out, since I didn't pay the 40$ online 2 years ago to obtain a card, my hours wouldn't count. I had thought industrial was the "exception" to the rule, but after much back and forth with L&I (you can never win, and any attempt seems futile) I found the code references in the WAC that simply states it is illegal to work with any electricity without either a trainee card or a journeyman card of some sort. I looked and looked, it wasn't easy to find. It had to be pointed out to me.
I think this largely gets brushed aside without consequence as I've worked for companies who have had no "licensed" electricians at all and don't seem to have any problems. and some of the best electricians I've worked with had no state certification. Oregon however, is a completely different game it appears.
I was actually pretty furious at how I was able to get as far as I did, especially in ONE of the most dangerous environments for electricians.. an OLD OLD sawmill that had many "hands in the pot" over the years. When I started it was basically "you're up, Im off. Keep it running and don't get hurt". I had no business working by myself at that time.
Then to listen to L&I tell me I was an "Illegal Electrician" and "unvalid".. even though I had 5 years experience, an AA degree in Electrical Power from a STATE FUNDED technical college, and my classification was a Journeyman electrician II in our IBEW represented contract with the company.. still gets under my skin. That company has since shut down, and I am now an 07 "trainee".
Anyhow.. <End Rant> just be careful, as it seems you can slip through the cracks.