2 years of on again-off again studying and leg work came to fruition today when I took and passed the North Carolina General Contractor’s exam for the Builder Classification.
Pretty big deal to a guy like me who has spent most of his career operating on the “fringe” of business, scoffing at the likes of licenses, insurance, taxes, etc. This really marks a turning point for me and the DF.
Those of you already doing business in NC will probably appreciate this more than most, as it is not exactly a simple process. Especially when you’re carrying baggage from a previous mis-spent life.
Anyway, thought I’d share the news with the people whose work and general expertise I respect as much as any group I’ve ever had the pleasure to spend time with.
The best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.
Replies
KUDOS.
Any time anyone overcomes their past and succeeds in achieving a goal it worthy of note.
Congratulations!!
View Image View Image View Image
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
You gonna play that thing?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32Ln-SpJsy0
congratulations david - best of luck in the future -
That's just super, David - DW and I and the kids send out big ol' congratulations!
Forrest
Congratulations!!
Here's wishing all your hard work pays off for you handsomely.
Big CONGRATULATIONS, mostly because I do know the effort that it takes (I started and quit in anoter state) and I admire you for seeing it through. Maybe Ill let you know when I accomplish something similar. Keep it up bro.
david
YIPPEE.
Way to go.
Now make it make you some money.
Rich
Congratulations David, What a great accomplishment! What a great feeling. Good luck, Keith
thats great.
my boy got his lic in OR and i saw study material; i would have failed even though i got my lic in 79.
best to always be honest and play by the rules
congratulations...
i got my Mass CS license the hard way... grandfathered when they started licensing
nowadays it's quite a big deal
hey, what does DF signify ?
Darling Fiance'
Thanks for the congrats Mike. Sure gonna miss not being at Peachfest to meet you and Helen.
Have a great Summer.The best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.
Congratulations! I have gnashed many a tooth over that test (Passed by one question.) The cool thing was that I did it on my own, without those expensive classes. Good Luck. Where in NC are you? I'm in Asheville.
http://r-squaredconstruction.com/
My "expensive" class was $70.00 through the continuing ed dept. at Mitchell CC here in Statesville.
The expensive part was the $685.00 for books.
My instructor does however, do the high-dollar weekend seminars across the state as well.The best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.
I passed the first time today here. Thanks for your pointers.
John
Congratulations JD!!!! Did you do one of the "crash courses"?The best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.
Yeah, I took one of the 2 day courses, I have not quite figured out if it helped enough to justify the cost.
How did it take to get the rest of the paperwork from the state?
John
Hey dude, where you been?
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Didn't he do the cruise ship job?Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
???Guess I missed that. I think I recall seeing a thread about that, but since I am a land-lubber I didn't bother to read it.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I talked to David on the phone Sunday morning, he is back and hitting the ground running , Man that fellow has more stuff going than a three legged cat in a dirty litter box.
Yes I did!!! I got back to NC on the 27th. Awesome time, and about what I expected overall.
Tell y'all more when I get some free time. Right now the the litter box needs cleaning <g>.The best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.
NJ Licenses are a joke here, More like a registration!! 75 bucks, show insurance, fill out paperwork and you can build anything. I wish we had the licenses you guys have up there. It would weed out all the handymen doing jobs without permits. My license even says: " not a plumber or electricians license" right on my card. What a joke!!! Whats with the "Hussein'' thing you got going? did I miss something?
-Lou
RI is just registration.... Mass is the one with the licensingMike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
O
Congrats!!
"It is what it is."
Congratulations and good luck to you!
David,
Great Job!
View Image
Mike Smith, DF is Dear Fiancee (Maybe wife to be)
Chuck S
live, work, build, ...better with wood
Edited 7/25/2008 11:06 pm ET by stevent1
great job man!!!!!
The next level is here.... Turning.
Nice.
Glad you became bonifide. It has to make you sleep better at night.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-64CaD8GXw
Way to go, from a Va.contractor. I heard somewhere the test was so difficult that the person who took it pulled off on the highway to throw up on his way back from Raleigh.
Not quite that bad shell, but challenging none-the-less.
I had my VA (class B) license back in the 90's. Hear it's a good deal more difficult to obtain these days.
ThanksThe best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.
As a former tar heel state resident that mustered through the NC GC exam my congrats - fun weren't it?
Which parts were most fun, the takeoffs, the code questions or the finance 101 inquiries.
Haven't bothered with one here in Ct, though all it takes is less than $2OO and a simple form, kinda makes you appreciate your accomplishment all the more!
Let's not confuse the issue with facts!
The code and OSHA Q's were the best because I knew where to look. Don't like the finance part of business anyway, so they were tough.
Take-offs were the worst b/c they were for obscure items on the given plans that you really had to hunt for. Big time clock eaters!
ThanksThe best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.
Thanks to everybody who chimed in with congrats on my big day. Have to say, that coming from where I've been, it IS a significant accomplishment and one I'm not likely to take for granted.
To anybody thinking about taking the plunge yourselves: Freakin go for it!!!! If your young, understand that it's not gonna get any easier; and if you've got a little moss on ya, welcome it as a new challenge. He!!, if things are as slow as people say they are, what better time, right?
Anyway, thanks again to a wonderful fraternity that I'm proud to finally feel a bit worthy to be a part of.
David
The best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.
yer Bonafide now eh? good job .
Congradulations davidhawks!
Good job bro, Now go and do something with it so you can get off the fring
-Lou C
Edited 7/26/2008 5:55 am ET by loucarabasi
Way to go, David!
Don't know exactly what's involved in the GC exam, but I'll bet it's pretty tough.
As someone who's continuing to study for CKD certification after many years, I applaud anyone who gets through any similar process!
CKD certification
What is this?????
Certified Kitchen Designer???
The best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.
Edited 7/26/2008 1:11 pm ET by davidhawks
ChicKen & Dumplings?
Forrest
Forrest and David,
Certified Kitchen Designer.
Once upon a time I was offered membership. I respectively declined (Membership fee). Wish I had not.
Chuck S.live, work, build, ...better with wood
Hey, it's never too late. I was going to try for certification in the 80's, but got sidetracked into commercial design.
Anyway, if you're involved with kitchen & bath work, you can join the NKBA, even if you never intend to be certified. Membership is not especially expensive, and there are some good benefits.
Congrats... I had taken a lot of tests, been in building for more than 30 yrs, taken two CC classes, and still didn't have a clue what 25% questions were about! Lucky thing I didn't have to... LOLWait til you upgrade to to an unlimited license... now, get out there and start building a spec<G> Now you see this one-eyed midget
Shouting the word "NOW"
And you say, "For what reason?"
And he says, "How?"
And you say, "What does this mean?"
And he screams back, "You're a cow
Give me some milk
Or else go home"
Yep, tho I like the chicken & dumplings idea!!
I have been known to refer to it, in my case, as Certified Kitchen Diva.
After you have the required training and experience you can test for various levels of certification. I've got all the qualifications except for the hours of NKBA training, which I'm working on now so I can take the first level. I'd take the whole test next year except I'll never get in the required 60 hours of training before the registration deadline.
Do contractors or builders have anything similar??
Do contractors or builders have anything similar??
Only for the specialized trades like sparky, turd-herder, and tin-man.The best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.
Congrats David.
Hate to tell you what it takes to be a contractor in pa.
Insurance!
I can build anything residential pretty darn near anywhere in the state once i register in the township.
Did they show you the secret handshake;
Its not the one where you tickle the others palm with your finger, if they showed you that one they were messing wit ya
Having just received my license, I can relate to the sundry obstacles to overcome, hoops to jump through.
Having the license has had some interesting things happen.
The first surprise was the number of folks who dropped me like a hot potato as soon as they saw my license number. I guess they were looking for make-believe hacks that they could take advantage of.
Another few assumed I had zero idea as to running a business, and expected me to work for $10/hr. The even asked me to produce material receipts. So sorry- I quoted a flat rate, that's what you owe me. Period. No receipts. Period.
Then there were the unlicensed contractors who sought to work under my license. Not a chance.
Finally .... a long-time customer is having trouble accepting that the license is in MY name now .... and not the boss's .... who's retiring anyway.
Interesting statements. I called one of my good customers (who was also a reference provider) the other day to share the news. First thing after congrats was, "guess rates are gonna go up".
You betcha!The best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.