Hello, About two years ago my boss gave to me an apprentice application which I filled out and handed back to him (after I offered to pay the registration fee which he politely refused and demanded to pay himself). Now, after accruing quite a few hours on the job, I've become a little excited with the anticipation of one day holding my journeyman license and then it dawns on me....
I was never given an apprentice card or registration number.
Let me preface this by saying, my boss is a snake. He has a hard time keeping employees and I have been very loyal to him. Working a minimum of
60 hrs. per week and having all the responsibilities of a licensed plumber without the pay (and experience obviously). I never wanted to be thrown into this but would have much rather learned the proper way from a good journeyman or master. But, to keep my job, I have been running a crew for the last year and a half. Crazy, I know. I'm a fast learner with common sense and have had to "figure it out" on my own. So, I'm thinking.... I wouldn't be surprised if my boss didn't want me to ever hold a license because then he would be faced with either paying me competitive wages or I could easily obtain a job that would.So I log on to the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners and contacted them via email of my apprentice card or registration number. I received a prompt email from them stating I am not registered and the last two years I've been employed were "illegal" and would not be credited towards my 8000 hours for journeyman examination.
Shit, I'm so pissed at my boss it'll be all I can do not to quit in the morning. Is this correct? Am I screwed?
Any suggestions what actions I should/could take?
Thanks, Michael