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Effective July 1, 2005, the CAC (California Apprenticeship Council) is requiring that anyone who performs work for an electrical contractor installing, constructing or maintaining any electrical system that is covered by the National Electric Code must be certified as a General Electrician.
CSLC is now offering classes for General Electrician and Residential Electrician certification. Our class will prepare you to pass the Electrician Examination adminstered by the DAS (Division of Apprenticeship Standards). Our class is taught by a licensed contactor who has taken and passed both certification tests. The course consists of two classes, four hours each.
Call to get more details on class times and cost.
Frequently asked questions and links from DAS website
1. Who is required to be certified?
One who performs work for an electrical contractor installing, constructing or maintaining any electrical system that is covered by the National Electric Code, is required to be certified as a General Electrician.
One who performs work for an electrical contractor installing, constructing, or maintaining any electrical system that is covered by the National Electrical Code in single family homes and multi-family units, including hotels and motels, where the primary occupancy of the building is considered residential and the maximum voltage received from a utility company is a 3 phase, 4 wire, 120/208 or 120/240 volts, is required to be certified as a Residential Electrician.
One who performs work installing the required panel boards and feeders for commercial tenant space in a multi-family/multi-use occupancies falling under subsection (1) above, where less than 50 percent of the first floor level is used for commercial tenant space, but not performing any tenant improvement for these spaces, is required to be certified as a Residential Electrician.
One who performs work for an electrical contractor involving the installation, construction or maintenance of systems as covered in Article 760 of the National Electrical Code, is required to be certified as a Fire/Life Safety Technician.
2. I have a C-10 license; do I have to be certified?
If you are the holder of a valid C-10 license and are working under that license, certification is not required. However, if you are performing covered electrical work not under your own valid license - for example, if your license is not in effect for some reason, or you are working under someone else's C-10 license - certification is required.
3. I am a foreman for a contractor and sometimes I work with the tools for that work. Do I have to be certified?
Yes.
4. What are the qualifications to apply for certification?
Please refer to Title 8 section 291.1 Eligibility for Certification
5. What is the deadline to be certified?
The CAC passed a motion to extend the test deadline for monolingual Spanish speaking candidates for one year -- until Jan. 1, 2006.
The CAC passed a motion to extend the test deadline for the three current exams of general electrician, residential electrician, and fire/life safety technician for six months -- until Jul. 1, 2005.
The CAC passed a motion to extend the test deadline for voice-data-video technician and non-residential lighting technician for one year -- until Jan. 1, 2006.
6. Where are the testing sites located?
There are currently eight test sites. Please refer to www.dir.ca.gov/DAS/DAS_maps.pdf for maps and locations.
7. How many classifications are there for certification and testing?
There are three classifications with corresponding exams: General Electrician; Residential Electrician; and Fire/Life Safety Technician.
8. How many questions are on the test?
There are 100 questions on the General Electrician test and you have 4 hours to complete the test. There are 75 questions on the Residential Electrician exam and you have 3 hours to complete the exam. There are 50 questions on the Fire/Life Safety Technician Exam and you have 2 hours to complete the exam.
9. What is the content of the exam?
For examination content outline, please click here to be linked to Examination Content outline page.
10. Is the test true/false, multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, or essay?
All questions are multiple choice.
11. How do I apply for the certification?
You may download an application from the following address http://www.dir.ca.gov/DAS/ElectricalCertificationForm.pdf. Please refer to Title 8 section 291.1 Eligibility for Certification
12. Is the test a written exam?
No, the test is on a computer. Little to no experience is needed to operate the computer. A short practice lesson is given prior to the test.
13. What is the cost for the application and test?
A fee of $75 per application and a fee of $100 for to sit for an examination is required and must accompany the application. A check or money order MUST accompany the application, payable to: DIR-Electrician Certification Fund.
14. How often do I have to be re-certified or tested?
You only have to be tested once so long as you do not let your certification expire. The certification must be renewed every three (3) years. To be eligible for renewal you must provide proof under penalty of perjury of 32 hours further electrical education relevant to the type of certification, and must certify under penalty of perjury that you have worked in the industry for 2000 hours within the previous three (3) years. An individual who allows certification to lapse will be required to re-take the certification exam.
15. If I have a license from another state, do I have to be tested and certified?
Yes, there is no reciprocity between states. However, where an applicant holds a license as an electrician in another state and it is determined by the Chief of the DAS that the requirements for experience to hold a license in that state are comparable to California's experience requirements to sit for the exam, the Chief may deem the applicant to have the required experience.
