Electricians in California need certifications, experience, and exams to work legally and independently. Licensing ensures compliance, credibility, and career advancement.
By Brad Nakase, Attorney
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Working as an electrician is more than just a job; it’s a surefire way to build a successful career. Electrical contractors can find work in a variety of industries and make a decent living. Customers will always have a need for qualified tradespeople to set up and maintain electrical systems in houses and companies, so there’s a steady stream of work.
Among the 762,600 electricians employed in the United States, 72,880 are based in California, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. From 2022–2032, the national forecast calls for a 6% increase, bringing the total to nearly 50,000 members of this trained labor force. CareerOneStop, the job search website run by the U.S. Department of Labor, predicts that the growth rate in California will be triple that at 18%.
Contractors all around the country are actively seeking qualified workers. The Associated General Contractors of America said in their 2022 AGC-Autodesk Workforce Survey that a significant number of firms in the United States and California saw a shortage of qualified candidates for hourly craft roles such as electricians, plumbers, and HVAC technicians. Thus, there will be an abundance of work opportunities available to you once you complete the necessary training.
Apprenticeships in electrical work take time, but they pay the bills as you learn the ropes.
Does California require a license to be an electrician?
Yes. In order to work as an electrician in California, you need to pay $25 and apply to be an electrical trainee with the state’s Division of Labor Standards Enforcement. Every year that a trainee works as an electrical contractor, they are required to renew their registration.
Another requirement is that you complete electrical instruction at an accredited institution. The next step is to obtain the prerequisite work experience required by the California Department of Industrial Relations for either a general or residential electrician license. Following that, you can apply for a license to work as an electrical contractor with the California State License Board. The words “journeyman,” “journeyman license,” and “master electrician” are not used in California electrician credentials.
-Sign up to become a trainee electrician.
-Become a member of an electrical apprenticeship program or a training program recognized by the state.
-Apprenticeship programs might help you get the hands-on experience you need to work as a home electrician.
-Pass the test to become a certified home electrician.
-Get your licence as a general electrician.
-Think about getting your license to work as an independent electrical contractor.
-Show evidence of insurance.
1. APPLY TO BECOME AN ELECTRICAL TRAINEE: Submit an application and $25 to the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement to start the process of becoming an electrical trainee.
2. GET THE REQUIRED EXPERIENCE: Join a union or a non-union electrical training program that is approved by the state. To sit for the general electrician test in California, one needs 8,000 hours of experience, while to sit for the residential electrician exam one needs 4,500 hours. Technical education in electrical systems, whether through an apprenticeship or a formal training program, must consist of 150 hours per year split between classroom and lab instruction. Apprenticeship opportunities in California can be found in the state’s database, which is maintained by the Department of Industrial Relations.
3. RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICIAN CERTIFICATION EXAM APPLICATION: After completing the prerequisites, submit an application to sit for the California residential electrician certification test. In addition to the $100 exam fee, there is a $75 application fee. You are required to submit an Employment History Report to the Social Security Administration along with your application. The exam provider, PSI Services, will contact you with testing details once you submit your application and employment history.
4. COMPLETE THE RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICIAN LICENSING EXAM: You will have 3.5 hours to complete the 80-question test. There is a bulletin detailing the requirements for residential electrician licenses in California that you can consult for more details. Candidates are allowed to bring the National Electrical Code (NEC) as a reference during the open book portion of the exam. Exam preparation resources, such as study guides, are also available for purchase.
5. GET YOUR RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICIAN CERTIFICATION: After you’ve passed the test and gotten your certification, you have to renew it every three years. The cost of renewal is one hundred dollars. An electrician in California can renew their license once a year provided they’ve put in 2,000 hours of labor and fulfilled thirty-two hours of continuing education requirements at one of 85 recognized schools.
6. GET YOUR GENERAL ELECTRICIAN CERTIFICATE: Having worked on more homes than journeyman electricians, general electricians are qualified to get building permits for residential projects. You need to pass the California electrical test and work under the supervision of a registered electrician for 8,000 hours before you can apply for a general electrician certificate.
After you’ve fulfilled all of those criteria, you can apply to take the general electrician test.
If you need assistance, you can find study guides online. An application cost of $75 and an exam fee of $100 are required. Your application is not complete without an Employment History Report from the Social Security Administration. The exam provider, PSI Services, will contact you with testing details once you submit your application and employment history.
There are a total of 100 questions on the 4.5-hour general electrician certification exam. This is an open book exam.
Your accreditation as a general electrician is valid for three years after you pass the exam. The cost of renewal is one hundred dollars. A minimum of 32 hours of continuing education from one of 85 recognized electrical training schools in California is required, in addition to 2,000 hours of work experience as an electrician, in order to be eligible for annual renewal.
To get a license to work as an electrical contractor in the state of California, you need to register with the Contractors State Licensing Board. As a contractor, you’ll be able to employ general electricians after this.
Electrical contractors are a type of specialty worker called a C-10 contractor. You need to be 18 years old, have a full-time electrical background (or be able to employ someone with), have over $2,500 in operating capital, work a minimum of thirty-two hours per week for your business regularly, and pay the $330 application fee in order to get a C-10 contractor license.
Becoming a licensed independent electrical contractor also requires passing two exams: the Law and Business exam and the C-10 exam. There is a $150 fee to get your license after passing the tests; after every two years, you must renew it by the end of the month in which you got it.
After you’ve paid the $200 fee to become a licensed contractor, you’ll need to produce the following insurance documents to the California Contractors State Licensing Board:
-The filing of a $12,500 bond
-If you are employing other competent individuals, an extra $7,500 bond is required.
-Documentation proving coverage for workers’ compensation is required when employing new staff.
In the state of California, there are a few different kinds of electrical certifications available:
Getting your electrician’s license in California has many advantages:
-First and foremost, in order to lawfully do electrical work in California, one must have a license from the state.
-Acquiring a trade license demonstrates your proficiency and expertise.
-Commercial insurance, operating a business, advertising services, pulling building permits, passing inspections, and bidding on public and government projects are all reserved for licensed electricians and contractors.
-You can safeguard your business and its clients with a license.
-Possessing a license makes you more marketable to potential employers.
-It boosts your chances of making more money as well.
U.S. data shows that electricians in California earn an average of $84,330 a year. According to Indeed.com, that wage naturally rises in tandem with one’s level of expertise.
Salary ranges are highly variable and dependent on a number of key elements, including but not limited to training, credentials, extra skills, and years of experience.
The process of getting a California electrician’s license is not cheap.
-To enroll in the electrical trainee program, you must pay the $25 application fee. As an electrical trainee, you are required to renew and pay for this annually.
-For the residential electrician certification exam, you must pay the $75 application fee.
-Pay the $100 test fee to become a certified residential electrician. The annual fee to maintain certification as a residential electrician is $100.
-To apply to take the general electrician certification test, you must pay $75.
-The cost to become a certified general electrician is $100. The annual fee to maintain certification as a general electrician is $100.
-The application fee for an independent electrical contractor is $330.
-To become a licensed electrical contractor, you must pay the $200 fee.
-Depending on the school and program chosen, the cost of obtaining a technical or vocational certification might range from $5,000 to $10,000.
California only grants certifications, not licenses, to electricians unless they are self-employed electrical contractors. Obtaining a residential electrician certificate typically requires 4,800 hours, or 2.5 years of training. For a general electrician’s license, you need to log 8,000 hours, or 4 years of work.
There are 85 recognized educational institutions in California that provide electrical training. This includes both traditional trade schools and non-traditional organizations like JATCs. The Electrical Training Alliance, which includes the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), is a component of the majority of California’s electrical apprenticeship programs.
Depending on the school and program chosen, the cost of obtaining a technical or vocational certification might range from $5,000 to $10,000.
Cuesta College, Santiago Canyon College, Orange Coast College, and Foothill College were some of the schools that made the 2023 List of “Best Colleges With Electrical Degrees in California.”
The prerequisites for each program are different. In most cases, though, you’ll need to be 18 years old, have a valid driver’s license, have completed high school or obtained a GED, and have a passing grade in Algebra.
Work Experience: You will learn the ins and outs of electrical codes, arithmetic, and science as you go along. Electricians require excellent vision, strong hand-eye coordination, and the ability to manage their time efficiently. They should also be able to solve problems logically, operate independently, have exceptional physical endurance, and provide excellent customer service. Reading technical materials such as circuit diagrams, blueprints, and the like is another skill that electricians acquire.
There are a total of 80 questions on the 3.5-hour California residential electrician certification exam. Topics covered on the open book exam include:
-Safety
-Maintenance and Repair
-Installation
-Determination of Electrical System Requirements
There are a total of 100 questions on the 4.5-hour California general electrician certification exam. Like the residential electrician exam, this one is open-book and covers the same material.
To work as an independent electrical contractor in California, you need to score well on both the C-10 and the Law and Business tests. This is a list of subjects covered on the closed-book C-10 exam:
-Rough Wiring
-Planning and Estimating
-Finish Wiring and Trim
-Safety
-Startup, Troubleshooting, and Maintenance
Also covered in the closed-book Law and Business test are the following subjects:
-Business Financial
-Business Organization
-Insurance, Bonds, and Liens
-Employment Requirements
-Licensing Requirements
-Contract Requirements and Execution
-Public Works
-Safety Requirements
Electrical licenses in California are issued by the Department of Industrial Relations and the California Contractors’ State Licensing Board.
No. Contractors cannot work in California without a license from the state. However, there is some reciprocity with other states, including Louisiana, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada.
While not required, national certifications in electrical work can show clients and employers that you’re an expert in your field, which can lead to better jobs and more money.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) certification and the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) Certified Professional Electrician (CPE) distinction are only two of the many available electrician credentials.
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