Electrician Certification - - CA Labor

Section § 108

This section outlines the responsibilities of the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement in managing the training and certification of electricians. The division must set competency and training standards, maintain an advisory committee with industry representatives, and establish necessary fees. They handle responsibilities formerly under the Division of Apprenticeship Standards and are authorized to issue certification cards. There is a curriculum committee to ensure educational programs meet standards for electricians' training. There must be no discrimination based on union membership. The definition of electricians and exceptions to the requirements are also specified.

(a) The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement shall do all of the following:

(1) Maintain minimum standards for the competency and training of electricians through a system of testing and certification.

(2) Maintain an advisory committee and panels as necessary to carry out the functions under this section. There shall be contractor representation from both joint apprenticeship programs and unilateral nonunion programs in the electrical contracting industry.

(3) Establish and collect fees necessary to implement this section.

(4) Carry out the responsibilities of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards that are specified in Subchapter 4 (commencing with Section 290) of Chapter 2 of Division 1 of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations. The Labor Commissioner may amend or repeal existing regulations or adopt new regulations as necessary to enforce this section. Pending amendments to conform to this section, any reference within the Subchapter 4 regulations to the Chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards is deemed a reference to the Labor Commissioner, and references to prior statutory sections are deemed to refer to current statutory language as follows:

(A) References to former Section 3099 refer to current Section 108.

(B) References to former Section 3099.2 refer to current Section 108.2.

(D) References to former Section 3099.4 refer to current Section 108.4.

(E) References to former Section 3099.5 refer to current Section 108.5.

(5) Issue certification cards to electricians who have been certified pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, fees collected pursuant to paragraph (3) are continuously appropriated in an amount sufficient to pay the costs of issuing certification cards, and that amount may be expended for that purpose by the division.

(6) Maintain an electrical certification curriculum committee comprised of representatives of the State Department of Education, the California Community Colleges, and the division. The electrical certification curriculum committee shall do all of the following:

(A) Establish written educational curriculum standards for enrollees in training programs established pursuant to Section 108.4.

(B) If an educational provider’s curriculum meets the written educational curriculum standards established in accordance with subparagraph (A), designate that curriculum as an approved curriculum of classroom instruction.

(C) At the committee’s discretion, review the approved curriculum of classroom instruction of any designated educational provider. The committee may withdraw its approval of the curriculum if the educational provider does not continue to meet the established written educational curriculum standards.

(D) Require each designated educational provider to submit an annual notice to the committee stating whether the educational provider is continuing to offer the approved curriculum of classroom instruction and whether any material changes have been made to the curriculum since its approval.

(b) There shall be no discrimination for or against any person based on membership or nonmembership in a union.

(c) As used in this section, “electricians” includes all persons who engage in the connection of electrical devices for electrical contractors licensed pursuant to Section 7058 of the Business and Professions Code, specifically, contractors classified as electrical contractors in the Contractors’ State License Board Rules and Regulations. This section does not apply to electrical connections under 100 volt-amperes. This section does not apply to persons performing work to which Section 7042.5 of the Business and Professions Code is applicable, or to electrical work ordinarily and customarily performed by stationary engineers. This section does not apply to electrical work in connection with the installation, operation, or maintenance of temporary or portable electrical equipment performed by technicians in the theatrical, motion picture production, television, hotel, exhibition, or trade show industries.

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(Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 46, Sec. 79. (SB 1038) Effective June 27, 2012.)

Section § 108.2

Electricians in California need certification to work with electrical contractors licensed as class C-10, but not for certain other contractors like class C-7 or C-45 or for high-voltage work for utilities. Registration as an apprentice in an approved program or under certain other conditions may bypass the certification requirement. Certified categories include various specializations like general electricians and voice data video technicians.

Contractors face penalties if they knowingly employ uncertified electricians or fail to properly supervise apprentices or uncertified workers. The California Labor Commissioner refers violations to the Contractors' State License Board, and disciplinary actions must start within 60 days of such referrals. The term "electricians" follows the definition in Section 108.

(a) Persons who perform work as electricians shall become certified pursuant to Section 108. Uncertified persons shall not perform electrical work for which certification is required.

(b)

(1) Certification is required only for those persons who perform work as electricians for contractors licensed as class C-10 electrical contractors under the Contractors’ State License Board Rules and Regulations.

(2) Certification is not required for persons performing work for contractors licensed as class C-7 low voltage systems or class C-45 electric sign contractors as long as the work performed is within the scope of the class C-7 or class C-45 license, including incidental and supplemental work as defined in Section 7059 of the Business and Professions Code, and regardless of whether the same contractor is also licensed as a class C-10 contractor.

(3) Certification is not required for work performed by a worker on a high-voltage electrical transmission or distribution system owned by a local publicly owned electric utility, as defined in Section 224.3 of the Public Utilities Code; an electrical corporation, as defined in Section 218 of the Public Utilities Code; a person, as defined in Section 205 of the Public Utilities Code; or a corporation, as defined in Section 204 of the Public Utilities Code; when the worker is employed by the utility or a licensed contractor principally engaged in installing or maintaining transmission or distribution systems.

(4) Individuals desiring to be certified shall submit an application for certification and examination that includes an employment history report from the Social Security Administration. The individual may redact his or her social security number from the employment history report before it is submitted.

(c) The division shall maintain separate certifications for general electrician, fire/life safety technician, residential electrician, voice data video technician, and nonresidential lighting technician.

(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), certification is not required for registered apprentices performing electrical work as part of an apprenticeship program approved under Chapter 4 of Division 3 (commencing with Section 3070), a federal Office of Apprenticeship program, or a state apprenticeship program authorized by the federal Office of Apprenticeship. An apprentice who is within one year of completion of his or her term of apprenticeship shall be permitted to take the certification examination and, upon passing the examination, shall be certified immediately upon completion of the term of apprenticeship.

(e) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), certification is not required for any person employed pursuant to Section 108.4.

(f) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), certification is not required for a nonresidential lighting trainee (1) who is enrolled in an on-the-job instructional training program approved by the Chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards pursuant to Section 3090, and (2) who is under the onsite supervision of a nonresidential lighting technician certified pursuant to Section 108.

(g) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the qualifying person for a class C-10 electrical contractor license issued by the Contractors’ State License Board need not also be certified pursuant to Section 108 to perform electrical work for that licensed contractor or to supervise an uncertified person employed by that licensed contractor pursuant to Section 108.4.

(h) The following shall constitute additional grounds for disciplinary proceedings, including suspension or revocation of the license of a class C-10 electrical contractor pursuant to Article 7 (commencing with Section 7090) of Chapter 9 of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code:

(1) The contractor willfully employs one or more uncertified persons to perform work as electricians in violation of this section.

(2) The contractor willfully fails to provide the adequate supervision of uncertified workers required by paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 108.4.

(3) The contractor willfully fails to provide adequate supervision of apprentices performing work pursuant to subdivision (d).

(i) The Labor Commissioner shall maintain a process for referring cases to the Contractors’ State License Board when it has been determined that a violation of this section has likely occurred. The Labor Commissioner shall have a memorandum of understanding with the Registrar of Contractors in furtherance of this section.

(j) Upon receipt of a referral by the Labor Commissioner alleging a violation under this section, the Registrar of Contractors shall open an investigation. Any disciplinary action against the licensee shall be initiated within 60 days of the receipt of the referral. The Registrar of Contractors may initiate disciplinary action against any licensee upon his or her own investigation, the filing of any complaint, or any finding that results from a referral from the Labor Commissioner alleging a violation under this section. Failure of the employer or employee to provide evidence of certification or trainee status shall create a rebuttable presumption of violation of this provision.

(k) For the purposes of this section, “electricians” has the same meaning as the definition set forth in Section 108.

electrician certification C-10 electrical contractor C-7 low voltage systems C-45 electric sign contractor high-voltage electrical work apprenticeship exemption employment history report nonresidential lighting trainee supervision of uncertified workers disciplinary action for contractors Labor Commissioner referral Contractors' State License Board electricians definition certification examination license suspension or revocation

(Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 46, Sec. 79. (SB 1038) Effective June 27, 2012.)

Section § 108.3

This law requires the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement to make electrician certification information available in different languages spoken by many construction workers. They should offer certification tests in Spanish and other languages where possible, unless English comprehension is needed for safety. Electrician apprenticeship programs must provide alternative ways to meet education requirements and have procedures to credit previous vocational and on-the-job training.

The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement shall do all of the following:

(a) Make information about electrician certification available in non-English languages spoken by a substantial number of construction workers, as defined in Section 7296.2 of the Government Code.

(b) Provide for the administration of certification tests in Spanish and, to the extent practicable, other non-English languages spoken by a substantial number of applicants, as defined in Section 7296.2 of the Government Code, except insofar as the ability to understand warning signs, instructions, and certain other information in English is necessary for safety reasons.

(c) Ensure, in conjunction with the California Apprenticeship Council, that all electrician apprenticeship programs approved under Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 3070) of Division 3 that impose minimum formal education requirements as a condition of entry provide for reasonable alternative means of satisfying those requirements.

(d) Ensure, in conjunction with the California Apprenticeship Council, that all electrician apprenticeship programs approved under Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 3070) of Division 3 have adopted reasonable procedures for granting credit toward a term of apprenticeship for other vocational training and on-the-job training experience.

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(Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 46, Sec. 79. (SB 1038) Effective June 27, 2012.)

Section § 108.4

This section explains that individuals who aren’t yet certified electricians can still perform electrical work if certain conditions are met, to gain the experience needed for certification. To do this, they need to register with the Labor Commissioner, be under the direct supervision of a certified electrician, and either be enrolled in or have completed an approved electrical education program.

The curriculum committee can approve partial programs if the provider intends to offer a full curriculum eventually. Providers with partial approval must disclose this status clearly.

Registrations must be renewed annually, and registrants must provide proof of completed coursework and on-the-job experience. A registration fee of up to $25 may apply, and rules are in place to verify this information. Lastly, uncertified individuals can take the certification exam upon completing the necessary classroom instruction and continuing to meet work experience requirements.

(a) An uncertified person may perform electrical work for which certification is required under Section 108 in order to acquire the necessary on-the-job experience for certification, if all of the following requirements are met:

(1) The person is registered with the Labor Commissioner. A list of current registrants shall be maintained by the division and made available to the public upon request.

(2) The person either has completed or is enrolled in an approved curriculum of classroom instruction.

(3) The employer attests that the person shall be under the direct supervision of an electrician certified pursuant to Section 108 who is responsible for supervising no more than one uncertified person. An employer who is found by the division to have failed to provide adequate supervision may be barred by the division from employing uncertified individuals pursuant to this section in the future.

(b) For purposes of this section, “an approved curriculum of classroom instruction” means a curriculum of classroom instruction approved by the electrician certification curriculum committee established pursuant to paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 108 and provided under the jurisdiction of the State Department of Education, the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, or the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education.

(c) The curriculum committee may grant approval to an educational provider that presently offers only a partial curriculum if the educational provider intends in the future to offer, or to cooperate with other educational providers to offer, a complete curriculum for the type of certification involved. The curriculum committee may require an educational provider receiving approval for a partial curriculum to periodically renew its approval with the curriculum committee until a complete curriculum is offered and approved. A partial curriculum means a combination of classes that does not include all classroom educational components of the complete curriculum for one of the categories of certification established in accordance with subdivision (c) of Section 108.2.

(d) An educational provider that receives approval for a partial curriculum must disclose in all communications to students and to the public that the educational provider has only received approval for a partial curriculum and shall not make any representations that the provider offers a complete approved curriculum of classroom instruction as established by subparagraph (A) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 108.

(e) For purposes of this section, a person is enrolled in an approved curriculum of classroom instruction if the person is attending classes on a full-time or part-time basis toward the completion of an approved curriculum.

(f) Registration under this section shall be renewed annually and the registrant shall provide to the division certification of the classwork completed and on-the-job experience acquired since the prior registration.

(g) For purposes of verifying the information provided by a person registered with the division, an educational provider of an approved curriculum of classroom instruction shall, upon the division’s request, provide the division with information regarding the enrollment status and instruction completed by a person registered. By registering with the division in accordance with this section, a person consents to the release of this information.

(h) The division shall establish registration fees necessary to implement this section, not to exceed twenty-five dollars ($25) for the initial registration. There shall be no fee for annual renewal of registration. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, fees collected are continuously appropriated in an amount sufficient to administer this section and that amount may be expended by the division for this purpose.

(i) The division shall issue regulations to implement this section.

(j) For purposes of Section 1773, persons employed pursuant to this section do not constitute a separate craft, classification, or type of worker.

(k) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an uncertified person who has completed an approved curriculum of classroom instruction and is currently registered with the division may take the certification examination. The person shall be certified upon passing the examination and satisfactorily completing the requisite number of on-the-job hours required for certification. A person who passes the examination prior to completing the requisite hours of on-the-job experience shall continue to comply with subdivision (f).

uncertified electrical work on-the-job experience Labor Commissioner registration certified electrician supervision approved electrical curriculum curriculum committee partial curriculum approval annual registration renewal enrollment verification certification examination education provider disclosure registration fees certification prerequisites classroom instruction state regulations

(Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 46, Sec. 79. (SB 1038) Effective June 27, 2012.)

Section § 108.5

The Electrician Certification Fund is a special account created to support the program that certifies electricians in California. The money in this fund can only be used for this certification program and nothing else. The fund gets its money from specific fees collected.

(a) The Electrician Certification Fund is established as a special account in the State Treasury. Proceeds of the fund may be expended by the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the costs of the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement program to validate and certify electricians as provided by Section 108, and shall not be used for any other purpose.

(b) The fund shall consist of the fees collected pursuant to Section 108.

Electrician Certification Electrician Certification Fund Division of Labor Standards Enforcement funding fees collected State Treasury program validation legislative appropriation special account electrician fees program costs

(Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 46, Sec. 79. (SB 1038) Effective June 27, 2012.)