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The law is in effect for General Journeyman since January
1, 2006!
Working without having taken, and passed the test after January 1, 2006 is
considered a violation of the regulations laid out in 3099 of the Labor Code.
Due to an extension offered by the DAS, those who filed paperwork before that
date, had until January 1, 2007 to take and pass the test.
The law is in effect for Residential Journeyman since
January 1, 2007!
Working without having taken, and passed the test after January 1, 2007 is
considered a violation of the regulations laid out in 3099 of the Labor Code.
Those who hold a Residential Journeyman card working on Commercial Property
is considered a violation of the regulations laid out in 3099 of the Labor Code.
If you have filed for, and received a testing date please
continue on this page.
If you have not, please continue by following this link.
"I may have missed the boat..."
Taking the Electricians Certification Test:
(Follow the hyperlinks below.)
Why take the Test
Step #1 Learn about the test.
Step #2 Apply for the test.
Step #3 Study for the test.
Step #4 Schedule the test.
Step #5 Practice for the test.
Step #6 Taking the test.
Keep Walking! What happens after
the test.
Why take
the Test
 | If this site and Industry Organizations are working to defeat this
regulation, why should the Certification test be taken now? |
Answer: You are going
to loose your job - your employer could loose their license to operate as a C-10
contractor.
Before applying make sure that your Employer either has a plan of action
for your Company, or not. Find out more about their plan, and fully understand
how it works, if they have one, before you jump right in to the steps below.
If they don't have one, or doing it on your own, go ahead and get started!
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Step
#1
| The most important step is to become familiar with law itself and prepare
accordingly. Read the FAQ's links below. |
Our FAQ's,
DAS FAQ's
Or, http://www.dir.ca.gov/DAS/Electricaltrade.htm
The DAS website is often out of
date, and addition information not provided there is located here on various
pages of this site.
| The DIR / DAS has a phone number for additional recorded information about The
Electricians Certification Program. (415)703-4917 or
(415)703-4919 |
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Step
#2
| Apply as soon as possible. The DAS has a total of 90 days to inform you if
you are even eligible, ( In their eyes. ) to sit for the test. |
Follow these
instructions to the letter.
Download the Application
( File is in Adobe Acrobat PDF
format. )
 Files in Adobe Acrobat PDF
format are viewed with Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not already have Adobe
Acrobat installed on your computer, you should download the free Acrobat Reader
from Adobe's web site at www.adobe.com,
download instructions are available on the Adobe web site. Once you have
downloaded and installed the Acrobat Reader you can view PDF documents in your
web browser if it supports plug-ins or, if it does not support plug-ins, you can
save the file(s) to your hard drive and view them by opening them in Acrobat
Reader.
| It is suggested to only apply for the "General Journeyman" test, as
the rest of them are nearly useless. And, if you have a
"Residential" certification after 2005, it will be difficult to gain
any more experience necessary to take the General test. Just go for the
"General"....... If you have 8000 hours, within the
"maximums" allowed in each section, then go for it. |
3000 Residential Installation, + 3000 Commercial Installation,
+ 1000 Industrial Installation
1000 Voice Data and Video Installation, + ( All the rest...
) = over 8000 hours!
| After downloading the application, you can type directly to it on your
computer. ( The information regarding your Name and Address, should
exactly match your Drivers License, as this will be used for
Identification on your Test day. ) Save the document to a drive. Print it. Sign it
in ink. Then enclose your
check and application in an envelope, and mail it to the address on the
application. Then wait! And deal with Step #3, etc. |
( Remember to fill out these forms completely, and accurately as you can.
Applications have been returned due to incomplete information, and silly
things like unsigned checks, etc. )
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Step #3
| Study for the test like your livelihood depended on it. It does! Most of
the official government sites say the test is based on the '05 NEC. It is
suggested that persons not used to vague legalistic reading, obtain the
pricey Handbook. After all, there's nothing like knowing what it is all
supposed to mean. And it might also be a good idea to dig out that
"Ugly's" you thought you had under the seat of your truck.
Formulas are few and hard to find in the NEC, and you will need to memorize
them. |
Study
Materials review
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Step #4
| It is YOUR responsibility to make sure you are scheduled to take the test.
Simply "applying" does not mean you are automatically scheduled
for a test date. It is important to follow up on this. If accepted to sit
for the test, you will be given a phone number to call, and hopefully a
booklet like this. It might be a good idea to read it now. |
Electrical
Certification Candidate Information Bulletin
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Step #5
| Practice taking the test. It costs $100 to re-take the test, after a 6
month wait. Not being prepared the first time is guaranteed to make you
prepared the second time. Have another Electrician quiz you. And there are
many practice and study guides available. See Study
Materials review. |
| Below is a link to some question examples, it is used as a promotion for Mike Holt's books, but still a good exercise.
As the questions are good examples, of the type of test questions you'll
have. |
On-line
Quiz ( Some typical Code Questions )
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Step #6
| Make sure you show up for your test appointment, on time. There are only a
handful of testing sites in the whole State of California. Your test
location may be a considerable distance from you, and hard to find at the
last minute. Missing your appointment
may make it unlikely that you will be able to get another appointment in time. And cost
you $100! It is
suggested you also practice getting there before your test date. |
| Show up early with your schedule clear for that day. Shut off your phone,
( you can't bring it in with you anyway ) and remain focused. If you have prepared yourself, there is nothing to worry
about. Talk to someone who has already taken the
test. If you don't know anyone else who has, find someone with a Contractors License,
a similar undertaking. Your given lots of time, up to 4 hours for 100 multiple
choice questions, with an open code book, and non-programmable calculator.
It is given on a computer, and there will be someone to make sure you know
how to use it. |
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Keep walking!
| If you pass, you'll find out right after the test. If not, you'll have 20
days to appeal the denial. Remember your certification must be renewed every 3 years.
2000 hours work in the Trade, and currently 32 hours continuing Trade
related education are required, in order to maintain your certification.
Guidelines for this are not yet available. Don't be caught off guard, or 3
years from now, you'll be doing this again. |
| Want to see what you'll get for all of this..... your new Certification
Card! Smile nice.... |
You'll
get one of these for your wallet!
| Please see Maintain My
Certification. You will need to know more about how to maintaining
the "license to work" that you have. |
| And by all means, do not give anyone the slightest impression that you are
"certified" if you are not. Technically, working after January 1,
2007 as an Electrician, and not being "certified" could be grounds
for what they are calling misrepresentation or fraud. Get caught at this and you could be
barred from taking the test for seven years! |
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