The Electrician Certification Program
The Law has passed, and has been signed into law! All in the Electrical Trade should go directly to the "Take the Test" link here!
The Electrician Certification Program The Law has passed, and has been signed into law! All in the Electrical Trade should go directly to the "Take the Test" link here!
|
Below you'll find the relevant text.With comments on AB-931 by an Electrical Contractor shown in red.
§290.0. General
§290.1. Definitions
(b) A Residential Electrician is one who: (1) 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. Why make this distinction? You're either an Electrician, or you are not. Residential, and Commercial work, are technically not much different from each other. Materials generally used in each are different. Slightly different Codes. Most Industrial work on the other hand is different. Areas covered under Art. 500 "Special Occupancies". Why not make the distinction there? If this were about safety, would there not be a classification covering plant / manufacturing, and utility workers? (2) performs work installing the required panel boards and feeders for commercial tenant space in a multi-family/multi-use occupancies falling under subsection (b)(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. One Electrician for this part of the building, the other for that part. (3) does not perform work in occupancies that fall under the scope of Article 517 of the National Electrical Code. Art. 517 covers Hospitals, and Health Care Facilities. Understandable. (c) Voice Data Video Technician is one who performs work for an electrical contractor installing, constructing or maintaining any system that falls within the scope of National Electrical Code, Articles 725, 770 (non-composite cables only), 800 (non-hybrid cables only), 810 and 820. The "Cable guy", the "Phone guy", the "I.T. guy" all do not need to be "Certified". Unless they work for someone with C-10 License? (d) Fire/Life Safety Technician is 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. Yes, "Certify" this person. This type of work is inspected by several different authorities, and can be very complicated. It is very important that this type of installation works correctly. This person will also not be allowed to hook up a bath fan at your home. And requires the same amount of experience in terms of hours as the "Cable guy"? (e) Nonresidential Lighting Technician is one who performs work for an electrical contractor repairing, servicing and maintaining existing nonresidential lighting fixtures and installing retrofit upgrade fixtures. Such work does not include the installation of branch circuits or the alteration of existing branch circuits except a technician may reconnect to existing power within 3 feet. You have 2000 hours of experience of re-lamping, and re- ballasting lights in office buildings, you can continue to do so. If you pass the test. (f) DAS is the Division of Apprenticeship Standards. (g) Chief DAS is the Chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards. (h) Director is the Director of Industrial Relations. (i) An Electrical Contractor is one who holds a C-10 license from the State Contractors License Board (j) National Electrical Code is the National Electrical Code 1999, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA 02269.
§291.0. Types of Certification.
Why so many classifications? You are an Electrician, or you are not.
§291.1. Eligibility for Certification
(1) successful completion of an apprenticeship program approved by the California Apprenticeship Council, the federal Bureau of Apprenticeship Training, or a state apprenticeship council authorized by the federal Bureau of Apprenticeship Training to approve apprenticeship programs, in the classification for which certification is sought; or An IBEW Apprenticeship, or one of a few available non-union apprenticeships, that the IBEW is lobbying to eliminate. Or an "approved" out of State apprenticeship. (2) on-the-job experience, as follows: General Electrician: 8000 hours of work for an electrical contractor installing, constructing or maintaining electrical systems covered by the National Electrical Code. The 8000 hours must consist of work in one or more of the following areas, and the maximum number of hours in a particular area that may be counted toward the 8000 hour total are as follows: Stock room and Material handling - 300 hours Residential Wiring - 3000 hours Commercial Wiring - 6000 hours Industrial Wiring - 6000 hours This maximum numbers, right here, will eliminate thousands of otherwise perfectly qualified individuals from jobs in the Commercial job market. Newer entries to the Trade will be trapped in a lower rating of certification. Once locked into the Residential classification, they will not be able to gain the hours necessary to move to the Commercial classification, without an Apprenticeship Program. Voice Data and Video installation - 1500 hours Underground Conduit installation - 750 hours Troubleshooting and Maintenance - 1500 hours Finish Work and fixtures - 600 hours Fire/Life Safety, Nurse call - 600 hours Residential Electrician: 4800 hours of work for an electrical contractor installing, constructing, or maintaining electrical systems covered by the National Electric Code. The 4800 hours must consist of work in one or more of the following areas, and the maximum number of hours in a particular area that may be counted toward the 4800 hour total are as follows: Stock room and material handling - 300 hours Residential Wiring - 4800 hours Voice Data and Video installation - 150 hours Underground Conduit installation - 300 hours Troubleshooting and Maintenance - 600 hours Finish work and fixture - 600 hours Fire/Life Safety - 300 hours Voice Data Video Technician: 4000 hours of work for an electrical contractor installing, constructing or maintaining any system that falls within the scope of National Electrical Code, Articles 725, 770 (non-composite cables only), 800 (non-hybrid cables only), 810 and 820. The 4000 hours must consist of work in one or more of the following areas, and the maximum number of hours in a particular area that may be counted toward the 4000 hour total are as follows: Stock room and material handling - 300 hours Installations, including wire pulling, terminations, control panels devices and finish work - 4000 hours Troubleshooting and Maintenance - 750 hours Trade Specific training related to Voice, Data, Video - 300 hours Fire/Life Safety Technician: 4000 hours of work for an electrical contractor, involving the installation, construction or maintenance of systems as covered in Article 760 of the National Electrical Code. The 4000 hours must consist of work in one or more of the following areas, and the maximum number of hours in a particular area that may be counted toward the 4000 hour total are as follows: Stock room and material handling - 300 hours Installations, including wire pulling, terminations, control panels devices and finish work - 4000 hours Troubleshooting and Maintenance - 750 hours Nurse Call systems - 300 hours Proprietary systems training related to Fire/Life Safety - 300 hours Nonresidential Lighting Technician: 2,000 hours of work installing, repairing and maintaining nonresidential lighting while employed by a contractor engaged in the business of nonresidential lighting maintenance and retrofit installations. The 2,000 hours must consist of work in one or more of the following areas, and the maximum number of hours in a particular area that may be counted towards the 2,000 hour total are as follows: Stockroom and material handling - 150 hours Maintenance of lighting fixtures - 1750 hours Installation of retrofit fixtures - 1500 hours Trouble shooting and repairing - 500 hours (b) Where an applicant holds a license as an electrician in another state and it is determined by the Chief DAS that the requirements for experience to hold a license in that state are comparable to the requirements of Section 291.1(a)(1) and (2), the Chief may deem the applicant to have the required experience for certification. (c) Where the applicant can show other experience, including military experience or relevant work for a low voltage systems contractor holding a C-7 license, the applicant may apply to the Chief DAS for credit toward some or all of the experience required under Section 291.1(a)(2) The Chief DAS may grant credit if the Chief determines that the experience is comparable to experience for which credit would be granted under Section 291.1(a)(1) and (2) One of the above are required to be "eligible" to take the test. How are these things "shown" or "proven". Most ( non-union ) Contractors do not record hours like this, and employees do not keep records for this type of break-down of hours. How are these hours to be verified? The non-union Electrician with 20 years experience, now needs to prove it, before the test. How? If they do not, they either loose their job, or go back to school to learn things they already know.
§291.2. Application for Certification and Examination
(b) Applications may be obtained from any District Office for the DAS and shall be filed by mailing the completed application to the following address: DIVISION OF APPRENTICESHIP STANDARDS (c) The application shall include: (1) Type of certification desired. (2) Full name of the applicant and any other names the applicant has used to work as an electrician within five years previous to the date of the application. (3) Date of Birth and Driver's license or state identification card number. (4) Mailing Address. (5) Telephone Number (Day and Evening). (d) The applicant shall submit proof of experience as required under Section 291.1 with the application. Only applicants who have the required experience are eligible to take the certification examination. (e) Within 30 days of the receipt of an application, the DAS shall inform the applicant in writing either that the application is accepted for filing or that it is deficient in which case DAS shall inform the applicant of the information or documentation required to complete the application. Within 60 days of accepting an application for filing, DAS shall inform the applicant in writing either that the applicant has submitted sufficient proof of experience to be eligible to take the certification examination or that the proof of experience is insufficient and if so in what way. If the applicant is eligible to take the certification examination, DAS shall provide the applicant information for taking the certification examination. If the applicant is not eligible to take the certification examination, DAS shall keep the application on file for one year and reconsider the application if the applicant submits further information or documentation. If the applicant has not submitted sufficient proof of experience to take the certification examination within one year after being notified by DAS that the proof of experience is insufficient, the applicant must submit a new application and pay the required application fee. So it will take possibly 3 of the months before January 1 ,2005, if you can be scheduled to take the test before that date.
§291.3. Certification Examination
If you are even allowed to do so. (b) The examination shall be validated by an independent test validation organization based on content developed by a job analysis. Chosen by this guy? Acting Director Chuck Cake * ( * Unfortunately, this page has been pulled. However, notice that it is the only broken link on this page. http://www.dir.ca.gov/OD_pub/newpage2002.html It was very telling, about Chuck's IBEW past. I should have saved it.! I did save the picture, but for Copyright reasons, I shouldn't publish it. ) (c) A description of the examination content and identification of relevant reference works will be provided by DAS upon request. The'99 NEC. Why not '93, or currently available 2002? Codes are adopted and enforced locally by City, and County. And '99 NEC books are not widely available. These books are usually larger than most versions of the Bible. (d) The examination for each type of certification shall be given at least once per year, in at least two locations, one in Northern California and one in Southern California. DAS may give the examinations at additional times and in additional locations for the convenience of the applicant pool. More locations are available, but do they have the time to test everyone before January 1,2005? (e) Applicants requesting special accommodations for the examination on account of disability shall submit such requests to the Chief DAS. The Chief DAS shall respond promptly to such requests and may require additional information and/or documentation from the applicant. (f) DAS may provide for the administration of the certification examinations in 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 other information in English is necessary for safety reasons. It is unlikely that examinations will be available for all or some of the many varied languages and dialects spoken the Electrical Industry. Most of those persons do not even know this law exists. And "for safety reasons", some English skills are required. Does the ACLU know about this yet? (g) At the time of the examination, the applicant may be required to present valid photo identification and may be photographed for a certification card.
§291.4. Retesting.
60 days out of work, until you may be allowed to take the test again.
§291.5. Renewal and Replacements
(a) The certificate shall be renewed every three (3) years. To be eligible for renewal an applicant 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 he or she has worked in the industry 2000 hours within the previous three years. An individual who allows certification to lapse shall be required to retake the certification exam. Proof of 32 hours of education, available where, at the union hall? Attempts to eliminate non-union Apprenticeship Programs, and de-certify Community College Programs, aim all Electrical workers into the local IBEW as the sole source of continued education. (b) Any person whose certification card has been lost or mutilated may request a replacement card from the DAS. Such request shall be in writing and accompanied with a current address and phone number and replacement fee in the amount of 30% of the renewal fee specified in Section 292.0(c)
§292.0. Fees.
(b) The fee for taking or retaking the examination is $100.00. (c) The fee for renewal of certification is $100.00.
§293.0. Denial, Suspension, or Revocation of Certification; Appeals
(a) The Chief DAS may for good cause deny certification to an applicant. Good cause shall exist when the applicant does not satisfy the requirements of Section 291.1 or has failed the certification examination. The Chief DAS shall provide the applicant with written notice of the denial at the address shown on the application for certification or other address known to the DAS. (b) The Chief DAS may for good cause and after notice and, if requested, a hearing, suspend or revoke the certification of a person certified pursuant to this Subchapter. Good cause shall be deemed to exist if the person certified has committed gross negligence or fraud, or engaged in repeated acts of negligence during the performance of activities subject to the certification or if the person obtained certification through mistake, misrepresentation or fraud. (c) For suspension or revocation of a certification, notice of the intention to suspend or revoke the certification shall be given in writing and served upon the person certified. Service shall be by personal service or certified mail to the person's address as shown on the certification application or other address known to the DAS. The notice shall specify the reasons for the action proposed to be taken by the DAS and the applicant's right to request a hearing. (d) Any applicant may appeal the denial of certification to the Chief DAS. The appeal shall be in writing and made within 20 days of the receipt of the denial. The applicant shall have the burden of establishing that he/she qualifies for certification. The Chief DAS shall rule on the appeal, and shall have discretion to hold a hearing on the appeal prior to the ruling. The ruling shall be in writing and shall be sent to the applicant. The decision of the Chief DAS shall be final, except for judicial review provided by law. (e) An individual served with notice of the intention of the Chief DAS to suspend or revoke his or her certification may request a hearing with the Director within 20 days of receipt of the notice. The Director shall schedule a hearing before the Director or his or her authorized representative. Following the hearing, the Director shall issue a written ruling that shall be sent to the appellant. The decision of the Director shall be final except for judicial review provided by law.
§294.0. Enforcement
Any person who displays a certificate, or otherwise claims to be certified, who is not certified shall be prohibited from taking the test for certification for a period of five (5) years. 5 years! In another line of work, for improper use of the word "certified". Or forgot to re-new.
§295.0. Publication of Names; Responsibility To Provide a Current Address.
(b) Applicants and certified electricians shall be responsible for notifying DAS of changes in mailing address. The purpose of this is what? A simple cross reference of this information will identify non-union workers to the IBEW. And tell them where they live. THE BOTTOM LINE.... This law is an obvious Union take over of the entire Industry. The law is modeled after IBEW operation. And they are going to force us all to operate on their terms. |
|
