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!
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Timing and Consequences And Doubts... Timing: The wheels of Government turn very slowly. Especially up hill. There is only one mandated "comment only" period before the regulation takes full effect on January 1, 2005. Failure to defeat, or amend this regulation then will put anyone who waited for the last minute in a dangerous position when they are forced to comply. Simply adding up the known possible time obstacles of the application process bring the application date to before October 2004. 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. Furthermore, scheduling a test date could be a substantially longer time. After you have been informed that you can even take the test, you'll have to schedule it. Consider the fact that every Electrician in the State will have to be Certified, and there are only a few test sites. This could add one, to an unknown number of months to the application start date. Say for instance: It might take two months or more, to have a scheduled test date. That would put your application start date to before August 2004. ( Note: this time is unknown, or mandated by the regulation. ) Now, consider the fact that you might not be the type of Electrician that does a little light reading of the '99 NEC before bed each night. Or, you couldn't remember to save your life, where the number 746 went in a 3 phase motor / amperage calculation. And you failed the test. This would push your application date to before June 2004. And cost you another $100.00! An applicant may take the test as many times as he or she wishes. However, an applicant must wait at least 60 days from the release of test results before he or she may take the examination again and must make payment of the test fee each time the test is taken. Consequences: This what this regulation seems to all about.... consequences. Failure to take or pass the test before January 1, 2005 means you have three options.
All employees of C-10 contractors (with the exception of apprentices enrolled in registered apprenticeship programs) must be certified by January 1, 2005. (From DIR FAQ's) Doubts.... This Law was passed on the premise of providing assurance of "safety" in the electrical installations in California. What Politician, is going to stand against a law, that makes promises of "safety". And collects money to support itself? Not Many! Especially, our new Governor, whom will be walking on eggshells. Although, Arnold Swcharzenegger has used, fighting "Special Interests", as a high priority in his campaign. I'm sure this is not on his radar yet! ( I'm looking for methods of putting this to his attention. Check again later. ) A lot of people have said, "Oh, this law will get shot down again..." It has! And, been reinstated after amendments of it's illegalities. Most, like Unionization, are very slimly taken care of, except maybe the language barriers for persons with English as a second language. Since it's passing, it has been postponed a few times, and it may be again. As it stands now, with the passing of AB-1719, ( which includes some regulation of hourly rates of pay for Doctors, and regulations concerning Horseracing and Jockeys. ) the deadline can be postponed, at any point prior to January 1, 2005, for up to two years. Well, what does that mean? It means that, for instance, they report positively to the Legislature on any point prior to December 31, 2004, the law is enforced. And, you are not Certified, you are screwed! See Timing and Consequences above: Or, they can postpone the enforcement date for up to two years, and you then have some time to get Certified. Regardless, you will have to be Certified at some point, and it will be enforced at some point. However, if you are Certified before the enforcement date, your expiration date will be moved up to coordinate with the new enforcement date. Go ahead and get Certified, get it out of the way, because they very well could enforce Certification on the original date. Don't be caught with your pants down. |
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