Code Adoption

California Building Standards Commission (CBSC)
2525 Natomas Park Drive, Suite 130
Sacramento, CA 95833
Phone: (916) 263-0916
Fax: (916) 263-0959
http://www.bsc.ca.gov/

• Adopted Code. 2005 National Electrical Code, effective January 1, 2008.
  
  
• Adoption type: State-wide. All jurisdictions in the state are required to adopt and enforce the code.

At a Glance: Licensing Requirements

• Electrical Inspectors? Yes, (ICC, NCCPI, CEI)
  
  
• Electricians? Yes, (State of California, Division of Apprenticeship Standards)
  
  
• Contractors? Yes

Licensing: Electrical Inspectors/Services

Building Officials

Department of Labor & Workforce Development issues licenses upon passage of an examination for journeyman electrician, journeyman power lineman, residential electrician, maintenance electrician, and apprentice/learner.

Below is a list of some of the job classifications and the certification categories. The purpose of this list is to identify the job classifications that may seek reimbursement for the certification categories shown.

Licensing requirements

Construction Inspector

Approved Certifications:

• Building Official
• Plans Examiner
• Building Inspector
• Combination Dwelling Inspector
• Combination Inspector

Pan Check Engineer

Approved Certifications:

• Plans Examiner
• Building Official
• Combination Dwelling Inspector
• Building Inspector

Electrical Specialist

Approved Certifications:

• Electrical Inspector
• Electrical Plans Examiner
• Light Commercial Combination Inspector
• Combination Dwelling Inspector
• Building Inspector

Certification

The CALBO-ICC California-Specific Certification Program was established to provide a mechanism for:

1. individuals to demonstrate their knowledge of California construction codes, standards and practices, including the intent of Assembly Bill No. 717, and

2. jurisdictions to partially evaluate individuals for knowledge of various construction codes, standards and practices.

The Program is based on voluntary participation. It carries no guarantee that the certifications will be accepted or recognized by a governmental jurisdiction or for any employment purposes. Candidates should contact their local jurisdiction for information on local requirements. The Program meets the intent of Assembly Bill No. 717, which requires certification and training of construction inspectors, plans examiners and building officials.

Once individuals are certified, they may use their certification on business cards, advertisements, etc. Such notice should, however, include both the certification name and number in the following format: “CALBO – ICC Certified Building Inspector No.123456789.”

Certification Categories:

• Building Inspector — California Building Code
• Plans Examiner — California Building Code
• Plumbing Inspector — California Plumbing Code
• Mechanical Inspector — California Mechanical Code
• Electrical Inspector — California Electrical Code

CE Requirements

All construction inspectors, plans examiners and building officials shall complete a minimum of 45 hours of continuing education for every three-year period. Each staff member in one of the above job classifications should attend the equivalent of at least two eight (8) hour training sessions per year.

Electricians

All electrical installations in places of employment under jurisdiction of Department of Industrial Relations are subject to inspection by DIS. In practice, enforcement of building regulations is done primarily by local inspectors, with DIS providing all statewide safety inspection and consultation on safety matters in places of employment.

Licensing requirements

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. 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-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.

In order to be certified, an applicant must have the required experience as set forth herein, and pass a certification examination under Section 291.3.

An applicant must provide proof of experience which may be done by showing 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 on-the-job experience, as specified below.

General Electrician

Requirements:

• 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
  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

Fees:

• Initial Application fee: $75
• Exam fee: $10

Renewal: Every three years; Renewal fee: $100

Residential Electrician

Requirements:

• 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

Fees:

• Initial Application fee: $75
• Exam fee: $100

Renewal: Every three years; Renewal fee: $100

Voice Data Video Technician

Requirements:

• 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

Requirements:

• 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

Fees:

• Initial Application fee: $75
• Exam fee: $100

Renewal: Every three years; Renewal fee: $100

Nonresidential Lighting Technician

Requirements:

• 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

CE Requirements

The requirements are controlled by the Building Official who is the most senior person in the building department. The Building Officials usually turn to the International Code Council (ICC) for inspectors certifications and make this a requirement for employment. For this reason most inspectors obtain only the ICC certification. There is now a state law that requires continuing education but it can be obtained in house at the discretion of the Building Official.

The state law says that we must have the training but the continuing education is left up to the Building Official to enforce on a local level and keep the records.

Reciprocates

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, the Chief may deem the applicant to have the required experience for certification.

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. 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).

Licensing: Contractors

Licensing requirements

To qualify for a license you must verify that you've had at least four years of experience in the last ten years as a journeyman, foreman, supervising employee, contractor, or owner-builder. You may be able to apply from one and one-half to three years of approved education and/or apprenticeship to this requirement. There are also special requirements for contractors who work with asbestos, contractors who remove hazardous substances, and contractors who install or remove underground storage tanks.

Unless you're applying for a joint venture license, you must have more than $2,500 worth of operating capital to apply for a new contractor's license.

CSLB issues these types of licenses to an individual, partnership, corporation, or joint venture:

Class A -- General Engineering Contractor

Requirements:

• Must be at least 18 years of age and have four years experience within the last ten years as a journeyman, foreman, supervising employee, or contractor.