California Journeyman licensing requirements?

[Jpflex]

I can’t get a straight answer on requirements to qualify for test taking or obtaining a journeyman license.

The licensing field office NEVER ANSWERS THERE PHONE!!! Tried on and off for over a year.


I work in California at a mine as an electrician doing commercial and residential, single split phase, 3 phase and 2 phase if needed, motors, starters, mathematical calculations and demand, transformers all under 2020 NEC code etc.

My company is c10 licensed and I work under them. I do not make much money and probably 1/3 going rate of a licensed journeyman While still doing the SAME WORK!!!

I do not hold an electrician training card nor taking paid classes because I cannot afford it and I live on job site all week. Years ago I obtained an FCC central electronics technicians license and ASE Electrical certification. Also I have stacks of electrician books and test I study every night.

My concern to ensure my hours here will apply towards the 8,000 hour on the job experience, as I have been here over a year with the job title electrician.

The state website only mentions 8,000 hours job experience but doesn’t mention school hours but doesn’t explain apprentice program duration?

See photo below

 

[jaggedben]

Have you tried applying? I would just do it. I'm not quite sure what your question is.
My understanding is that if you've worked 8000 hrs for a C10 you can put that on the form and take the test.

 

[Jpflex]

Have you tried applying? I would just do it. I'm not quite sure what your question is.
My understanding is that if you've worked 8000 hrs for a C10 you can put that on the form and take the test.

I do not have 8k hours yet but less than half. My question comes from the fact that I was told by my old employer electrician that you need to hold an electrician training card and have to take so many hours of schooling or working under c10 won’t count toward 8k hours?

I was also told that you go to social security administration to ask for employment history printout but without having a ET card or taking classes (besides my self teaching, reading etc) it may not be counted?

The state licensing board does not mention classes or ET Cards but just says apprentice program. There is no mention of class hours

 

[Jpflex]

Phone changed text “their phone” not there

 

[tom baker]

Isn’t all the licensing information all available on line?

 

[Jpflex]

Isn’t all the licensing information all available on lines

Isn’t all the licensing information all available on line?

See snapshot I uploaded. There is a discrepancy on what is online vs licensed electricians say what is required. Also online does not specify “apprentice program” or schooling details

 

[tom baker]

Looks to
Me like you need 8000 hours working for C10 or apprentice program

 

[ramsy]

My company is c10 licensed and I work under them. I do not make much money and probably 1/3 going rate of a licensed journeyman While still doing the SAME WORK!!!

I do not hold an electrician training card nor taking paid classes because I cannot afford it

Sounds like your C10 company fails to have an approved apprenticeship program.

If company is not registered with an approved apprenticeship, you could join an apprenticeship near you.

 

[jaggedben]

I do not have 8k hours yet but less than half. My question comes from the fact that I was told by my old employer electrician that you need to hold an electrician training card and have to take so many hours of schooling or working under c10 won’t count toward 8k hours?

I was also told that you go to social security administration to ask for employment history printout but without having a ET card or taking classes (besides my self teaching, reading etc) it may not be counted?

The state licensing board does not mention classes or ET Cards but just says apprentice program. There is no mention of class hours

Sounds about right. Anyone working for a C10 should get their ET card. (Problem is your employer might not like being exposed for having more ETs than Jmen.) I heard somewhere that DIR is getting more strict about this so it you might have to essentially start from scratch. Another option might be to go straight for your own C10, but then you're still only about halfway there. The CSLB might accept your existing hours where the DIR might not accept any hours until you register as an ET. Keeping both irons in the fire might be smart, so you have options in 2-4 years.

 

[Jpflex]

Sounds about right. Anyone working for a C10 should get their ET card. (Problem is your employer might not like being exposed for having more ETs than Jmen.) I heard somewhere that DIR is getting more strict about this so it you might have to essentially start from scratch. Another option might be to go straight for your own C10, but then you're still only about halfway there. The CSLB might accept your existing hours where the DIR might not accept any hours until you register as an ET. Keeping both irons in the fire might be smart, so you have options in 2-4 years.

Lol, I don’t think my company ever had j men. I am the only electrician here and have been doing everything for a year.

The company does not know NEC code so when they tried to pull crap like buying auction old rusted starters and controls with heaters not sized for the FLA of their motors while expecting me to install, I would not. So they hired someone else willing but likely unaware of the violations

 

[RumRunner]

I can’t get a straight answer on requirements to qualify for test taking or obtaining a journeyman license.
The licensing field office NEVER ANSWERS THERE PHONE!!! Tried on and off for over a year.
I work in California at a mine as an electrician doing commercial and residential, single split phase, 3 phase and 2 phase if needed, motors, starters, mathematical calculations and demand, transformers all under 2020 NEC code etc.
My company is c10 licensed and I work under them. I do not make much money and probably 1/3 going rate of a licensed journeyman While still doing the SAME WORK!!!
I do not hold an electrician training card nor taking paid classes because I cannot afford it and I live on job site all week. Years ago I obtained an FCC central electronics technicians license and ASE Electrical certification. Also I have stacks of electrician books and test I study every night.
My concern to ensure my hours here will apply towards the 8,000 hour on the job experience, as I have been here over a year with the job title electrician.
The state website only mentions 8,000 hours job experience but doesn’t mention school hours but doesn’t explain apprentice program duration?

See photo below

This is long, so bear with me.

I empathize with you and your exemplary tenacity is admirable.
The state of CA differs from other states when it comes to electrical services being offered to the public.
The safety factor is what prompts authorities to implement regulations for the public safety.
Unlike other states that anyone can call himself / herself an electrician. Not in California.

Some states. . . you can simply go to any home improvement center and whip out you credit card and buy a TOOL POUCH full of electricians’ tools and . . . . bingo you are now an electrician.
When I was (in earnest) a full time electrical contractor for a number of years—I was burdened with all this regulation that I didn’t have any choice but to abide by them.

The money was good and a lot of times-- the hard work involved that I’ve done allowed me to make a “killing” running myself to the bank like a bandit.
Don’t get me wrong. . . .all of this were done legitimately.
I signed up for a million dollar loan from Small Business Loan and submitted bids for projects with the Cal Dot (Cal Department of Transportation)

I started bidding on replacing burned out light bulbs on those changeable traffic signs along freeways. . . they were not digital at the time but programmable. I hired bulb changer actually but electricians nonetheless.

I paid my SBA Loan before maturity and the rest was history.
So much for histrionics and I don’t expect you or anyone to do the same. But if you have the guts--my blessing is with you.
Now, back to your dilemma.

You are barking up the wrong tree so to speak
Anyone who desires to work as electrician has to register with the CSLB (Ca State License Board.)
You pay small amount and you get a card. No intimidating questionnaire or experience.
When you apply for electrician’s job, just make sure you’d be working for a C-10 holder to authenticate your time working on electrical wiring.
As an electrician apprentice card holder—you can only work with a journeyman alongside or a master electrician, or the C10 holder himself

You don’t go out on your own doing electrical work.
In your situation, your employer C10 is in violation of a California Law requiring anyone working on electrical wiring to be registered or run the risk of getting reprimanded by CSLB.

Worst is having his license revoked if CSLB finds out.
I’m no longer an active C10 holder since I transitioned from contractor to engineer some years ago..

If I were still active, I would have hired you off-hand.

I highly admire people of your demeanor.
We are neighbors too lol.
Go straight to the CSLB website and request the form for apprentice registration.

No need to go through several websites and doling-out money to get what you need.

All you get is conflicting information as you see here. You might get credit for your time spent working where you are now.

Sorry for this lengthy narrative.

 

[cadpoint]

It's probably in the State laws somewhere but a lot of (not all) States count 8000 hours as four years of direct employment
not any total sum of hours worked per year to say. One year 2000 hours(,) Or 50(weeks)X 40(hrs)

They (not all) consider everyone gets a two weeks of vacation.

That's where the weird numbers of hours come from.

 

[jaggedben]

...
Anyone who desires to work as electrician has to register with the CSLB (Ca State License Board.) ...

This part is incorrect. The CSLB licenses contractors. The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) certifies electricians. In California, contractor licensing and electrician certification are separate, essentially unrelated processes handled by different state departments.

Go straight to the CSLB website and request the form for apprentice registration.

Again, DIR not CSLB. dir.ca.gov

What he probably needs to do, if he wants to become a journeyman electrician, is either enroll in a qualified training program, or find a new job with someone who has certified journeyman and will walk hin through registration as an electrician trainee. Or better yet, both.

 

[mtnelect]

All C-10 Electrical Contractors must hire only Certified Electricians registered with the Department of Industrial Relations. This requires completing the education and experience requirement to qualify to take the examination. It is against the Contractors State License Board for a C-10 Electrical Contractor to hire a non-licensed Electrician.

 

[ramsy]

It is against the Contractors State License Board for a C-10 Electrical Contractor to hire a non-licensed Electrician.

There are exceptions for probationary & unqualified trainees, joint venture operators, self-employed, & independent contractors, which muddies the compliance issues for C10 helpers, per CA Labor Code §3099.4, §108.2(b)(1).

Further, the business advantages of violating complex or otherwise unenforceable regulations can far outweigh any token fines, especially where statutory employee or hapless RMO bear the entire burden of that inconvenience.

The desire of lawful commerce is vastly different than the lawless de facto.

The only justice indentured servants ever had as subjects of industrial overlords, was there ability to vote with their feet, move to greener pastures, or return to a mercantile society, setting up their own shops & wages.

 

[Jpflex]

This is long, so bear with me.

I empathize with you and your exemplary tenacity is admirable.
The state of CA differs from other states when it comes to electrical services being offered to the public.
The safety factor is what prompts authorities to implement regulations for the public safety.
Unlike other states that anyone can call himself / herself an electrician. Not in California.

Some states. . . you can simply go to any home improvement center and whip out you credit card and buy a TOOL POUCH full of electricians’ tools and . . . . bingo you are now an electrician.
When I was (in earnest) a full time electrical contractor for a number of years—I was burdened with all this regulation that I didn’t have any choice but to abide by them.

The money was good and a lot of times-- the hard work involved that I’ve done allowed me to make a “killing” running myself to the bank like a bandit.
Don’t get me wrong. . . .all of this were done legitimately.
I signed up for a million dollar loan from Small Business Loan and submitted bids for projects with the Cal Dot (Cal Department of Transportation)

I started bidding on replacing burned out light bulbs on those changeable traffic signs along freeways. . . they were not digital at the time but programmable. I hired bulb changer actually but electricians nonetheless.

I paid my SBA Loan before maturity and the rest was history.
So much for histrionics and I don’t expect you or anyone to do the same. But if you have the guts--my blessing is with you.
Now, back to your dilemma.

You are barking up the wrong tree so to speak
Anyone who desires to work as electrician has to register with the CSLB (Ca State License Board.)
You pay small amount and you get a card. No intimidating questionnaire or experience.
When you apply for electrician’s job, just make sure you’d be working for a C-10 holder to authenticate your time working on electrical wiring.
As an electrician apprentice card holder—you can only work with a journeyman alongside or a master electrician, or the C10 holder himself

You don’t go out on your own doing electrical work.
In your situation, your employer C10 is in violation of a California Law requiring anyone working on electrical wiring to be registered or run the risk of getting reprimanded by CSLB.

Worst is having his license revoked if CSLB finds out.
I’m no longer an active C10 holder since I transitioned from contractor to engineer some years ago..

If I were still active, I would have hired you off-hand.

I highly admire people of your demeanor.
We are neighbors too lol.
Go straight to the CSLB website and request the form for apprentice registration.

No need to go through several websites and doling-out money to get what you need.

All you get is conflicting information as you see here. You might get credit for your time spent working where you are now.

Sorry for this lengthy narrative.

Thanks that was very helpful. My owner is a c10 owner with construction licensing for a mine.

If I get a et card I may put Myself out of work if it is found that there are no licensed journeymen here, so I’m not sure what to do. It seems you implied that I may still get work hour credit while working here under c10?

 

[Jpflex]

Looks to
Me like you need 8000 hours working for C10 or apprentice program

That’s what I would need to clarify. Is it one or the other or both apprentice program and or 8k hours under c10?

 

[Jpflex]

It's probably in the State laws somewhere but a lot of (not all) States count 8000 hours as four years of direct employment
not any total sum of hours worked per year to say. One year 2000 hours(,) Or 50(weeks)X 40(hrs)

They (not all) consider everyone gets a two weeks of vacation.

That's where the weird numbers of hours come from.

I have not had a vacation in all my 25 years of working. Neither as a former licensed smog tech or ASE L1 Auto mechanic and automotive electrician to now.

If anyone has noticed jobs pay less in proportion to living cost over the past few decades. My dad I believe made I think? $20 per hour as a mail man back in the 90s and you can barely find that now even working In a learned profession.

Although he used to complain about his job, he could afford a house and vacations. This is something our generation has lost. The Bible said it will get so bad that there will be a day that 1 days wage will be enough for 1 meal. I’m not looking forward to this.

 

[ramsy]

If I get a et card I may put Myself out of work if it is found that there are no licensed journeymen here, so I’m not sure what to do.

Thats right, whistle blowers always get screwed, and worse without the leverage of a better offer.

 

[mtnelect]

As of January 1, 2023, I had to increase my bond to 25,000 and purchase workman's compensation which is now required even if you don't employees. I wonder how all the unlicensed contractors are doing ?