Electrical License not needed???

[dwellselectric]

Question I was told by someone the other day that in the state of CA you do not need a electrical license?!?!? I find this very very hard to believe does anyone know if this is true???

 

[Karl H]

As of Jan.1rst 2006 you do or be enrolled in an approved apprenticeship program.Check the California Division of Apprenticeship standards website for more details. When i moved here 8 years ago i was shocked that ,at that time ,certs,was'nt required.Only a C-10. If your new to SC your gonna be shocked as i was! lol

 

[mdshunk]

Question I was told by someone the other day that in the state of CA you do not need a electrical license?!?!? I find this very very hard to believe does anyone know if this is true???

Cali recently got on board with licensing. I think New York and Pennsylvania are the last two hold outs.

 

[JohnConnolly]

My brother lives in CA and he is not licenced.



He's an accountant though.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

I think New York and Pennsylvania are the last two hold outs.

Illinois does not have state license.

 

[ptonsparky]

I don't think Kansas has state license.

 

[DAWGS]

I think licence should be national not state to state. I live in Virginia, moved here in 99 from upstate NY, took my j-mans test, then masters, then unlimited contractors. In NY you dont need any licence unless working in city limits, all citys are separeate licence. I know a couple of guys who do work and stay busy but have no licence or been through any apprentice training and work cheap, how could I compete with that. This is why I run my business in Virginia were licence is mandatory.

 

[Minuteman]

I don't think Missouri has a state license either.

 

[normbac]

you cannot collect your money without a c-10 license anybody can tell you to go pound sand contract or not

 

[bkludecke]

1) You can do work up to $750 in CA without any license at all.

2) The requirement for electricians to be certified is so full of holes that it's ridiculous. A GC can legally hire unlicensed electricians but an EC cannot.

3) There is no enforcement in CA for working as an uncertified electrician; if you turned yourself in they would have no way to punish you.

In CA there is way too much politics at play to do much of anything right.

 

[LawnGuyLandSparky]

I think licence should be national not state to state. I live in Virginia, moved here in 99 from upstate NY, took my j-mans test, then masters, then unlimited contractors. In NY you dont need any licence unless working in city limits, all citys are separeate licence. I know a couple of guys who do work and stay busy but have no licence or been through any apprentice training and work cheap, how could I compete with that. This is why I run my business in Virginia were licence is mandatory.

Are you saying there are no trunk slammers in Virginia. I've been to Virginia and I'd beg to differ.

In all of downstate NY you need a license, NYC, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester... unless maybe you're in one of those Upstate counties that time forgot.

 

[DAWGS]

Yes, Upstate NY or rather northern NY, Lewis county 70 miles northeast of Syracuse or 20 minutes south of Canada. I know their is trunk slammers in Virginia but at least it is illeagal here to operate without licence.

 

[bkludecke]

Just making something illegal doesn't stop it or even slow it down ( pot, immigration, DUI....).

It's enforcement of the laws that gets people's attention.

Public education does about as much good as anything. I would love to see more adds on TV, radio, etc advising people that they are not obligated to pay an unlicensed contractor. The adds would have to be financed by the trade groups because government agencies wouldn't dare.

 

[infinity]

What kind of license are we talking about? There are different kinds. Some states require all electricians to hold some kind of license, other states (like NJ) only require the contractor to hold the license.

 

[bkludecke]

What kind of license are we talking about? There are different kinds. Some states require all electricians to hold some kind of license, other states (like NJ) only require the contractor to hold the license.

Used to be only the EC needed to be licensed. Now, in order to work as an electrician for an EC the State of CA requires the electrician to be "certified" by the state. Must prove experience, schooling, pay a fee & pass a test. An apprentice may work for an EC if enrolled in an approved program.

All of the above rules DO NOT APPLY if an electrician is working for a GC who by the way, because of case law, may do just about anything an EC can do. Go Figure. Seems to me it should be the other way around.

 

[wamegojim]

I don't think Kansas has state license.

Kansas does require licensing. They don't have a state license. All the municipalities recoginise the same test for the Journeymen. Each municipality has reciprocity. I got both a journeyman and masters license whil living in Kansas.

The contractors must have a master on the payroll. In NC, where I now live they only license the contractor. I used to live in MS and it was that way there also.

I think it would be great also if there was some sort of national license. There may have to be some supplemental work for local jurisdictions. NEC can be strengthened by the AHJ.

 

[bkludecke]

I don't know about national licensing. The word National kinda makes me nervous. How about supporting a nationwide reciprocity similar to driver licences or marriages etc??

 

[peter d]

There is no full reciprocity between all of the New England states for electrician licensing, despite the fact that the requirements for obtaining licenses are virtually identical and the proximity of the states ensures daily interstate commerce.

 

[Karl H]

One thing that amazed me about the Cali cert. I took the "Offical" General Electrician Exam 5-30-2003.Passed with a 98% in 68 min.But, don't judge yourself by me, cause i'm a total geek and read The Good Book and other related electrical topics daily lol.Well the license didnt go into effect until 2006.So i got an extention on my renewal for 2009. So if a customer asked to see my license. He would believe it wasn't current because it still reads valid 5/30/2003 to 5/30/2006.Being from Texas a licensed state i was hoping the Cal cert would help clear out at least some Home Depot Hack installers.But, when i asked an inspector if he was going to check for license's now,like the inspectors in Texas did.His reply was; "No , we are not paid to check everyones license,just installs". At least check the foreman or journyman?He said nope.So i throw my hands up in the air.If it is'nt going to be enforced by AHJ. Then what's the point? Because the people who are going to check are Insurance companies. AFTER THE FIRE OR DEATH!" I just don't understand.I love California But it is" Anything Goes!" Well unless you stress out a grasshopper or displace a innocent fly.Then your in trouble!

 

[JohnConnolly]

Az requires contractors to be licenced except for the "handyman" clause (up to $750 total job).


Electricians are not certified in any way.