Western Electrical Contractors Association, Inc.

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Types of Certifications

California State Requirements for Certification as a General Electrician

One who performs work for an electrical contractor installing, constructing or maintaining any electrical system that is covered by the National Electric Code, is required to be certified as a General Electrician.

One who 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, is required to be certified as a Residential Electrician.

One who performs work installing the required panel boards and feeders for commercial tenant space in a multi-family/multi-use occupancies falling under subsection (1), 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, is required to be certified as a Residential Electrician.

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, is required to be certified as a Fire/Life Safety Technician.

If you are the holder of a valid C-10 license and are working under that license, certification is not required. However, if you are performing covered electrical work not under your own valid license - for example, if your license is not in effect for some reason, or you are working under someone else's C-10 license - certification is required.

Types of Certifications

WECA offers exam preparation courses for the following types of California electrical certifications:

General Electrician

There are 100 questions on the General Electrician Exam and you have 4 hours and 30 minutes to complete the exam.

General journeyman electrician - examination content outline

Subject Area % Per Area
Safety 6
Determination of Electrical System Requirements 22
Installation 66
Maintenance and Repair 6

 

 

Residential Electrician

There are 80 questions on the Residential Electrician exam and you have 3 hour and 30 minutes to complete the exam.

Residential journeyman electrician - examination content outline

Subject Area % Per Area
Safety 5
Determination of Electrical System Requirements 23
Installation 66
Maintenance and Repair 6
 

 

Voice Data Video Technician

There are 50 questions on the Voice Data Video Technician Exam and you have 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete the exam.

Voice, data, video technician - content outline

Subject Area % Per Area
Safety 8
Preparation 22
Installation 22
Termination 14
Testing and Troubleshooting 12
Telecommunications 8
Security and Access Control Systems 4
Sound Systems 4
Audiovisual Systems 6

 

 

Fire / Life / Safety

There are 50 questions on the Fire / Life / Safety Technician Exam and you have 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete the exam.

Fire / Life / Safety - content outline

Subject Area % Per Area
Safety 10
Preparation 24
Installation 12
Termination 8
Testing and Troubleshooting 12
Fire Alarm Systems 34