Moving to California as a journeyman electrician: every state's rule

A certificate of completion from an apprenticeship program in the General Electrician classification, approved by the California Apprenticeship Council, the federal Office of Apprenticeship or a federally recognized state apprenticeship agency, is accepted as proof of experience instead of documented hours. Registered apprentices do not need certification while in the program, may take the exam during the final year of the apprenticeship, and are certified as soon as the apprenticeship term is completed.

Someone with no experience can work for a C-10 contractor by registering with DLSE as an Electrician Trainee, which costs $25 and requires enrollment in an approved school, completing at least 150 classroom hours a year, plus direct on-site supervision by a certified electrician who supervises no other trainee. DLSE's guide puts the General Electrician curriculum at 720 hours of related and supplemental instruction. A trainee may take the exam as soon as the approved curriculum is complete, but the certification is not issued until 8,000 hours of experience are documented, and trainee registration must be renewed every year until then.

Applicants can ask for credit toward some or all of the 8,000 hours for other experience, including military electrical experience or relevant work for a C-7 low voltage systems contractor. Credit is granted case by case when the experience is found comparable to apprenticeship training or work for a C-10 contractor.