Law Lets California’s Contractors State License Board Enforce Electrician Certification

Starting July 1, 2009, California’s Contractors State License Board (CSLB) began enforcing a new law that requires all electricians who are employed by an electrical contractor with a Class C-10 license to be certified by the state.

Signed by California’s Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in January 2009, the law amended Section 3099.2 of the state’s Labor Code to read:(h) Commencing July 1, 2009, the following shall constitute additional grounds for disciplinary proceedings, including suspension or revocation of the license of a class C-10 electrical contractor pursuant to Article 7 (commencing with Section 7090) of Chapter 9 of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code: (1) The contractor willfully employs one or more uncertified persons to perform work as electricians in violation of this section. (2) The contractor willfully fails to provide the adequate supervision of uncertified workers required by paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 3099.4. (3) The contractor willfully fails to provide adequate supervision of apprentices performing work pursuant to subdivision.

Penalties for C-10 contractors found to have employees in violation of certification include: monetary fine, license suspension, and/or license revocation.