By Shauna Krause, President, Capitol Services, Inc.
A little ‘fresh air’ helps blow away concerns about electrical installer certifications for our first contractor, while reminding others of this requirement. Another contractor with interest in federal work discovers that you may not ‘technically’ need a license to build, but a bid may require it…
Q: We are a “C-20” control systems contractor. We supply and install low voltage control systems for large HVAC systems. This primarily involves low voltage sensors and communication cables. When we first started we held a “C-20” license to do our work. Some years ago we added a “C-10” because some bid specifications required both classifications. My question is since our work is covered by my primary “C-20” license are my installer employees required to be certified electricians because of the “C-10”?
A: Thank you for your question. Existing law requires that persons (other than the licensed Qualifier) performing work as an electrician under a “C-10” license, be certified pursuant to standards established by the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement. “Electrician” is defined as a person who engages in the connection of electrical devices for a“C-10”contractor. Since this is the only license classification required to have certified electricians, HVAC (“C-20”) contractors do not fall within these Labor Standard Enforcement regulations. This would include the low voltage work you’ve described.
Note, since you also hold the “C-10” class, your employees might fall within the Division guidelines if your company takes a non-HVAC project for which a “C-10” is the primary classification and the work is over 100 volt-amperes. For a more detailed response, I suggest you visit the State website and review the “electrical certification FAQ” page. We have a link to Apprenticeship Standards on our “Online Resources” page at cutredtape.com
Q: Can a Home Improvement Salesperson work for more than one contractor? Are there any construction experience requirements?
A: Yes, a Home Improvement Salesperson (HIS) can work for multiple contractors, however you must register separately for each contractor. There are no experience or educational requirements, but you must be at least 18 years old to qualify.
Q: We are an out-of-State contractor and there is a project coming up in CA that we’d like to bid on. We don’t have a CA Contractor’s License but the project is on an Army base. I was told that work done on federal property does not require a contractor’s license, however the project owner is requesting that we have a license in place in order to bid. Is this allowed? If we do need a license, how long will it take to obtain one?
A: If the entire project is on Federal property then a contractor’s license is not required, however it’s ultimately up to the awarding authority whether they want the work performed by a licensed contractor.
The time it takes to obtain a license varies depending on several factors (exams, fingerprinting, etc). Please give me a call and we can further discuss your particular situation.
While knowledge is power, knowing where to go for the answers is half the battle. Get expert assistance immediately when you call 866-443-0657, email info@cutredtape.com, or write us at Capitol Services, Inc., 1225 8th St. Ste. 580, Sacramento, CA 95814. Research past columns at www.cutredtape.com.
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