Electricians - Electrical Contractors
San Rafael,  Marin County, San Francisco North Bay, Ca. USA 94901, 94903

In the United States licensing requirements for construction work are controlled by local building officials.

Typically, certain types of electrical work are only permitted to be performed by a Journeyman or Master electrician. The requirements for becoming a journeyman or master electrician, and the types of work they are permitted to do, vary between states; however, there are often interstate reciprocity agreements. Not all states offer a statewide journeyman or master electrician license.

Before electricians are allowed to work without supervision, they are usually required to serve an apprenticeship lasting from 3 to 5 years under the general supervision of a Master Electrician and usually the direct supervision of a Journeyman Electrician. Schooling in electrical theory and electrical building codes is usually required to complete the apprenticeship program. A Journeyman electrician is a well rounded craftsman trained in all phases of electrical construction installation in various building styles and maintenance of equipment after installation. A Journeyman is usually permitted to perform all types of electrical work except design of electrical systems. A Master Electrician must first be a Journeyman and usually has a minimum of two years more experience and has to pass further testing. A Master Electrician is further trained in layout, estimation, and design of electrical installations.

Certification usually requires experience and a passing score on a written test. The written test usually includes questions about the NFPA's National Electrical Code, and load calculations.