California Electrician Certification Renewal (DIR)

At a glance

Renews every

3 years from the certification's effective date

Continuing education

32 hours from a DIR-approved provider, relevant to the type of certification you're renewing, completed before the card expires

Work hours

You certify, under penalty of perjury, that you worked at least 2,000 hours in the industry in the previous three years

Fee

$100 per renewal

Renewal reminder

DIR may not send one: go by the expiration date on your certification card

When to apply

DIR accepts renewal applications up to a year before expiration, as long as your 32 CE hours are done

Filing deadline

Aim for at least 30 days before the card expires: under DIR's rules (8 CCR 291.5), an application postmarked or received by then renews without a lapse. DIR's FAQ sets the postmark deadline at the expiration date on your card

Renew

Online through DIR's renewal application, or by mail with the renewal form, the fee and copies of your CE completion certificates

If it expires

There's no late renewal: you retake the certification exam ($200 fee). You don't need the 32 CE hours for that

Each certification classification needs its own renewal application, but the same CE hours can count toward more than one.

Electrician trainee cards are different: they renew every year, with no fee, by sending the renewal form with current proof of school enrollment and an unofficial transcript (or, once you've finished school, your certificate of completion).

How to renew

1. Check your card's expiration date (DIR may not remind you) and count back at least a few months.
2. Finish all 32 CE hours with a DIR-approved provider (check the provider list first: DIR can't process an application with hours from a provider it doesn't recognize).
3. Make sure you can certify 2,000 hours of work in the industry over the previous three years.
4. Submit the renewal online or by mail with the $100 fee and your CE certificates: DIR accepts it up to one year ahead. File at least 30 days before the card expires to renew without a lapse, and never later than the expiration date.

Deadline checklist

• 6 months outCheck the expiration date on your card (DIR may not remind you) and book your 32 CE hours with a DIR-approved provider.
• CE doneYou can renew as soon as all 32 hours are done: DIR accepts applications up to a year before expiration.
• 45 days outSubmit the renewal online or by mail with the $100 fee and your CE certificates, so it's in well before the 30-day mark.
• 30 days outNot filed yet? File now: an application postmarked or received by now renews without a lapse.
• Expiration dateDIR's FAQ puts the postmark deadline here. After it, there's no late renewal: you retake the exam.

Put this renewal in your calendar

Know your expiration date? Download a free calendar file with reminders before it, no sign-up needed. It's made in your browser: nothing you type is sent to us (your browser keeps it only if you follow the sign-up link, for your new ledger). A Google Calendar button sends just that one event to Google.

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

Frequently asked questions