Training · California
Electrician Trainee Program
The fastest, most flexible way to enter the electrical trade in California — a state-approved certificate program you can take live online, hands-on at our facilities, or fully self-paced.
~$1.5K
Per year — community college pricing
100%
Completable online
4
Years typical completion
108
WECA's state school number
Who it's for
To legally work as an electrician in California, you must either be a certified journeyperson, an indentured apprentice, or a state-registered Electrician Trainee enrolled with a state-approved education provider like WECA. If you work for a C-10 electrical contractor and aren't certified or indentured, the ET program is your path.
It's also a great route for motivated students who aren't sponsored apprentices: many of our online courses suit electrical students throughout the United States.
How the program works
The GetWired! series of instructor-led, live-webcast evening courses — combined with onsite lab days at our modern training facilities — is the heart of the program. Prefer full flexibility? Take interactive labs online, or run the entire program self-paced.
Complete the required courses and hours and you earn the WECA Electrician Trainee Program Certificate. Together with the required on-the-job hours (4,800 for Residential, 8,000 for General), the certificate qualifies you to sit for the California General or Residential Electrician certification exam.
Enrolling, step by step
- Enroll in the WECA ET Program. Pick a course that fits your level — new to the field, start with GetWired 101 and follow the ET Certificate Roadmap. Enroll online or call (877) 444-9322. Pay class tuition plus a $25 program enrollment fee; within one business day you'll get an enrollment confirmation letter. Keep it — it's your proof of enrollment.
- Register with the State of California. Complete the state's Electrician Trainee Registration form (WECA's school number is 108), staple your WECA confirmation letter to it, and mail both with the state's $25 fee. The state sends back your "T" number — processing can take 4-12 weeks. You're not legal to work as an ET until your card arrives.
- Order your textbooks. Download the list from the Resource Library and order early.
Renewing your ET registration
California requires annual ET renewal (no fee) until you've logged your work-experience hours and passed the certification exam. Submit the state renewal form before your registration anniversary, with current proof of enrollment and a transcript — WECA provides both; call (877) 444-9322 or log in to download your transcript. Stay continuously enrolled in a course to keep your WECA status active.