If you are a C-10 electrical contractor, a general contractor chasing fleet electrification work, or a state certified general electrician across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, or Ventura Counties, you need to know three things right now: whether EVITP certification is required for your EV charging work, how to earn it, and what it takes. This guide answers all three and shows you how ABC SoCal gets your crew certified before the next bid drops.
EVITP stands for the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program. It is a nonprofit vehicle infrastructure training program that provides the most comprehensive training for licensed electricians in the installation, commissioning, and maintenance of electric vehicle supply equipment. The EVITP program was developed with input from various electrical industry stakeholders, including EVSE equipment manufacturers, utilities, automobile manufacturers, and other key stakeholder associations. The EVITP collaborative understands that consistent training results and rigorous training standards help protect both contractors and end users while supporting that industry-wide benchmark. EVITP is recognized across the United States and Canada as a standard for EVSE training, making it the credential owners, agencies, and charging intermediaries look for when prequalifying bidders.
The EVITP course is an online technical installation course of approximately 20 hours, built for licensed electricians who install electric vehicle charging stations. The program curriculum covers site assessments, load calculations, and safety protocols, along with charging station fundamentals, NEC Article 625, panel capacity checks, Level 2 and DC fast charging concepts, demand charges, grounding and bonding, conduit and conductor sizing, overcurrent protection, commissioning, and basic maintenance and troubleshooting. The curriculum also includes National Electrical Code standards and jobsite safety, with an extensive section on fire hazard measures and first responder safety tied to EV battery types and electrical storage devices.
Individual electricians hold EVITP certification, not contractors or employers. This means owners and agencies can verify each certified electrician’s credentials independently when reviewing bids. The cost of EVITP certification is approximately $275 as of May 2025, and certification is valid for three years after completion. EVITP course costs range from $250 to $500 depending on the provider and any associated proctoring fees.
EVITP complements, but does not replace, California electrical certification. It is an overlay credential focused on electric vehicle infrastructure that helps electricians demonstrate specialized EV expertise. Specialized training helps reduce risks and improve EVSE installation quality, and the program also addresses customer relations, customer satisfaction, and end-user education. The EVITP collaborative understands that customer satisfaction comes from properly supported installations and the ability to address customer questions, which reduces callbacks on commercial and fleet charging station projects.
For merit shop contractors competing on open bids, EVITP certification turns compliance into a competitive advantage. Certified electricians meet the highest industry standards for EV charger installations, and that credential is what separates the crews that win funded work from those that cannot bid at all.
The main reason contractors across Southern California are asking about EVITP right now is California Public Utilities Code Section 740.20, enacted through AB 841 and in force for work performed on or after January 1, 2022.
Section 740.20 applies to most electric vehicle infrastructure funded or reimbursed by the California Energy Commission, California Air Resources Board, or California Public Utilities Commission. CALeVIP rebates follow the same rules. EVITP-certified electricians are preferred for government-funded EV charging projects because the statute makes their presence on-site a legal condition of the funding.
Contractor license requirement: All installations on the customer side of the meter must be performed by a contractor holding the appropriate license classification under the Contractors State License Board. For EV charging station work, that is typically a C-10 (Electrical) license. General contractors pursuing this work must team with a C-10 subcontractor or hold the classification themselves.
Crew requirements by power rating:
| Charging port rating | EVITP crew requirement |
|---|---|
| Under 25 kW | At least one electrician on each crew must be EVITP certified at all times during installation |
| 25 kW or greater | At least 25% of the total electricians on the crew must hold EVITP certification at all times |
For a four-electrician crew on a DC fast charging project, that means at least one EVITP-certified electrician. A six-person crew needs at least two. On large projects, 25% of electricians on the crew must hold EVITP certification. One person can serve as both the contractor’s qualifying individual and the EVITP-certified electrician on the same crew, provided all license and ratio rules are met.
Statutory exceptions (in plain language):
CALeVIP program guidance mirrors these requirements exactly. Some cities, counties, and agencies in Southern California adopt stricter ratios or layer on Skilled and Trained Workforce requirements on top of EVITP. Contractors must read every RFP and rebate solicitation carefully. Training includes regulatory requirements and proper installation practices for EV charging stations, and failing to meet EVITP ratios on funded work can trigger bid protests, disallowance of incentives, or payment delays from funders across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura Counties.
This section covers the practical details of the vehicle infrastructure training program EVITP: who can register, how it runs, how much it costs, and which markets it unlocks for your crews.
EVITP certification requires 20 hours of training, delivered primarily online and self-paced within a defined window, followed by a scheduled proctored exam. The certification exam requires a minimum score of 75% to pass. The EVITP training program covers many aspects of electric vehicle charging infrastructure:
The EVITP course costs $275 as of May 2025. That fee is scheduled to rise to $350 on October 1, 2026, creating urgency for contractors to enroll eligible electricians now. EVITP certification is valid for three years after completion. To renew EVITP certification, complete continuing education and possibly retest through current EVITP renewal pathways.
Eligibility for EVITP certification requires a state electrician license or significant documented experience. In California, candidates must be state-certified general electricians. EVITP nationally accepts either state licensing or 8,000 hours of documented electrical construction experience. EVITP is designed for licensed electricians installing electric vehicle supply equipment; it does not certify contractors or employers. EVITP offers only individual electrician credentials, and each electrician’s certification can be verified through EVITP’s lookup tools.
Registered electrical apprentices and electrical trainees may work on EV charging installations under supervision even without EVITP certification. This makes pairing EVITP-certified journeymen with apprentices an efficient crew structure that satisfies ratio rules.
The EVITP Fund, administered by the Employment Training Panel in collaboration with the CEC, provides grant funding to certify electricians statewide. In the most recent solicitation, approximately $2.7 million was allocated, with half reserved for disadvantaged, low-income, or rural communities. Eligible applicants are Multiple Employer Contractors such as trade associations, apprenticeship committees, and workforce boards. Single employers are not eligible. Awards can reach up to $300,000 per MEC, which allows organizations like ABC SoCal to reduce or eliminate per-person EVITP course costs for member contractors.
The federal NEVI formula program under 23 CFR 680.106(j) also requires EVITP for qualified technicians. However, as of January 2026, states had spent only about 2% ($94 million) of the $4.4 billion allocated nationally. A February 2026 House resolution cut $500 million from DOT funding, leaving only $300 million authorized for charger installation in 2026. That uncertainty makes federal NEVI funding an unreliable near-term pipeline.
California’s state-funded EV charging programs through CEC, CARB, and CPUC are more predictable for Southern California contractors in the EV market today. Completion of the EVITP course enhances career opportunities in the growing EV market, and EVITP-certified electricians are preferred by manufacturers and utilities for both funded and private electric vehicle infrastructure projects across North America. EVITP training supports ongoing professional development across the electrical sector, and EVITP certification enhances career opportunities for electricians working in this space.
This is your action checklist. If you need EVITP-certified electricians on bids in the next 3 to 12 months, start here.
Inventory every electrician by name, California electrical certification status, and total documented hours. Flag who holds a state-certified general electrician credential and is immediately eligible for the EVITP course. Include low-voltage technician training graduates and multi-trade electricians in related roles to plan future upskilling into EV charging work.
Map your EVITP training priorities to your short-term project pipeline: municipal depot conversions, school bus yard electrification, commercial DC fast charging, multifamily EV readiness retrofits. Certify at least one electrician per crew for under-25 kW projects. For sites at 25 kW or above, aim to exceed the 25% ratio internally. Aiming for 40 to 50% of your journeymen to be EVITP certified gives you a buffer for schedule changes, sick days, and overlapping jobs.
Confirm eligibility requirements, register for the EVITP course, pay the fee (or access grant-supported training through ABC SoCal), and schedule the proctored exam. Each electrician must pass the exam to earn certification.
Set up a tracking system listing each electrician’s EVITP enrollment date, exam date, pass date, and certification expiry date. This documentation is critical for responding to public solicitations, filing DAS 140 apprentice contract award notices, and proving crew qualifications to project owners.
Assign EVITP-certified electricians as crew leads on every EV charging station project. Pair them with registered apprentices and trainees from ABC SoCal’s construction apprenticeship programs to satisfy apprenticeship ratio rules and Skilled and Trained Workforce requirements where applicable.
Example crew compositions:
| Project type | Crew size | EVITP-certified minimum | Typical structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 2 commercial (under 25 kW) | 3 electricians | 1 | 1 EVITP journeyman + 2 apprentices |
| DC fast charging (25 kW+) | 6 electricians | 2 | 2 EVITP journeymen leading trenching and commissioning + 4 apprentices/journeymen |
Create internal policies that prevent non-compliant crews from being dispatched to funded EV charging sites.
ABC Southern California is a state-approved electrical training provider operating training centers in Anaheim and the San Fernando Valley. Its electrical apprenticeship in California, Electrical Trainee program, low voltage technician training, and continuing education courses create a bench of electricians who become eligible for EVITP as they reach 8,000 hours and achieve California electrical certification.
As a Multiple Employer Contractor entity, ABC SoCal can pursue EVITP Fund and similar state grants on behalf of merit shop members, reducing out-of-pocket costs and addressing the regional workforce need in EV charging installation.
Add EVITP certification counts and expiration dates to your standard qualification statements, SOQs, and bid forms for CEC, CALeVIP, school district, and municipal solicitations. Train estimators and project managers to check EVITP requirements alongside prevailing wage, Skilled and Trained Workforce requirements, and apprenticeship participation guidelines for each new opportunity.
These steps prevent disqualification, change orders tied to non-compliance, and delays in receiving rebate reimbursements for electric vehicle infrastructure work.
EVITP certification is a fast, low-cost credential that proves your crew’s knowledge and skills on EV charging projects. Merit shop contractors win this work in open competition when their crews hold the right credentials.
ABC SoCal is a nonprofit, merit shop trade association serving C-10 electrical contractors, general contractors, and specialty contractors across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura Counties. Its mission is to support members through training, advocacy, and workforce development.
ABC SoCal aligns its training and certification offerings with EVITP requirements so member contractors can move quickly when EV charging opportunities arise. As a state-approved electrical training provider and Multiple Employer Contractor entity, ABC SoCal can apply for EVITP Fund awards to subsidize or fully cover EVITP training for participating contractors’ electricians. The program coordinates electrician cohorts through EVITP coursework, exam scheduling, and documentation support, making it practical for busy firms to certify multiple crew leads at once.
Training ecosystem highlights:
Compliance and advocacy support:
ABC SoCal helps members navigate labor compliance on projects combining EV charging with broader facility upgrades, including public works requirements, Skilled and Trained Workforce requirements, and DIR registration. The association monitors changes to Section 740.20, CALeVIP program rules, and local ordinances affecting EV charging work through its political advocacy efforts.
Business development edge:
EVITP-certified crews improve prequalification scores and position contractors for recurring service and maintenance agreements on installed charging station networks. Agencies and fleet operators increasingly ask whether proposers have EVITP-certified personnel and a documented EVITP workforce pipeline in their proposals. The collaboration between ABC SoCal and its member contractors ensures access to the expertise and preparation needed to compete.
EVITP aims to ensure that electricians understand technical and safety requirements for EV installations. The full overview of the electric vehicle industry shows that this credential is no longer optional for contractors pursuing funded work in today’s market. Contact ABC Southern California to discuss upcoming EV charging projects, enroll electricians in ABC SoCal’s electrical apprenticeship and continuing education programs, and register for future EVITP training cohorts so your company is EVITP-ready before the next RFP drops.
These questions address practical details about timelines, overlapping compliance rules, and budgeting that contractors most often ask about when evaluating EVITP.
The EVITP course itself takes approximately 20 hours to complete, but contractors should plan for a 2 to 6 week window from enrollment to receiving proof of certification. That window accounts for the electrician’s work schedule, exam availability, and processing time. If you are targeting an upcoming bid, build in enough lead time for key journeymen to complete coursework, sit the proctored exam, and receive documentation before the bid or construction start date. ABC SoCal can help coordinate group enrollments and exam timing to keep schedules tight.
Section 740.20 specifically targets projects funded or reimbursed by CEC, CARB, or CPUC, as well as programs like CALeVIP. Purely private projects without those funding sources are not automatically subject to EVITP by statute. However, many utilities, large fleets, and private owners write EVITP requirements into their own contracts as a best practice. Review each contract and RFP carefully; private clients can and do specify EVITP-certified electricians installing EVSE as a condition of award.
No. EVITP certification and Skilled and Trained Workforce requirements are separate compliance modules. EVITP addresses EV-specific training and certification. Skilled and Trained Workforce rules control the percentage of journey-level workers who have graduated from state-approved apprenticeship programs. Holding EVITP certification does not satisfy Skilled and Trained Workforce percentages on its own. Contractors must still meet apprenticeship-graduation thresholds and provide DAS 140 apprentice contract award notices. ABC SoCal helps contractors meet both demands through its construction apprenticeship programs and EVITP-aligned training.
Yes. Registered apprentices and approved electrical trainees can work on EV charging station projects under the supervision of state-certified and, where required, EVITP-certified electricians. State apprenticeship ratio and supervision rules still apply. This arrangement lets contractors build experience across their crews while keeping EVITP-certified journeymen in lead roles to satisfy the one-per-crew and 25-percent requirements. Use these projects as structured learning for apprentices enrolled in ABC SoCal’s electrical apprenticeship in California.
Start by certifying one or two key crew leads and using them to staff all funded EV projects while you evaluate demand. At $275 per electrician, the direct cost is low relative to project revenue, but the 20 hours of non-billable training time at prevailing wage rates adds $2,000 to $2,400 in indirect labor cost per person. Offset those costs by exploring EVITP Fund-supported training cohorts and grant programs that ABC SoCal can help you access. Treat each EVITP course fee as a strategic investment tied to a specific funded bid opportunity, not general overhead.
