Apprenticeship Requirements

All public works contracts valued at $30,000 or more carry an obligation to hire apprentices, unless the craft or trade does not require the use of apprentices, as indicated in the corresponding prevailing wage determination. This duty applies to all contractors and subcontractors on a project, even if their part of the project is less than $30,000.

The Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) provides assistance to contractors who need to employ apprentices on public works projects and may grant exemptions to the requirement to hire apprentices.

Contractors' Responsibilities

  • Submit contract award information for each craft required on the project using the DAS 140 form
    • If you are approved to train apprentices, you must send the contract award information to your apprenticeship committee.
    • If you are not approved to train apprentices, you must send the DAS 140 to all apprenticeship committees that can supply apprentices to the site of the public works project.
  • Make training fund contributions in the amount established in the prevailing wage rate – either to the applicable apprenticeship committee, or the California Apprenticeship Council (CAC).
  • Contact the applicable apprenticeship committee to request apprentices for each craft or trade on your project using the DAS 142 form. The form must be submitted at least three business days before apprentices are required.
  • Employ apprentices in the correct ratio. Be sure to employ one hour of apprentice work for every five hours performed by a journeyman level worker.

For More Information

For more information and to find exact legal definitions and language please see the Public Works Chapter of the California Labor Code.

October 2016