Operator Certification Program - Reciprocity

The word describes an agreement between two parties. With the certification program, it means that California's operator certification program is recognized by another state as being equivalent to theirs and that California recognizes that state's program as equivalent to ours. It does not mean that you may work in California under a certificate issued by another state. You still need a valid California operator's certificate. However, what it does mean is that you may qualify for a California certificate without having to pass the examination, and may use experience gained while holding another state's certificate.

California has reciprocity with all states except Florida and Michigan. We do have limitations on reciprocity with other states:

1. Only Grade I and II operator certificates may be granted through reciprocity.

2. To qualify for reciprocity from another state, the other state's experience and education requirements must be comparable to California's. The other state must also grant reciprocal privileges to California certificate holders.

3. You must have passed a written examination comparable to California's at the appropriate level within the last four years.