The DAS 140 and DAS 142 Forms Explained

DAS 140 and DAS 142 forms are not as complicated as they might seem at first glance. Additionally, once you understand the logic behind them, staying compliant becomes a lot more manageable.

You can do the job perfectly - and still get penalized for paperwork.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know about both the DAS 140 and DAS 142 forms, including what they are, who needs to file, the deadlines that matter, and the mistakes that can cost you.

What Are the DAS 140 and DAS 142 Forms?

The DAS 140 and DAS 142 are standardized compliance documents required by California's Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS), which operates under the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR). Both forms apply to public works projects and are tied to California's apprenticeship requirements.

Think of them as two separate but related obligations. The DAS 140 notifies the applicable apprenticeship committees that a contract has been awarded and provides estimated apprenticeship employment details. The DAS 142 is your formal request to actually get those apprentices dispatched to your job site.

Both forms are legal requirements, not optional paperwork. Skipping or delaying them can expose you to penalties, regardless of how the actual work went.

The DAS 140 Form: What It Is and When to File

What Is the DAS 140?

The DAS 140, officially titled "Public Works Contract Award Information," is the form you submit after winning a public works contract. Its purpose is to notify the Division of Apprenticeship Standards that a contract has been awarded and that the contractor plans to employ apprentices during the project.

The form captures key project details, including:

• The scope of work being performed
• The projected start date
• The estimated completion date
• The contractor's contact and license information
• The applicable apprenticeship committees for each trade

Who Needs to File a DAS 140?

Any contractor or subcontractor working on a California public works project with a contract value above the applicable threshold is required to file. This applies broadly across construction trades, including electrical, plumbing, carpentry, ironwork, and more.

When Is the DAS 140 Due?

This is where a lot of contractors trip up. The DAS 140 must be submitted within 10 days of signing the public works contract. Not 10 days after the project starts. Not 10 days after you mobilize. Within 10 days of signing.

That deadline comes up fast, especially if you're managing multiple bids and awards at once. Miss that 10-day window, and you're out of compliance before your crew even hits the job site.

Where Do You Send It?

The DAS 140 goes to the appropriate Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC) or apprenticeship program for each trade involved in the project. Contractors need to identify the relevant committees based on the county where the work will be performed and the specific crafts being employed.

The DAS 142 Form: What It Is and When to File

What Is the DAS 142?

The DAS 142 is the "Request for Dispatch of an Apprentice" form. Once you've notified the DAS via the 140, the 142 is how you bring apprentices onto the project. It's a formal request to approved apprenticeship programs asking them to send apprentices to your job site.

California law requires contractors to meet a minimum ratio of apprentice hours to journeyman hours on public works projects. That ratio is generally 1:5, meaning for every five hours a journeyman works, at least one hour should be worked by an apprentice. When that ratio isn't being met, submitting a DAS 142 is the required step.

What Information Does the DAS 142 Require?

The DAS 142 is more detailed than the DAS 140. You'll need to provide:

• Apprenticeship committee contact information: Name, address, phone, and fax number of the committee receiving the request
• Contractor information: Company name, address, license number, PWC registration number, and contact details
• Project information: PWC project number, contract number, total contract amount, project name, and work location
• Dispatch request details: Number of apprentices needed, the craft or trade, the dates they're needed, the reporting time, and the name and address of the supervisor they'll report to

One critical note: do not write "0" or "TBD" for the number of apprentices. An incomplete or unclear form can be deemed invalid, which means the submission never counted in the first place.

When Is the DAS 142 Due?

The DAS 142 must be submitted at least three business days before apprentices are needed on the job site. This isn't just a best practice; it's a compliance requirement. If the form arrives late, it may be considered invalid, and the dispatch won't be processed in time.

Plan ahead. If you know apprentices will be needed during a particular phase of the project, work backward from that date and file accordingly.

Where Does the DAS 142 Go?

That depends on your relationship with apprenticeship programs. If your company is signatory to an approved program, you send the DAS 142 to your local apprenticeship committee. If you're not signatory and haven't been approved to train apprentices independently, the form needs to go to all apprenticeship committees in the county where work is being performed, and this is required for each separate craft or trade involved.

Common Mistakes That Lead to Non-Compliance

Even contractors who know these forms exist sometimes run into trouble. Here are the most frequent issues worth knowing about.

Filing after project completion. This is a significant one. Submitting the DAS 140 or DAS 142 after the project wraps up does not fulfill the requirement and does not exempt you from penalties. Late submissions are still considered non-compliant, and if a complaint is filed with the Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS), fines can follow.

Missing the 10-day window on the DAS 140. Contract signing happens quickly when you're eager to get started. Set a reminder immediately after signing. The clock starts then, not when you break ground.

Incomplete DAS 142 forms. Leaving fields blank, using "TBD," or failing to specify the number of apprentices needed are easy ways for the form to be rejected as invalid. Every section needs a real answer.

Sending to the wrong committee. Make sure you're identifying the correct apprenticeship committees by county and trade. Sending to the wrong organization doesn't count as a valid submission.

Assuming exemptions apply automatically. Exemptions from the apprenticeship hiring requirement do exist, but they are evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the DAS. You can't assume you qualify without actually seeking and receiving that determination.

What Happens If You Don't Comply?

Non-compliance with DAS 140 and DAS 142 requirements can result in meaningful consequences. Penalties can include significant fines, and repeated violations or complaints filed with the Labor Commissioner can affect your eligibility for future public works contracts. In California's competitive contracting environment, that's a risk most businesses can't afford to take.

If you're unsure whether your situation qualifies for an exemption, or if you need clarification on which committees to contact, reaching out to the Division of Apprenticeship Standards directly is always an option.

How to Simplify the Filing Process

Between managing crews, subcontractors, timelines, and budgets, adding two more compliance forms to the list can feel overwhelming. Especially when those forms have tight deadlines and technical requirements.

Software built for public works compliance can take a lot of that weight off. Tools like eMars include autofill functionality specifically for the DAS 140 and DAS 142 forms, pulling project data you've already entered into the system and reducing the manual data entry that creates errors.

If your company works on California public works projects regularly, building a consistent DAS filing process, whether through software or a well-documented internal workflow, is worth the upfront investment.

Final Thoughts

The DAS 140 and DAS 142 forms exist to support California's apprenticeship programs and ensure that public works projects contribute to workforce development across the construction trades. Understanding the purpose behind them makes it easier to take them seriously rather than treating them as bureaucratic noise.

Here's the short version to take with you:

• File the DAS 140 within 10 days of contract signing to notify the applicable apprenticeship committees
• File the DAS 142 at least 3 business days before apprentices are needed to request dispatch
• Send to the right apprenticeship committees based on county and trade
• Fill out every field completely, no blanks, no TBDs
• Late or post-project submissions do not count as compliance

If you want to stop filing these by hand and reduce the risk of errors or missed deadlines, take a look at what eMars offers with its DAS 140 and 142 Autofill solution. It's designed specifically for contractors managing California public works compliance, and it can make these filings the least stressful part of your project.