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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BWPj3yywSM5CLNOUfhXFc+HcQrO21BFf5jl2H9WC1ayugFRpbMHm4bGKfwYK64ok
 HCXlHm110/RTECouFkR3lg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001210120-04-000006.txt : 20040109
<SEC-HEADER>0001210120-04-000006.hdr.sgml : 20040109
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040109140900
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001210120-04-000006
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040109
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040109

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HOFFMAN MARVIN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001073021

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-16438
		FILM NUMBER:		04517455

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NATIONAL TECHNICAL SYSTEMS INC
		STREET 2:		24007 VENTURA BLVD
		CITY:			CALABASAS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91302

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NATIONAL TECHNICAL SYSTEMS INC
		STREET 2:		24007 VENTURA BLVD
		CITY:			CALABASAS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91302

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NATIONAL TECHNICAL SYSTEMS INC /CA/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000110536
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-TESTING LABORATORIES [8734]
		IRS NUMBER:				954134955
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		24007 VENTURA BLVD
		CITY:			CALABASAS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91302
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8185910776

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		24007 VENTURA BLVD
		CITY:			CALABASAS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91302

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NATIONAL TECHNICAL SYSTEMS /DE/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19880218

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NATIONAL TECHNICAL SERVICES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19810712

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	LINCOLN FUND INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19760315
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001073021d20040109f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-09</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000110536</issuerCik><issuerName>NATIONAL TECHNICAL SYSTEMS INC /CA/</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>NTSC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001073021</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>HOFFMAN MARVIN</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>24007 VENTURA BLVD</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>CALABASAS</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>91302</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Senior Vice Pres., Director</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRela
tionship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-09</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2004-01-09</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>23000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>4.9503</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>792266</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></owne
rshipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable></derivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Lloyd Blonder</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-09</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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