-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 mB+87DX/vV9hBpP7/V9d7g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001210120-04-000016.txt : 20040520
<SEC-HEADER>0001210120-04-000016.hdr.sgml : 20040520
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040520165901
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001210120-04-000016
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040518
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040520

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BLONDER LLOYD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001197737

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-16438
		FILM NUMBER:		04821914

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5529 DEVORE COURT
		CITY:			AGOURA HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91301
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8189914429

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5529 DEVORE COURT
		CITY:			AGOURA HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91301
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001197737d20040520f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-18</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000110536</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NATIONAL TECHNICAL SYSTEMS INC /CA/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NTSC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001197737</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BLONDER LLOYD</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior Vice President and CFO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-05-18</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>70871</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.5</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-05-18</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1995-10-12</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2004-10-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lloyd Blonder</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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