Exhibit 31-1
                                 CERTIFICATIONS

I,   Wilfred N. Cooper, Jr., certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of WNC CALIFORNIA  HOUSING
   TAX CREDITS III, L.P.;

2. Based on my  knowledge,  this  quarterly  report  does not contain any untrue
   statement of a material fact or omit to state a material  fact  necessary  to
   make the statements made, in light of the  circumstances   under  which  such
   statements were made, not  misleading  with respect to the period covered  by
   this quarterly report;

3. Based  on  my  knowledge,  the  financial  statements,  and  other  financial
   information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material
   respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the
   registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

4. The   registrant's  other  certifying  officer  and  I  are  responsible  for
   establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and  procedures  (as defined
   in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e))for the registrant and we have:

   (a)  Designed  such  disclosure  controls  and  procedures   to  ensure  that
        material   information  relating  to   the  registrant,   including  its
        consolidated subsidiaries,  is made  known to  us by others within those
        entities,  particularly  during  the  period  in  which  this  quarterly
        report is being prepared;

   (b)  Evaluated the  effectiveness of the registrant's   disclosure   controls
        and procedures and presented in this report our  conclusions   about the
        effectiveness of the disclosure controls and  procedures, as  of the end
        of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

   (c)  Disclosed  in this  report  any  change  in  the  registrant's  internal
        control over financial reporting that occurred during  the  registrant's
        most  recent   fiscal   quarter  that  has  materially  affected,  or is
        reasonably  likely to materially  affect,  the   registrant's   internal
        control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying  officer(s) and I have disclosed,  based on
   our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial  reporting,  to
   the  registrant's  independent  registered  accounting  firm  and  the  audit
   committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons  performing  the
   equivalent functions):

   (a)  All  significant  deficiencies  in the design  or operation of  internal
        controls  which could  adversely  affect  the  registrant's  ability  to
        record,  process,   summarize  and  report  financial   data   and  have
        identified for the  registrant's  auditors any  material  weaknesses  in
        internal controls; and

   (b)  Any fraud, whether or not material,  that involves management  or  other
        employees who have a  significant  role  in  the  registrant's  internal
        control over financial reporting.

Date:   December 29, 2005




/s/ Wilfred N. Cooper Jr.
-------------------------
President and Chief Executive Officer of WNC & Associates, Inc.