Who needs to be certified
Anyone who does electrical work for a C-10 electrical contractor on connections over 100 volt-amperes needs to be a certified electrician, or be registered as a trainee or in a state-approved apprenticeship. The CSLB has enforced this since July 1, 2009. DIR FAQ
- Foremen who work with the tools need to be certified.
- The sole-owner licensee and the C-10 qualifying person don’t.
- Electricians from other states need California certification before they start work here. There’s no grace period.
- Electricians who work directly for school districts or plants aren’t covered.
The five certification types
Each certification takes a set number of hours of experience working for a C-10 contractor. Title 8, §291.1
| Certification | Experience | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| General Electrician | 8,000 hours | The broadest certification: residential, commercial and industrial work |
| Residential Electrician | 4,800 hours | Homes and other residential work |
| Voice Data Video Technician | 4,000 hours | Low-voltage communications, data and video |
| Fire/Life Safety Technician | 4,000 hours | Fire alarm and life safety systems |
| Nonresidential Lighting Technician | 2,000 hours | Lighting controls in commercial buildings |
How General Electrician hours are counted
The 8,000 hours must cover at least two kinds of work, and each kind has a cap. Title 8, §291.1
| Kind of work | Most hours that count |
|---|---|
| Commercial | 6,000 |
| Industrial | 6,000 |
| Residential | 3,000 |
| Voice, data and video | 1,500 |
| Troubleshooting and maintenance | 1,500 |
| Underground conduit | 750 |
| Finish and fixtures | 600 |
| Fire/life safety and nurse call | 600 |
| Stock and material handling | 300 |
Other ways to show experience include finishing a state- or federally-approved apprenticeship, a comparable out-of-state license (at the Chief’s discretion), and credit for military or C-7 experience. Title 8, §291.1
Electrician trainees
If you’re not in an apprenticeship, you can work and learn as a registered electrician trainee: DIR trainee page
- Enroll in (or finish) an approved electrical curriculum, from public schools, community colleges or approved private schools. Approved schools
- Register with the Labor Commissioner. The fee is $25, and registration is renewed every year. Registration is by mail for now.
- Work under the direct supervision of a certified electrician, who can’t supervise more than one uncertified person at a time.
- For the General Electrician certification, trainees complete 720 hours of classroom instruction along with the 8,000 hours of work. DIR curriculum
The exam
- Computer-based, multiple choice, and open book; reference materials are provided at the test site.
- General Electrician: 100 questions in 4 hours. Residential: 80 questions in 3 hours. Fire/Life Safety, Voice Data Video and Lighting: 50 questions in 2 hours.
- You need 70% to pass. If you don’t, you can retest after 60 days.
- Offered in English and Spanish at test sites throughout California, plus a few in Oregon, Washington and Nevada.
- Once you’re approved, you need to test within one year.
How to schedule, what to bring and the testing vendor are all in the Candidate Information Bulletin.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application | $75 |
| Exam | $100 |
| Retest | $100 |
| Renewal (every 3 years) | $100 |
| Late renewal (lapsed) | $200 |
| Trainee registration | $25 |
| Replacement card | $30 |
Source: DIR fees. The application and exam fees are not refundable.
Renewal
Certification is renewed every three years. You’ll need 32 hours of continuing education from an approved provider and 2,000 hours of electrical work in the past three years. DIR FAQ
Common questions
Who has to be a certified electrician in California?
People who do electrical work for C-10 electrical contractors need to be certified, or be a state-registered trainee or apprentice. That includes foremen who work with the tools. The sole-owner licensee and the C-10 qualifying person do not have to be certified, and electricians who work directly for school districts or plants are not covered.
I am licensed in another state. Can I work in California?
You need California certification before you do electrical work here; there is no grace period. A license from a state with comparable requirements may be accepted as experience, at the Labor Commissioner’s discretion.
Is the California electrician exam open book?
Yes. The certification exam is open book, and the reference materials are provided at the test site. It is multiple choice, on a computer, in English or Spanish.
How much does certification cost?
The application fee is $75 and the exam fee is $100. A retest is $100, renewal every three years is $100, and trainee registration is $25. The Social Security earnings report you need for your application may also have a fee from the SSA.
Thinking about the trade? We’d be glad to talk.
We’re Innovative Electrical Services, a family-run C‑10 electrical contractor in Auburn, working on homes, businesses and industrial sites from the Oregon border down to Southern California, and everywhere in between, including San Francisco and the Bay Area. Part of our mission is to help change how the world thinks about construction, construction workers and the trades.
We’re always interested in hearing from people who take pride in their work and put safety first, including apprentices. Tell us where you are: just curious, in school, an apprentice or trainee, or already certified.
Official sources
- DIR Labor Commissioner: Electrician Certification Unit www.dir.ca.gov
- DIR: Electrician certification FAQ dir.ca.gov
- Title 8, Section 291.1 (certification types and hours) www.dir.ca.gov
- Title 8, Section 291.2 (exam eligibility) www.dir.ca.gov
- DIR: Electrician trainee registration www.dir.ca.gov
- DIR: Trainee curriculum (classroom hours) www.dir.ca.gov
- DIR: Electrician certification fees www.dir.ca.gov
- DIR: Candidate Information Bulletin (the exam) www.dir.ca.gov
- DIR: Approved schools for electrician trainees www.dir.ca.gov
General information, checked against the official sources above in October 2026. Requirements and fees can change; the Labor Commissioner (DIR), the CSLB and each apprenticeship program have the final word.