Becoming an Electrician in California: Common Questions

Usually about four to five years. The General Electrician certification takes 8,000 hours of experience (about four years full time), and most electrical apprenticeships run 4 to 5 years. Getting your own C-10 contractor license takes at least four years of journey-level experience on top of that.

Each apprenticeship program sets its own minimum age, and the DAS program search lists it for each program. To qualify a C-10 contractor license, you must be at least 18.

It depends on the program. Some apprenticeship programs prefer a high school diploma or equivalent, some have higher standards, and some have no education requirement. Many give an aptitude test, and most require English proficiency.

Apprentices are paid while they learn; ask each program about any costs for classes, books or tools. State fees are $25 for trainee registration and $75 plus $100 to apply for and take the certification exam. Trainees also pay for their approved school, which varies by school.

Yes, while you learn: as an apprentice in a state-approved program, or as a registered electrician trainee, under the direct supervision of a certified electrician.

Yes, and California is working to bring more women into the trades. The Department of Industrial Relations runs a Women in Construction program, state grants may help with costs like child care (ask your apprenticeship coordinator), and DAS lists support groups such as Tradeswomen Inc., WINTER and NAWIC.

Not necessarily. Each program sets its own requirements, so check the ones near you. Apprenticeships are jobs, so you earn while you learn. People with experience in construction or the military may qualify for a shorter apprenticeship.

It can. California’s certification rules allow credit for some military experience, and apprenticeship programs may shorten training based on experience and testing. DAS also has resources for veterans.

It takes preparation. The General Electrician exam is 100 multiple-choice questions in 4 hours, and you need 70% to pass. It is open book, with the references provided, and offered in English and Spanish. If you don’t pass, you can retest after 60 days.

A certified electrician is a worker certified by the Labor Commissioner to do electrical work for a C-10 contractor. A C-10 contractor is a business licensed by the CSLB to contract for electrical work, pull permits and hire electricians.

You need California certification before you start work here. A license from a state with comparable requirements may count toward the experience requirement, at the Labor Commissioner’s discretion. You still take the California exam.