Electrical (C-10) · Trade license
How do you get a C-10 electrical contractor license in California?
Checked 19 October 2026 against CSLB's C-10 study guide 13E-10 (03/2026), CSLB's application, exam and fee pages, PSI's C-10 bulletin, DIR's electrician certification pages and the Labor Code · Written by the License Ladder team · Reviewed by AJ Sokol, Co-Founder
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To get a C-10 electrical contractor license, you need four years of journey-level electrical experience in the last 10 years. You apply to CSLB ($450) and pass two exams: Law and Business and the C-10 trade exam. Then you file a $25,000 bond and pay the license fee (fees as of October 2026). Our C-10 deck is coming soon (get notified); Law & Business prep is available now for $99.
What are the steps to a C-10 license?
To get a C-10 license, you qualify on experience, apply to CSLB, pass the Law and Business and C-10 exams at PSI, then file a bond and pay the license fee. Once CSLB accepts your application, you have 18 months to pass both exams.
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1
Check that you qualify
You must be 18 or older and have a Social Security number or an ITIN. The qualifier needs at least four years of journey-level or higher experience in the C-10 classification within the last 10 years. What counts.
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2
Apply to CSLB
File CSLB's Application for Original Contractor License (form 13A-1) for the C-10 classification, with the $450 fee. CSLB keeps the fee whether or not it approves the application. Someone with firsthand knowledge of your work certifies your experience.
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3
Wait for your Notice to Schedule
When CSLB accepts your application, it mails you a Notice to Schedule. You then book and pay for each exam yourself with PSI, CSLB's testing vendor. CSLB also sends your fingerprinting instructions.
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4
Pass two exams
C-10 applicants take Law and Business plus the C-10 trade exam, 3½ hours each, at $51.43 per exam to PSI (October 2026), on the same day or on different days. The C-10 exam is given only at PSI's 20 California centers and in Wilsonville, Oregon.
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5
Get fingerprinted
The applicant and each officer, partner, owner, member, manager and responsible managing employee are fingerprinted for a DOJ and FBI background check. Processing fees are $49 ($32 DOJ plus $17 FBI), plus the Live Scan site's own fee.
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6
Complete the asbestos open-book exam
Every new applicant must complete CSLB's Asbestos Open Book Examination before the license is issued. It does not certify you to do asbestos work.
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7
File your bond and workers' comp
File a $25,000 contractor bond, or a $25,000 cashier's check instead. File proof of workers' comp if you have employees, or an exemption if you qualify for one, until January 1, 2028, when every active license except a joint venture with no employees needs coverage. Details below.
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8
Pay the license fee
Pay the initial license fee: $200 for a sole owner or $350 for any other business type. CSLB then issues the license for two years.
Sources: CSLB form 13A-1 (rev. 01/2026), CSLB Examinations FAQ, PSI's C-10 bulletin, CSLB, Get Fingerprinted, CSLB, Issuing My License. The full path for any classification: how to get a California contractor license. Checked 19 October 2026.
What work does a C-10 license cover?
A C-10 license covers electrical work of any kind. In CSLB's words, an electrical contractor “places, installs, erects or connects any electrical wires, fixtures, appliances, apparatus, raceways, conduits, solar photovoltaic cells or any part thereof” (16 CCR 832.10). Other licenses cover only part of that work.
| License | Electrical work it covers | The limit |
|---|---|---|
| C-10 Electrical | Any electrical wires, fixtures, appliances, apparatus, raceways, conduits and solar photovoltaic cells | No voltage limit in CSLB's text |
| C-7 Low Voltage Systems | Communication and low voltage systems that are energy limited, such as phone, sound, cable TV, closed-circuit video and low voltage landscape lighting | 91 volts or less; low voltage fire alarms are excluded |
| C-46 Solar | Thermal and photovoltaic solar energy systems | Other trades only when needed to install the solar system |
| B General Building | Electrical work on a prime contract that requires at least two unrelated trades besides framing or carpentry | No electrical-only prime contract unless it holds a C-10 or subcontracts to a licensed specialty contractor |
| B-2 Residential Remodeling | Minor alterations to existing electrical systems to install, repair or replace fixtures, on a contract with at least three unrelated trades | No installing, replacing or extending electrical systems without the right license or a licensed subcontractor |
Small jobs still count. You need a license for any job of $1,000 or more in labor and materials, and for smaller jobs that need a building permit or hired help (B&P 7048). More on the small-job rule.
Battery rules are not settled. A 2024 CSLB rule would add battery energy storage systems to the C-10 text and let a C-46 solar contractor install a battery only with a solar system, up to 80 kilowatt-hours. A court has stayed that rule while a San Diego County Superior Court case is decided, so CSLB's posted classification text above still applies. In September 2026, CSLB proposed a new C-46 rule that keeps the 80 kWh limit; comments are due November 23, 2026 (CSLB, Laws and Regulations).
Sources: CSLB classification pages for C-10, C-7 and C-46; CSLB, Fast Facts on the B license (April 2025); B&P 7057.5 for the B-2 (more in B vs B-2); CSLB, battery storage rulemaking notice (September 2026). Checked 19 October 2026.
Is a C-10 license the same as DIR electrician certification?
No. The C-10 is CSLB's license for a business that contracts for electrical work. DIR's certification is for the people who do the electrical work for a C-10 contractor. The C-10's qualifying person needs no DIR certification (Labor Code 108.2(g)). The electricians the company hires must be certified, or be registered apprentices or trainees.
| What to compare | C-10 contractor license (CSLB) | Electrician certification (DIR) |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | Contractors State License Board (CSLB) | DIR's Labor Commissioner's Office for now. AB 1707, signed September 27, 2026, moves the program to CSLB once the Legislature funds it, on July 1, 2028, or one year after the funding, whichever is later |
| Who needs it | A business that contracts for electrical work of $1,000 or more, or for smaller jobs that need a permit or hired help | People who work as electricians for a C-10 contractor (connections over 100 volt-amperes), unless they are registered apprentices or registered trainees |
| Experience | Four years at journey level or higher in the C-10 classification, within the last 10 years | On-the-job hours: 8,000 for General Electrician, 4,800 for Residential Electrician, 2,000 to 4,000 for the three technician categories |
| Exam | Two CSLB exams at PSI: Law and Business, and the C-10 trade exam, 3½ hours each | One exam for your category; General Electrician: 100 questions in 4 hours and 30 minutes |
| Books in the exam | None: closed book | Code book and other references provided on screen |
| Passing score | Not published by CSLB | 70% |
| Fees to start | $450 application, $51.43 per exam, then a $200 or $350 license fee | $75 application plus $100 exam: $175, not refundable |
| Renewal | Every 2 years: $470 sole owner, $720 other business types; no continuing education in CSLB's renewal steps | Every 3 years: $100, with 32 hours of continuing education and 2,000 hours of work |
Who must be certified, and who is exempt
Electricians who work for a C-10 contractor must be certified, unless they are registered apprentices or registered electrician trainees. A trainee must be registered with the Labor Commissioner, have completed or be enrolled in an approved curriculum, and work under the direct supervision of a certified electrician who supervises no more than one uncertified person.
The C-10's qualifying person is exempt. DIR says a C-10 licensee who works as another C-10 contractor's employee must be certified, and so must partners or officers who did not take the license exam.
Why C-10 contractors pay $20 more
Every active C-10 renewal carries an extra $20 that CSLB must use to enforce the electrician certification rules (B&P 7137). A C-10 contractor that willfully employs uncertified electricians can be disciplined, up to suspension or revocation of its license (Labor Code 108.2(h)).
Sources: Labor Code 108.2 and 108.4; DIR, Electrical Certification FAQs, certification categories, fees and candidate bulletin (July 2026); CSLB, September 2026 Board packet (June 5, 2026 minutes); AB 1707 as chaptered (Stats. 2026, ch. 544, B&P 7192.6); the Governor's September 27, 2026 legislative update. Checked 19 October 2026.
How much experience do you need for a C-10?
CSLB requires at least four years at journey level or higher in the C-10 classification. The four years must fall within the last 10 years. Training, school or a completed apprenticeship can count for up to three of them. At least one year must be practical experience.
What counts as journey level
CSLB credits time as a journeyman, foreman, supervising employee or contractor. A journeyman is a fully qualified worker who can do the trade without supervision, as opposed to a trainee, helper, laborer, assistant or apprentice, or someone who completed an apprenticeship.
Years at CSLB, hours at DIR
CSLB counts years. The hour totals you see online are DIR's certification rules: 8,000 hours of on-the-job experience for the General Electrician exam and 4,800 for Residential Electrician. The two systems are separate.
Proof CSLB can ask for
If you worked for a C-10 contractor, CSLB's documentation list includes a copy of your Certified Electrician card, along with W-2 forms, pay stubs and your employer's contact information (13P-100, April 2026). The full list.
Who signs for your experience
A qualified person who saw your work firsthand certifies it, such as an employer, contractor, foreman, fellow employee, another journeyman or a union representative. Who can certify, and how.
Sources: CSLB, Qualifying Experience for the Examination; CSLB, Summary of Acceptable Documentation (13P-100); DIR, certification categories. Checked 19 October 2026.
What is on the C-10 exam?
The C-10 trade exam has five sections in CSLB's study guide 13E-10 (03/2026), for exams scheduled on or after June 1, 2024. Planning and Estimating (28%) and Rough Wiring (27%) make up more than half. The exam is closed book, multiple choice and 3½ hours long; CSLB publishes no question count and no passing score.
| Section | Weight | What CSLB lists under it |
|---|---|---|
| Planning and Estimating | 28% | Existing system evaluation, plans and specifications, electrical calculations, code requirements, material selection, energy production and storage planning |
| Rough Wiring | 27% | System layout, clearance and accessibility, raceway and panel installation, wire and equipment installation, grounding and bonding, energy production and storage rough wiring |
| Finish Wiring and Trim | 11% | Device placement, motor and equipment installation, wire and equipment labeling, trims and sealants, energy production and storage finish wiring |
| Startup, Troubleshooting, and Maintenance | 16% | Energizing and testing, common electrical problems, repair and replacement, testing equipment, energy production and storage performance |
| Safety | 18% | Lockout/tagout, personal protective equipment, tools and equipment, hazardous materials and job site environments |
How the exam runs
The C-10 exam is closed book: no reference materials may be used. Every question has four choices, some need math, and a calculator is provided. There is no penalty for guessing, and CSLB's guide says plenty of time is provided. You get 3½ hours, plus PSI's tutorial of up to 15 minutes, which does not count.
How to prepare for the C-10 exam
Use License Ladder as directed. Our Electrical (C-10) deck is coming soon: get notified when it launches. Every C-10 candidate also takes Law and Business, and License Ladder for Law & Business is available now for $99, so start there: study the printed cards and digital study guides, and work the app's practice questions and timed mock exams until your readiness score turns green. See the Law and Business question format in the free Law and Business practice test.
The other exam: Law and Business
C-10 applicants also take CSLB's Law and Business exam, which has seven sections, from business organization and licensing to safety, and is offered in Spanish. All seven sections and their weights.
Where you take it and what it costs
Book each exam with PSI for $51.43 (October 2026). The C-10 exam is given only at PSI's 20 California centers and its Wilsonville, Oregon site. If you fail, you can retake it after 21 days, inside your 18-month window. How retakes work.
Sources: CSLB, Electrical (C-10) study guide 13E-10 (03/2026); PSI, C-10 candidate bulletin; CSLB, Examinations FAQ; CSLB, Get Licensed to Build. Checked 19 October 2026.
Can you take the C-10 exam in Spanish?
No. CSLB does not offer the C-10 Electrical exam in Spanish as of October 2026; at its December 11, 2025 meeting, CSLB said a translation is in progress but delayed by limited resources. You can take Law and Business in Spanish and ask CSLB to approve a translator for the C-10.
Law and Business in Spanish
Law and Business is one of the 10 CSLB exams with a Spanish version. If your exam has a Spanish version and you ask for a translator, CSLB requires you to take the Spanish version instead.
A translator for the C-10
For the C-10, CSLB may let a translator you choose read the exam to you, if CSLB approves the translator in advance. Ask exams@cslb.ca.gov for a Translator Form; review can take four to six weeks. Translators cannot bring dictionaries or explain terms.
Prepare for Law and Business in Spanish
At License Ladder, the site and the app run in Spanish, the cards are printed in Spanish, and the Exam Coach in the online system answers in Spanish. License Ladder for Law & Business is $99; our C-10 deck is coming soon (get notified).
Sources: CSLB, Examinations FAQ (Spanish exams and translators); CSLB, minutes of the December 11, 2025 Board meeting. Every CSLB exam in Spanish: taking the CSLB exam in Spanish. Checked 19 October 2026.
What bond and insurance does a C-10 contractor need?
Every active C-10 license needs a $25,000 contractor bond on file with CSLB. Workers' comp is required if you have employees; a C-10 with no employees can file an exemption, unless an RME qualifies the license, until January 1, 2028, when SB 1455 requires coverage for every active license except a joint venture with no employees. LLCs also need a $100,000 worker bond and liability insurance.
| Requirement | Who needs it | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Contractor bond | Every active license (a cashier's check can replace it) | $25,000 |
| Bond of qualifying individual | When the qualifier is not the owner, a general partner or a joint licensee, such as an RME; not needed for a corporation's responsible managing officer who owns at least 10% of the voting stock, or an LLC qualifier with at least a 10% membership interest | $25,000 |
| Workers' comp | Now: anyone with employees, and any license qualified by an RME. From January 1, 2028: every active license except a joint venture with no employees | A policy, or a certificate of self-insurance |
| LLC worker bond | LLC licenses | $100,000 |
| LLC liability insurance | LLC licenses | $1 million aggregate for five or fewer people listed, plus $100,000 for each additional person, up to $5 million |
The C-10 is not one of the classifications that must carry workers' comp even with no employees. Those are C-8, C-20, C-22, C-39 and D-49 (CSLB, Workers' Compensation Requirements). More on the exemption.
Sources: CSLB, Issuing My License; CSLB, Workers' Compensation Requirements; CSLB's California Contractors License Law book (B&P 7071.6, 7071.6.5, 7071.9, 7071.19 and 7125). Checked 19 October 2026.
How much does a C-10 license cost in CSLB, PSI and fingerprint fees?
A C-10 sole owner who passes both exams on the first try pays $801.86 in CSLB, PSI and fingerprint fees as of October 2026, or $951.86 for any other business type with one person fingerprinted; each additional officer, partner or member adds $49. That leaves out the Live Scan site's fee, the bond premium and insurance. The one C-10 difference is renewal: $20 more every two years.
| Fee | Sole owner | Other business types | Paid to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application (form 13A-1) | $450 | $450 | CSLB |
| Two exams, $51.43 each | $102.86 | $102.86 | PSI |
| Fingerprint processing (DOJ $32, FBI $17) | $49 | $49 | Live Scan operator, plus the site's own fee |
| Initial license fee, good for two years | $200 | $350 | CSLB |
| Total to get licensed | $801.86 | $951.86 | CSLB, PSI and DOJ/FBI |
| Active renewal, every two years | $470 | $720 | CSLB (includes the C-10's extra $20) |
Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, including the National Guard or Reserve, who were not dishonorably discharged pay half the initial license fee: the law cuts it by 50% (B&P 7137). For every fee in every classification, see what a California contractor license costs.
Sources: CSLB, List of All CSLB Fees; PSI, C-10 candidate bulletin; CSLB, Get Fingerprinted; B&P 7137. Totals are our addition. Checked 19 October 2026.
Questions people ask about the C-10 license
Start with the exam every trade takes
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Where every fact on this page comes from
We fetched and read each source below on 19 October 2026. CSLB revises its pages and forms; if anything here differs from CSLB’s own wording when you read it, CSLB’s governs.
CSLB pages: Examinations FAQ · C-10 Electrical classification · C-7 Low Voltage classification · C-46 Solar classification · Licensing Classifications · Qualifying Experience for the Examination · Get Fingerprinted · Issuing My License · Workers' Compensation Requirements · List of All CSLB Fees · Renewal Step 1 · Renewal Step 2 · General Reciprocity Information · Reciprocal Classifications List · Laws and Regulations (battery storage rule status)
CSLB study guides, forms and publications: Electrical (C-10) study guide 13E-10 (03/2026) · Application for Original Contractor License, 13A-1 (rev. 01/2026) · Summary of Acceptable Documentation, 13P-100 · Get Licensed to Build (2025 edition) · Fast Facts on the B license · California Contractors License Law and Reference Book (2026) · Notice of proposed rulemaking, battery energy storage systems (September 2026)
CSLB reports and Board packets: 2023 Sunset Review Report · Board meeting packet, March 2026 · Board meeting packet, September 2026
PSI: Electrical (C-10) candidate bulletin
DIR, Labor Commissioner's Office: Electrical Certification FAQs · Certification categories and hours · Certification fees · Test taking information · Electrician trainees · Candidate Information Bulletin (July 2026)
Statutes: Labor Code 108 · Labor Code 108.2 · Labor Code 108.4 · B&P 7048 · B&P 7057.5 · B&P 7137 · AB 1707 (2026), chaptered text
Governor of California: Legislative update, September 27, 2026 (AB 1707 signed)
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