- No license needed only if the job needs no building permit, uses no employees, and the total of labor and materials on one or more contracts is under $1,000.
- Four full years of journey-level, foreman, supervisor or contractor experience in the classification within the last ten years. Up to three years can be credited for training, apprenticeship or education.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
- A $25,000 contractor bond. A separate $25,000 Bond of Qualifying Individual may be needed for an RME or RMO.
- Every two years when active.
Do you need a state license in California?
California licenses electrical work at the state level through the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB). Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
No license needed only if the job needs no building permit, uses no employees, and the total of labor and materials on one or more contracts is under $1,000.
The California license for this work
There is one license to aim for here.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| C-10 Electrical | Installs and connects wiring, fixtures, raceways, conduits, solar photovoltaic cells and other electrical equipment |
Steps to get licensed in California
- Get four years of journey-level or higher experience in the C-10 electrical trade within the last ten years.
- Submit the exam application to CSLB with the $450 application fee.
- Pass the Law and Business exam and the C-10 electrical trade exam.
- Complete the asbestos open-book exam.
- File the $25,000 contractor bond and workers' compensation proof or exemption, and pay the initial license fee.
- Renew every two years.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Four full years of journey-level, foreman, supervisor or contractor experience in the classification within the last ten years. Up to three years can be credited for training, apprenticeship or education.
The license to apply for. C-10 Electrical Contractor.
California electrical exams
Trade exam. Yes. The C-10 Electrical trade exam, plus the Law and Business exam.
Business and law exam. Yes. The Law and Business exam.
What it costs in California
The board lists 4 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Original application (one classification) | $450 |
| Initial license fee, sole owner (covers two years) | $200 |
| Initial license fee, non-sole owner | $350 |
| Active timely renewal, sole owner, C-10 | $470 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Workers' compensation insurance, or an exemption form if you have no employees.
Bond. A $25,000 contractor bond. A separate $25,000 Bond of Qualifying Individual may be needed for an RME or RMO.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every two years when active.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in California
- Electricians who work for a C-10 contractor must be certified by the Department of Industrial Relations. A sole owner licensed in his or her own name does not need certification.
- C-10 contractors pay a slightly higher renewal fee than other classifications.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for an electrician near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how electrical contractors run on Koira.