CA· Initial licensing + reciprocity

How to get an electrical license in California.

The complete California licensing roadmap — experience hours, exam vendor + fees, application paperwork, and reciprocity options. Sourced directly from California’s state-level licensing authorities (named per path below)..

California initial licensing

California splits electrician licensing across more than one state-level agency. Each path below names its own issuing authority.

Contractor path

~$650 in state board fees

Issued by: California Contractors State License Board (CSLB)

Experience: 4 yr
Exam: PSI — $0
Application fee: $450
License fee: $200
Bond: $25,000
Insurance: Required

C-10 Electrical Contractor classification, issued by California Contractors State License Board (CSLB). CA Business and Law exam + C-10 Trade exam (both PSI). 4-yr journey-level experience hard requirement. C-10 is the supervising-contractor credential — NOT the journeyman trade card.

Fees above are paid to California. TCS’s filing service is quoted separately — we collect and remit on your behalf so you write one check.

TCS Contractor prep for California →

Journeyman path

~$275 in state board fees

Issued by: California Department of Industrial Relations — Electrician Certification Unit (DLSE)

Experience: 4 yr · 8,000 hrs
Exam: DIR-administered (PSI exam delivery) — $100
Application fee: $75
License fee: $100

DIR Certified General Electrician — administered by the California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, Electrician Certification Unit (NOT CSLB). 32-hr CE per 3-yr cycle. Apprentice path registers separately through DIR Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS).

Fees above are paid to California. TCS’s filing service is quoted separately — we collect and remit on your behalf so you write one check.

TCS Journeyman prep for California →

Apply online

www.cslb.ca.gov/Contractors/Applicants/

Mailing address

CSLB, P.O. Box 26000, Sacramento, CA 95826 · DIR ECU, 1515 Clay St., Suite 1902, Oakland, CA 94612

Contact

Phone: (800) 321-2752 (CSLB) · (510) 286-3900 (DIR ECU) · Email: ECUInfo@dir.ca.gov

Sources: www.cslb.ca.gov/Contractors/Applicants/Reciprocity/General_Reciprocity_Information.aspx · www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/ECU/ElectricalTrade.htmlVerified 2026-05-14

California reciprocity options

Master: no statewide program · Contractor: exam equivalence from 2 states · Journeyman: endorsement (case-by-case)

Source: www.cslb.ca.gov/ · www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/ECU/ElectricalTrade.html · www.cslb.ca.gov/Contractors/Applicants/Reciprocity/General_Reciprocity_Information.aspx · www.cslb.ca.gov/contractors/applicants/reciprocity/reciprocal_classifications_list.aspx · www.cslb.ca.gov/Contractors/Applicants/Reciprocity/Reciprocity_Requirements.aspx · www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/ECU.htmlVerified 2026-05-14

Open the interactive 50-state reciprocity map →

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