Short answer: To do electrical work for a C-10 licensed contractor in California, you must be a state-certified electrician, a registered apprentice, or a registered Electrician Trainee (ET); this DIR certification is separate from the C-10 contractor license that the Contractors State License Board issues to businesses. Beginners start in one of two ways: a state-approved apprenticeship (union or merit shop, 4.5 to 5 years) or an ET card while you take classes at a state-approved school. The General Electrician exam needs 8,000 work hours (Residential: 4,800), and since June 1, 2026 it is run by CPS HR Consulting and booked through Pearson VUE. Minimum state fees are US$25 for the ET card and US$175 for the exam; school, books and tools are extra.
Every fact below comes from the state agency or the program’s own page, checked October 9, 2026.
California quick facts (checked October 9, 2026)
| Fact | California answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who must be certified | Anyone making electrical connections over 100 volt-amps for a C-10 licensed contractor. A beginner works legally only as a registered apprentice or a registered Electrician Trainee (ET). Electricians employed by school districts, plants or other non-C-10 employers do not need it. | source ET |
| Minimum age | 18 at most union JATCs; 17½ at San Diego (Local 569) and ABC Southern California. | source San Diego ABC |
| Work hours to test | General Electrician 8,000; Residential 4,800; Fire/Life Safety and Voice Data Video 4,000; Non-residential Lighting 2,000. | source categories |
| Classroom hours (ET path) | 720 for General, 480 for Residential, at least 150 a year to keep your ET card. | source Residential 150 rule |
| State exam | Since June 1, 2026: CPS HR Consulting, booked through Pearson VUE. General: 100 questions, 4 h 30 min, 70% to pass. | source bulletin |
| State fees | ET card US$25; exam US$175; retest US$100; renewal US$100 every 3 years. | source FAQ fees |
| Contractor license (separate) | To run your own electrical business you need a C-10 license from the Contractors State License Board: 4 years of journey-level experience, a law and business exam plus a trade exam, and a US$25,000 bond. | source exams bond |
| Years | Apprenticeship 4.5 to 5 years. ET path to General: about 4 years at 2,000 work hours a year (our math). | source ABC hours |
Which route fits you
| If this is you | Start here | Source |
|---|---|---|
| You want paid, structured training and can wait months to be selected | Apply to every union JATC and merit-shop program near you that is taking applications. Alameda selects up to 7 to 8 months after its window closes. | source DAS search |
| A C-10 contractor will hire you now | ET card: enroll in a DIR approved school, mail the US$25 form, start work when the card arrives. | source ABC SoCal |
| You want a route outside the union | ABC Southern California’s apprenticeship, or the ET card path at any approved school, including WECA and ABC NorCal. | source approved schools |
| You only want house wiring | Residential Electrician: 4,800 work hours and 480 class hours. Cerritos College runs a Residential program. | source Cerritos |
| You hold an electrician license in another state | Apply to sit the California exam. Your license counts as experience only if DIR finds your state’s rules comparable, and there is no grace period to work before you pass. | source FAQ |
| You want to run your own electrical business | You also need a separate C-10 contractor license from the Contractors State License Board: 4 years of journey-level experience, a law and business exam, a trade exam and a US$25,000 bond. | source exams bond |
Step by step
- Pick your route. A registered apprenticeship or an ET card. Until you pass the state exam, these are the only two ways to work legally for a C-10 contractor. source
- Apprenticeship: meet the entry rules (most JATCs: age 18, high school diploma or GED, one year of high school algebra with a C or better), apply in the program’s window, take its aptitude test and interview, then wait on the ranked list. source Sacramento Registered apprentices are exempt from certification while enrolled. source
- ET card: enroll in a school on the DIR approved list and get proof of enrollment. approved schools If your classes start later, you can certify that you intend to enroll and count as enrolled for up to 180 days before they begin; that wait does not count toward your first-year class hours. rule Mail the ET form with a US$25 check or money order; ET registration is not online yet. form DIR notice Do not start work until your card arrives. ABC SoCal
- Work under supervision. As an ET you need direct, on-site supervision by a certified electrician who supervises only one trainee. source
- Keep your card active. Complete at least 150 class hours each year, counted from the day your classes begin (start May 1, finish by April 30). In your final year, you stay enrolled while you finish the fewer than 150 hours left. source Renew every year (free) with transcripts and a list of employers. renewal rule Classes count only for hours you actually attended. If you drop out, you are no longer legal to work for a C-10 contractor. source If you finish school before your work hours, keep renewing your ET card every year with a copy of your Certificate of Completion until you qualify. FAQ
- Log your hours. General Electrician needs 8,000 hours in two or more work areas, counting at most: residential wiring 3,000, commercial 6,000, industrial 6,000, voice data video 1,500, troubleshooting and maintenance 1,500, underground conduit 750, finish work and fixtures 600, fire/life safety and nurse call 600, stock room and material handling 300. Residential needs 4,800. source You prove them with a Social Security earnings report (form SSA-7050). source
- Apply to test. File the exam and certification application online and pay online, or mail the printable form with a check or money order for US$175. DIR online notice FAQ form Apprentices can apply in the last year of their program and attach a DAS-1. An ET can test once classes are done, but gets no card until the hours are complete. rules
- Book and pass the exam. CPS HR Consulting emails you instructions to schedule at Pearson VUE. You have one year from your eligibility notice. Pass mark is 70%. You get your score as soon as you finish, and after a pass your card is mailed within two weeks. source Bring two original IDs and arrive 30 minutes early. Reschedule or cancel at least 48 hours before your appointment or you lose the exam fee; arriving late can cost you the fee too. Pearson VUE bulletin
- Renew every 3 years with US$100, 32 hours of continuing education and 2,000 hours worked in the trade, postmarked or received 30 days before your card expires (Title 8; DIR’s FAQ names the expiration date, so filing 30 days early meets both). If it lapses, you pay US$200 and retake the exam. source DIR forms FAQ
Routes compared
Certified electrician
Passed the state exam for one of five categories. source
Registered apprentice
In a state-approved program. Exempt from certification, though many programs require it to graduate. source
| Route | Who it fits | Test to get in | Cost | Years | Pay while learning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union apprenticeship (IBEW/NECA JATC) | You want paid, structured training and can wait for an application window and a ranked list. | Each JATC picks its own: GAN at Fresno, the electrical training ALLIANCE (NJATC) test at Sacramento, an algebra and reading test at Oakland, San Jose and San Diego. Fresno Sacramento Oakland | No tuition at San Diego (books and tools are yours); US$25 test fee at Sacramento. sources: 1, 2 | 5 source | Yes, once you are dispatched to work. Published first-period public-works rates in the pay table run from US$22.80 to US$42.99 an hour. DIR San Jose |
| Merit-shop apprenticeship (ABC Southern California) | You want an apprenticeship outside the union in Anaheim, Riverside or LA/Ventura. | TABE (reading, language, math), 70% to pass, two tries, then an oral interview. source | Free TABE test; the application says school is free. source | 4.5 (8,000 on-the-job hours) source | Yes, once dispatched; selected applicants wait on a dispatch list. ABC SoCal points to the DIR apprentice wage rates. source wages |
| Electrician Trainee (ET) card | You can get hired by a C-10 contractor now and want to start working while you take classes. | No state entry test. Some schools have their own placement exam (Cerritos: 80% to pass). source | US$25 state fee, plus school: US$46 a unit at community colleges, or about US$1,000 (members) to US$2,000 (non-members) a semester at ABC SoCal. source ARC ABC | About 4 for 8,000 hours at 2,000 hours a year (our math). 150 class hours a year is the minimum pace; taking more finishes the 720 sooner. source | Yes, set by your employer. No official ET wage is published. |
| Licensed in another state | You already hold an electrician license elsewhere. | The state exam itself. Your license can count as experience if DIR finds your state’s experience rules comparable. source | US$175 to apply and test. source | Exam only | No grace period: you cannot work for a C-10 contractor until certified. source |
California certification categories
The Electrician Certification Unit now sits under the Labor Commissioner’s Office (DLSE). The rules in Title 8 still say “DAS”, the agency that used to run it. Anyone who makes connections over 100 volt-amps for a C-10 contractor needs one of these, foremen who use tools included. Electricians who work for school districts, plants or other employers that are not C-10 contractors do not need certification. source Every category costs US$175 to apply and test. fee
| Category | Work hours to test | Classroom hours (ET path) | Exam (July 2026 bulletin) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Electrician | 8,000, spread over two or more work areas, each capped (residential counts up to 3,000) | 720 | 100 questions, 4 h 30 min, 70% to pass | source rules bulletin |
| Residential Electrician | 4,800 | 480 | 80 questions, 3 h 30 min, 70% to pass | source bulletin |
| Fire/Life Safety Technician | 4,000, or NICET Fire Alarm Systems certification at Level II or above | Check with DIR | 50 questions, 2 h 15 min | source rules bulletin |
| Voice Data Video Technician | 4,000 | Check with DIR | 50 questions, 2 h 15 min | source bulletin |
| Non-residential Lighting Technician | 2,000 | Check with DIR | 50 questions, 2 h 15 min | source bulletin |
- Exam provider: CPS HR Consulting for exams taken on or after June 1, 2026, scheduled through Pearson VUE. source test info
- Format: multiple choice, also offered in Spanish. source
- On screen, not on paper: the testing center provides the 2023 NEC (NFPA 70), NFPA 70E (2024) and the Cal/OSHA Pocket Guide for the Construction Industry (2022). You cannot bring your own books, notes or calculator; an on-screen calculator is provided. bulletin
- General Electrician weights: Installation 66%, Determination of Electrical System Requirements 22%, Safety 6%, Maintenance and Repair 6%. bulletin
- How hard: in 2023, 51.22% of first-time General Electrician takers passed, and 39.75% of repeat takers. source
- Other ways to qualify: military experience or work for a C-7 low voltage contractor can count. source
- Running your own business takes a separate C-10 contractor license from the Contractors State License Board: 4 years of journey-level experience, the law and business exam plus a trade exam, and a US$25,000 bond. CSLB exams bond A sole owner licensed in their own name does not also need certification. source
Programs and their status on October 9, 2026
Program entry rules are set by each program; many use an aptitude test and require English proficiency. source Search every registered program on the DAS site. DAS
| Program | Metro | Test used | Status checked October 9, 2026 | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda County EJATC (Local 595) | Oakland / East Bay | Standardized aptitude test, about 2.5 hours: algebraic functions and reading comprehension | Opens in windows of up to 800 applications. Check the program for the next window. | source |
| ETA of Silicon Valley (Local 332) | San Jose | Algebraic functions and reading comprehension | Open the first three days of each month, up to 300 applications a month | source |
| ETI San Diego / Imperial (Local 569) | San Diego | Algebra and reading comprehension, about 3 hours | Applications accepted any time | source |
| Sacramento Area EJATC (Local 340) | Sacramento | NJATC (electrical training ALLIANCE) aptitude test, US$25 | Not stated on the program page. You are notified of a test date after applying. | source |
| Central California ETI (Local 100) | Fresno | GAN Aptitude Test Battery, no calculators | Applications accepted any time online; GAN test given monthly | source |
| Inland Empire ETC (Locals 440 and 477) | Riverside / San Bernardino | Reading comprehension and algebra/trig | Closed: not accepting applications | source |
| LA County Electrical Training Institute (Local 11) | Los Angeles | Check with the program | Check with the program | program site |
| ABC Southern California (merit shop) | Anaheim, Riverside, LA/Ventura | TABE, 70% to pass, two tries | Waitlist, then test, interview, orientation and a dispatch waitlist | source |
| Cerritos College (ET path school) | Norwalk | College placement exam, 80% to pass | Residential and Lighting only, 48 seats each fall. The Fall 2026 window ran May 1 to June 30, 2026. | source |
| Long Beach City College (ET path school) | Long Beach | Check with the school | Approved ET school; 150 class hours a year keeps you eligible | source |
| Western Electrical Contractors Association (WECA) | Check with the program | Check with the program | On the DIR approved ET school list (no. 108). Apprenticeship details: check with WECA. | DIR list |
| ABC Northern California (ABC NorCal) | Northern California | Check with the program | On the DIR approved ET school list (no. 154). Apprenticeship details: check with ABC NorCal. | DIR list |
| ABC SoCal Electrician Trainee program | Southern California | Check with the school | Approved ET school; US$100 enrollment fee includes the US$25 ET card fee | source |
Program names belong to their owners. The program’s own page is always the final word.
How to land your first electrical job in California
On the apprenticeship route:
- Each program runs its own application and test, so apply to every program near you that is open. source DAS search
- Prepare before you test. At Alameda, failing the aptitude test means a 90-day wait before you can reapply there or at any other JATC. source
- Expect a ranking, not an instant job. Alameda ranks applicants by interview score; ABC SoCal places selected applicants on a dispatch waitlist after orientation. Alameda ABC SoCal
On the ET card route:
- Confirm your school is on the DIR approved list before you pay tuition. source
- Ask each contractor one question: can a certified electrician supervise you on site, one trainee per electrician? source
- Start work only after your ET card arrives. source
- Keep pay stubs and a log of hours by work area from day one. You will prove them with a Social Security earnings report. source
Looking for electrician jobs in California?
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Pay from official sources
These are public-works wage determinations and published local rates, not statewide average starting pay or a promise of private-job pay. State determinations are California prevailing wages for public works, published by DIR, and apprentice rates apply only to registered apprentices doing work in their craft. DIR Your pay depends on the program, the job and when you are dispatched. Private-job pay for ET card holders and non-union apprentices is not published by any official source.
| Area (program) | First-period apprentice (per hour) | Journeyman (per hour) | Effective | Source and type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (Local 11) | 40% = US$26.00 | US$65.00 | DIR LOS-2026-2, issued February 22, 2026. Its June 30, 2026 expire date carries a single asterisk (no predetermined increase): DIR says that marks when the rate is subject to change, and it stays in effect for projects advertised while it applied. Still the file DIR served on October 9, 2026. | DIR asterisk rule (state determination) |
| San Francisco (Local 6) | US$38.30 | US$95.75 | DIR 2026-2, expires May 31, 2027 | DIR (state determination) |
| Oakland / Alameda (Local 595) | US$31.70 | US$79.25 | DIR 2026-2, expires May 31, 2027 | DIR (state determination) |
| San Jose / Santa Clara (Local 332) | US$42.99 | US$95.53 | DIR 2026-2, expires May 31, 2027 | JATC DIR (JATC page and state determination) |
| San Diego / Imperial (Local 569) | 40% = US$23.58 | US$58.95 | DIR 2026-2, expires January 3, 2027 | JATC DIR (JATC page and state determination) |
| Sacramento (Local 340) | 45% = US$24.17 | US$53.70 | August 1, 2026 | Local 340 (local wage sheet) |
| Fresno (Local 100) | 45% = US$23.40 | US$52.00 | September 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027 | JATC (JATC wage sheet) |
| Riverside (Local 440) | US$22.90 | US$57.26 | Through November 30, 2026 | DIR local (state determination and local sheet) |
| San Bernardino Zone A (Local 477) | US$22.80 | US$57.00 | DIR 2026-2, expires May 31, 2027 | DIR (state determination) |
Basic hourly rates; benefits are on top. Percentages are of the journeyman rate where the source states them.
Costs and timeline
| Item | Amount or time | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ET card registration | US$25 once, by check or money order, by mail. Renewal each year is free. | source FAQ |
| Certification application and exam | US$175 (US$75 application plus US$100 exam), not refundable | source |
| Retest | US$100, after a 60-day wait | source |
| Social Security earnings report (proof of hours) | US$49 for Form SSA-7050 on requests SSA receives on or after October 1, 2026 (US$30 more if certified). DIR’s June 2026 FAQ still cites US$115; pay the fee printed on the current SSA form. | SSA fee notice DIR FAQ |
| Renewal every 3 years | US$100, with 32 hours of continuing education and 2,000 hours worked in the last 3 years. Title 8 says postmark or deliver it 30 days before your card expires to avoid a lapse; DIR’s FAQ names the expiration date. Filing 30 days early meets both. | source forms FAQ |
| Expired certification | US$200 and you retake the exam; the 32 continuing education hours are not required | source forms |
| Community college classes | US$46 a unit for California residents | source |
| Union apprenticeship tuition | None at San Diego (books and tools extra) | source |
| ET card processing | By regulation DIR answers in writing within 90 days of receiving your application; ABC SoCal says about 4 to 12 weeks | source ABC |
| Union application to selection (Alameda) | Up to 7 to 8 months after the window closes | source |
| General Electrician on the ET path | 8,000 work hours (about 4 years at 2,000 hours a year, our math) and 720 class hours | source |
| Residential Electrician on the ET path | 4,800 work hours (about 2.4 years at 2,000 hours a year, our math) and 480 class hours | source |
| Apprenticeship length | 5 years (IBEW/NECA); 4.5 years (ABC SoCal) | source ABC |
Applying to a JATC in California? Most test algebra and reading. Try the free timed aptitude practice.
U.S. Edition: 1,300 math and 216 reading questions, 6 timed simulations, interview prep and a guide to 49 JATCs. One payment, files yours to keep.
See which aptitude test each JATC uses and who is open, and first-year apprentice pay by local in 18 metros.
Questions people ask
Can I work for an electrical contractor in California with no experience?
Yes, if you hold an Electrician Trainee card or are a registered apprentice. The ET card needs enrollment in a state-approved school, a US$25 mailed application and direct on-site supervision by a certified electrician who supervises only one trainee.
Can I get an Electrician Trainee card before my classes start?
Yes. If you certify that you intend to enroll and your classes begin within 180 days, California counts you as enrolled until they start. That wait does not count toward your first-year 150 class hours. You still mail the ET form with a US$25 check or money order.
How many hours do I need for the California General Electrician exam?
8,000 hours of work for C-10 contractors across two or more capped work areas. On the ET path you also need 720 class hours. Residential needs 4,800 work hours and 480 class hours. Apprentices can test in the last year of their program.
Who runs the California electrician exam in 2026, and is it open book?
CPS HR Consulting runs exams taken on or after June 1, 2026, and you book through Pearson VUE. You cannot bring books: the 2023 NEC, NFPA 70E (2024) and the Cal/OSHA Pocket Guide are provided on screen. The General Electrician exam is 100 questions in 4 hours 30 minutes with a 70% pass mark; 51.22% of first-time takers passed in 2023. You can apply online, but the ET card is still mail only.
How much does it cost to become an electrician in California?
State fees are US$25 for the ET card, US$175 to apply for and take the exam, US$100 for each retest and US$100 to renew every 3 years (US$200 plus a retest if your certification lapses). Community college classes are US$46 a unit for residents. Union apprenticeships such as San Diego charge no tuition.
Can I become an electrician in California without joining a union?
Yes. You can apply to a merit-shop apprenticeship such as ABC Southern California (4.5 years, TABE entry test), or work on an ET card for any C-10 contractor while you take classes at a state-approved school.
How much do electrician apprentices make in California?
Published first-period IBEW/NECA inside apprentice rates run from US$22.80 to US$42.99 an hour in the official sources we checked on October 9, 2026, highest in San Jose and lowest in San Bernardino. These are public-works base rates paid once you are working; ET pay is set by your employer.
Change log
October 9, 2026: page published; every fact from DIR, California Title 8 regulations, the July 2026 exam bulletin or the program’s own page, checked October 9, 2026. October 9, 2026 (review round 1): added the 180-day and final-year class rules, online exam applications, the lapsed-renewal retest, the full on-screen reference list, exam day rules, quick facts, a route chooser and a first-job section; clarified pay and the Los Angeles determination dates. October 9, 2026 (review round 2): SSA report fee updated to US$49 from October 1, 2026; Pearson VUE 48-hour rule; online payment; C-10 contractor license requirements; WECA and ABC NorCal added; ET exam timing and out-of-state wording corrected. October 9, 2026 (review round 3): full Title 8 work-area caps, NICET route for Fire/Life Safety, non-C-10 exemption, DIR asterisk rule for Los Angeles, score and card timing, post-school ET renewal, renewal deadline note. Next re-check: January 2027. Spot an error? Email hello@tsaielectro.com and we correct it within 48 hours.
Thinking about an electrical apprenticeship?
Most union apprenticeships start with an aptitude test in algebra and reading, then an interview. The Electrical Apprenticeship Aptitude & Interview Kit (US$39, one payment) has 1,300 math and 216 reading practice questions, 6 timed simulations in the published format, 20 interview answers with a mock interview, and a guide to which test 49 JATCs use. Check your JATC's application page first, because some programs use the GAN test instead.
