California electrician license and insurance requirements

California electrician license and insurance requirements

Ashley Henshaw
By Ashley Henshaw
Jan 19, 2024
8 min read
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Many reasons motivate contractors to work as electricians in the Golden State. And if you, too, choose this career path, you need to know the most current California electrician license rules and insurance requirements.

Work experience and licensing are issued by the state’s Department of Consumer Affairs Contractors State License Board. To qualify, you’ll need to pass an exam and submit a bond. 

Keep reading to learn:

How to become an electrician in California

California commercial and residential electricians must obtain a C-10 license to bid on projects valued at $500 or more. The state applies the following definition to determine what types of electrical work require a license:

“An electrical contractor places, installs, erects or connects any electrical wires, fixtures, appliances, apparatus, raceways, conduits, solar photovoltaic cells or any part thereof, which generate, transmit, transform or utilize electrical energy in any form or for any purpose.”

To earn an electrician license, California applicants must have at least four full years of experience as an electrician, either at the journeyman level or as a foreperson, supervisor or contractor.

You must include details about your hours of work experience as well as verification from an employer, foreperson or supervisor in your Certification of Work Experience form. General electricians in California must apply for a license through the Contractors State License Board (CSLB).

To qualify for a California electrician license, you must complete the following five steps:

1. Verify your work experience

Report and confirm your past job experience as an electrician by filling out the Certification of Work Experience form and including it with your application.

2. Pay the application fee

You must submit a nonrefundable payment of $450 with your California electrician license application.

3. Get fingerprinted

You must submit a full set of fingerprints so that the CSLB may conduct a criminal background check.

4. Pass two exams

You must pass two exams: an exam covering law and business topics and a general electrician exam covering the electrical trade, such as troubleshooting and electrical system requirements. The exams feature a multiple-choice format and are not open book. You must take both closed-book exams at an official testing site.

5. Submit your license fee

After passing the examination, you must submit an initial license fee ($200 for sole owner or $350 for non-sole owner).

Insurance for California electricians

Electrician insurance can help cover your work once you become a licensed contractor. Consider these types of California business insurance for electricians.

Workers’ compensation insurance

California electricians with employees must have workers’ compensation insurance to secure and maintain their contractor license. This insurance can help provide wage protection and coverage for medical expenses if you or an employee gets hurt on the job.

You must submit a certificate of insurance as proof of your workers’ comp coverage. This certificate must be written by an insurance company licensed through the California Department of Insurance, with CSLB listed as the Certificate Holder.

If you do not have any employees, you must submit a signed exemption form with your application.

General liability insurance

California general liability insurance can help cover work-related accidents, like damage to someone’s property or a client injury.

Tools and equipment insurance

Tools and equipment insurance can help cover the cost of repairs and replacements if something happens to your work gear, like theft or damage.

Commercial auto insurance

If you drive for work, commercial auto insurance can help cover costs related to accidents, such as property damage and medical expenses.

Commercial property insurance

Commercial property insurance can help provide coverage for damage or vandalism to a property you own or rent.

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How long does it take to get your California electrician license?

Many factors influence the processing times for electrical contractor applications. Applicants may look up their status on the CSLB website using their application fee number and PIN to determine the application dates the Board is currently reviewing. 

Making sure your application is completely filled out with all the proper information, forms and signatures can help you avoid long processing times.

California electrician license renewal requirements

Certified electricians must renew their licenses every two years. With your renewal application, you must submit a renewal fee of $450 for sole owners and $700 for non-sole owners. There are no continuing education requirements.

The CSLB will send a renewal application approximately 60 days before the expiration. To find your expiration date, look at your current pocket card or use the California electrician license lookup tool.

Reciprocity for a California electrician license

California maintains reciprocity agreements with Arizona. The following Arizona contractor classifications correspond with California’s C-10 contractor classification:

  • C-11
  • K-11
  • L-11

To qualify for reciprocity, you must have held an active Arizona license in good standing in one of these classifications for the previous five years. Include a Request for Verification of License form with your application.

If approved, the CSLB may waive the trade exam, but you must still take the law and business exam.

California electrician license bond requirements

All applicants must file a $25,000 bond with the CSLB after passing the examination. You may secure a bond through your insurance agent or a private holding company listed by the California Department of Insurance.

How NEXT helps support California electricians

If you’re looking for electrician insurance, NEXT offers the coverage you need to protect your business. We only work with small businesses and have helped thousands of contractors get affordable insurance packages customized to meet their unique needs.

Using our online services, applying for coverage is simple and easy. You can get a certificate of insurance in just minutes from any computer or mobile device. 

Start a free quote with NEXT.

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Ashley Henshaw
About the author

Ashley Henshaw was a contributing writer at NEXT. She specializes in small business topics, covering everything from insurance and branding to web hosting and cryptocurrency.


Her work has appeared in The Huffington Post, AOL City's Best, Citysearch, USA Today, The San Francisco Chronicle and Livestrong.

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