Is a electrical contractor license required in California?

State license: Required. Issuing authority: California Contractors State License Board.

What is the electrical contractor license fee in California?

Initial application fee: $450. Renewal: $450 (Biennial).

Is a bond required for a electrical contractor in California?

Bond requirement: $15,000 surety bond.

Required

California Electrical Contractor License Requirements [2026]

Requirements, fees, and steps to get your electrical contractor license in California. Last updated 2025-01-01. Source

State License

Required

Application Fee

$450

Bond Required

$15,000 surety bond

License Details

License Name	Electrical Contractor License
Issuing Authority	California Contractors State License Board
Exam Required	Yes
Exam Type	C-10 Trade Exam + Law & Business Exam
Bond Amount	$15,000 surety bond
GL Insurance	$1,000,000 GL per occurrence
Workers Comp	Required if employees
Initial Fee	$450
Renewal Fee	$450
Renewal Period	Biennial
CE Required	no
CE Hours	0
Reciprocity States	None
Experience Required	4
Financial Requirement	None

Note: California requires a C-10 Electrical Contractor license from the CSLB. Requires 4 years (4,000+ hours) of journeyman-level experience. Must pass both a trade exam and a law/business exam. $15,000 bond required. No state CE requirement.

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