---
title: "General Electrician certification License, California…"
canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/electrician/california/licensing/
description: "California General Electrician certification: 8,000 supervised hours, exam fee $100, application fee $75. From the California DIR, Division of Labor…"
updated: 2026-11-04
wage_source: "BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15"
---

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3. [Electrician](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/electrician/)
4. [California](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/electrician/california/)
5. Licensing
 California

# Electrician license in *California*

What it takes to hold a General Electrician certification in California, from the California DIR, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (Electrician Certification Unit).

- **8,000** Supervised work hours
- **$100** Exam fee
- **30** Registered apprenticeship sponsors
- **$76,160** Median pay in California

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Requirements

## General Electrician certification requirements

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| Supervised work hours | 8,000 |
| Exam | General Electrician exam, 100 questions, 4 hours, 70% to pass; 60-day wait to retest |
| Exam fee | $100 |
| Application fee | $75 |
| Renewal | Every 3 years |
| Renewal fee | $100 |
General Electrician certification · California DIR, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (Electrician Certification Unit). Blank items are not published by the board, so we leave them out.

### The steps

1. Log 8,000 hours of supervised work.
2. Apply to the California DIR, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (Electrician Certification Unit) ($75 application fee).
3. General Electrician exam, 100 questions, 4 hours, 70% to pass; 60-day wait to retest.
4. Keep it current: every 3 years.

Check the board before you apply: [California DIR, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (Electrician Certification Unit)](https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/ecu/ECU_FAQ.htm).

Apprenticeships

## Registered apprenticeship sponsors in California

30 registered apprenticeship sponsors in California match this trade in the DOL partner file. Most of the supervised hours can be earned inside a paid registered apprenticeship; see [where to apply for an apprenticeship in California](https://registeredtradeschools.com/apprenticeships/ca/) on RegisteredTradeSchools.com. A listing is not confirmation of current openings.

Pay

## What licensed electricians earn in California

Median $76,160, bottom 10% $46,800, top 10% $140,340 (BLS OEWS May 2025). [Full California pay breakdown](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/electrician/california/).

By the [HighPayingTrades Data Team](https://highpayingtrades.com/about/) · Updated Nov 4, 2026

## Sources

**Figures as of BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates (released 2026-05-15) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 (released 2026-08-27).**

- **Licensing:** California DIR, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (Electrician Certification Unit), <https://www.dir.ca.gov/t8/291_1.html>, retrieved 2026-11-04.
- **Licensing:** California DIR, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (Electrician Certification Unit), <https://www.dir.ca.gov/t8/292_0.html>, retrieved 2026-11-04.
- **Licensing:** California DIR, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (Electrician Certification Unit), <https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/ecu/ECU_FAQ.htm>, retrieved 2026-11-04.
- **Apprenticeship sponsor counts:** U.S. DOL Office of Apprenticeship partner sponsors file ([CSV](https://www.apprenticeship.gov/sites/default/files/wps/oa_partner_sponsors.csv)), retrieved 2026-11-04. Matched to the trade by keywords in the organization name; the file has no occupation field and no openings status.
- **Wages:** U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15.

Compiled by the HighPayingTrades Data Team. Items a board does not publish are left out, not estimated. Last checked 2026-11-04.

---
Canonical HTML: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/electrician/california/licensing/
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm). Programs: NCES IPEDS 2023-24 completions; DOL Office of Apprenticeship. Tuition: College Scorecard.