Last updated: August 28th, 2026
The California C-10 Electrical Contractor License is a specialty classification issued by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) for contractors performing electrical work within the scope of the C-10 classification.
A C-10 license allows contractors to legally contract for qualifying electrical projects when a California contractor license is required.
CSLB defines a C-10 Electrical Contractor as a contractor who places, installs, erects, or connects:
The classification covers systems and components that generate, transmit, transform, or utilize electrical energy in any form or for any purpose.
This broad scope can include residential, commercial, and industrial electrical work as well as qualifying photovoltaic and energy-storage work.
CSLB specifically recognizes C-10 Electrical Contractors as authorized to perform solar projects that generate, transmit, transform, or utilize electrical energy.
A C-10 license allows you to independently contract for electrical work within the classification when California law requires a licensed contractor.
It can open opportunities involving:
To qualify for a C-10 contractor license, the qualifying individual generally needs at least four years of qualifying experience in the C-10 classification within the previous 10 years.
Those four years do not have to consist exclusively of journey-level employment.
CSLB recognizes qualifying experience gained at the journey level or as a:
A journeyman is a fully qualified and experienced worker who can perform the trade without supervision. A foreman or supervising employee must have journey-level knowledge and skills while directly supervising physical construction.
Your experience must be properly documented on the Certification of Work Experience form and certified by a qualified person with direct knowledge of the work.
Formal education is not required to obtain a C-10 contractor license.
Qualifying education or technical training may provide credit toward part of the four-year experience requirement. The amount of credit depends on the education or training submitted for CSLB evaluation.
At least one year must be practical experience.
Applicants who need to take the examinations generally begin with the Application for Original Contractor License.
The process typically includes:
Once CSLB approves an applicant for testing, the examinations are scheduled and paid for through CSLB’s approved testing vendor, PSI.
For examinations scheduled on or after June 1, 2024, CSLB divides the C-10 Electrical examination into five major sections:
The percentages are approximate.
Topics include:
Topics include:
Topics include:
Topics include:
Topics include:
The C-10 trade examination is closed book and multiple choice. A calculator is provided for questions requiring mathematical calculations.
For additional preparation, review our C-10 Electrical Contractor License Exam Prep.
Passing the required examinations is an important step, but additional requirements must be completed before CSLB can issue an active C-10 license.
These may include:
California contractors must maintain a $25,000 contractor license bond.
The contractor license bond is a licensing requirement and is not a performance bond or guarantee that a particular electrical project will be completed.
C-10 contractors with employees generally must maintain workers’ compensation insurance.
A C-10 contractor with no employees may generally qualify for the standard workers’ compensation exemption if the other CSLB requirements are met.
C-10 is not currently one of the classifications automatically required to maintain workers’ compensation insurance regardless of employee status. The classifications that cannot use the standard no-employee exemption currently include C-8, C-20, C-22, C-39, and C-61/D-49.
Other circumstances, such as having a Responsible Managing Employee, can also prevent a contractor from claiming the exemption.
General liability insurance is not universally required by CSLB for every C-10 contractor license.
However, contractors may choose or be contractually required to carry liability coverage depending on their customers, projects, business structure, and risk exposure.
California contractor LLCs have separate liability-insurance requirements.
Once your C-10 license is active, keep it in good standing by:
California does not generally require continuing education to renew a CSLB contractor license, although keeping up with electrical codes, technology, and safety standards remains important professionally.
Obtaining a California C-10 Electrical Contractor License starts with demonstrating qualifying electrical experience, completing the correct CSLB application, and preparing for the Law & Business and C-10 trade examinations.
Understanding the official C-10 scope is especially important as electrical work continues to expand into areas such as photovoltaic generation, battery storage, generators, and other energy technologies.
For exam preparation, visit our C-10 Electrical Contractor License Exam Prep.
