California electrician exam guide
California certifies a General Electrician rather than a journeyman. The exam gives you the 2023 NEC on screen. Here’s how it works and how to prepare.
Studying from the 2026 NEC?
This exam still uses the 2023 edition. Practice with the 2026 code, then look up each answer in the 2023 edition before the exam.
Exam format
The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) certifies electricians in California. After DLSE approves you, CPS HR Consulting schedules your computer-based exam through Pearson VUE. You need 70% to pass, and you see your score as soon as you finish.
| Certification | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| General Electrician | 100 | 4 hours 30 minutes |
| Residential Electrician | 80 | 3 hours 30 minutes |
| Fire/Life Safety Technician | 50 | 2 hours 15 minutes |
| Voice Data Video Technician | 50 | 2 hours 15 minutes |
| Non-Residential Lighting Technician | 50 | 2 hours 15 minutes |
The retest fee is $100, and you wait 60 days after a failed exam to apply for a retest. We found no source for the first-attempt fee.
What’s on the General Electrician exam
Two thirds of the exam covers installation. The bulletin adds that questions can also draw on trade knowledge and general industry practice.
| Subject area | Share of exam |
|---|---|
| Safety | 6% |
| Determination of electrical system requirements | 22% |
| Installation | 66% |
| Maintenance and repair | 6% |
What you can bring
Provided on screen
- NFPA 70, the 2023 NEC
- NFPA 70E, the 2024 edition
- The Cal/OSHA pocket guide for construction, updated 2022
- An online calculator
Not allowed
- Your own code book or tabs
- Notes, books, pens, and pencils
- Calculators, phones, smart watches, and AI glasses
- Wallets, bags, and hats (the test center lockers hold your keys and ID)
You search the code on screen, so practice finding answers fast in a digital copy of the 2023 edition.
Practice before the exam
Our free 20-question tests are written from the 2026 NEC, not the 2023 edition your California exam uses. They build the habit of finding the section that settles each answer. Then check that section in the 2023 edition. The 2026 changes list shows what moved.
For calculation practice, try the service load, motor circuit, and box fill calculators. Each one shows its steps.
Scheduling and exam day
- Apply to DLSE first. After approval, create a Pearson VUE account with the details CPS HR Consulting sends you.
- Take the exam within one year of your eligibility notice, or you reapply and pay again.
- Arrive at least 30 minutes early with two forms of identification. Late arrivals forfeit the fee.
- To reschedule without losing the fee, change your appointment more than 48 hours ahead.
- Once certified, you renew every 3 years with 32 hours of approved continuing education.
Questions about the California exam
Which NEC edition is the California electrician exam on?
The 2023 NEC. The state's candidate bulletin, published September 2026, lists the 2023 edition of NFPA 70 as a reference the testing center provides on screen.
Is there a California journeyman or master exam?
Not under those names. The state certifies a General Electrician, a Residential Electrician, and three technician types. Most people who search for the journeyman exam want the General Electrician exam.
Is the California electrician exam open book?
You use the references on the testing center's screen, and you can't bring your own. The bulletin bans notes, books, and calculators, and the test provides an online calculator.
How many questions are on the General Electrician exam?
100 questions in 4 hours and 30 minutes. You need 70% to pass.
Who runs the exam?
The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) approves you to test. For exams taken on or after June 1, 2026, CPS HR Consulting handles scheduling through Pearson VUE.
Are the Ask Shorty practice tests on the 2023 NEC?
No. They are written from the 2026 NEC. Many rules carry over, but section numbers and some requirements changed. Look up each answer in the 2023 edition before you rely on it.
Source
The exam facts on this page come from the CPS HR Consulting candidate information bulletin (published September 2026) and the DLSE electrician certification page (revised October 22, 2026). We checked both on October 28, 2026. DLSE and CPS HR can change the rules, so read the current bulletin before you schedule.
Ask Shorty isn’t affiliated with DLSE, CPS HR Consulting, or Pearson VUE.