State license

California Journeyman Electrician License

✓Written by a licensed IBEW journeyman electrician

Last updated: October 24, 2026

California's equivalent of a journeyman license is the General Electrician certification from the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement. You need 8,000 hours of on-the-job work or an approved apprenticeship. The exam has 100 questions and 4 hours 30 minutes. You need 70% to pass. The exam fee is $100.

The facts, from the source

Who licenses

California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, Electrician Certification Unit (General Electrician certification) (dir.ca.gov)

Exam vendor

Pearson VUE test centers. Scheduling is administered by CPS HR Consulting (since June 1, 2026; previously PSI). (dir.ca.gov)

Exam (questions/time)

100 questions, 4 hours 30 minutes, single exam, computer-based (dir.ca.gov)

Open book / references

Open book, but references are provided electronically in the test center only: NFPA 70 2023, NFPA 70E 2024 and the Cal/OSHA Pocket Guide (2022). You may not bring your own references. (dir.ca.gov)

Passing score

70% minimum (dir.ca.gov)

NEC edition

2023 NEC (also NFPA 70E 2024 and the Cal/OSHA Construction Pocket Guide 2022) (dir.ca.gov)

Experience required

8,000 hours of on-the-job work (in two or more work areas, with per-area caps) or an approved apprenticeship. The approved apprenticeship or trainee school route is covered in Sections 291.1 and 291.2. (dir.ca.gov)

Fees

Exam $100 for each examination. Application $75, non-refundable. Renewal $100 every 3 years (32 hours of continuing education). (dir.ca.gov)

What’s on the exam

Safety 6%; Determination of electrical system requirements 22%; Installation 66%; Maintenance and repair 6%.

Confirm these with the board

• Certificate or card fee: not published in the materials we checked
• Another state's license can make you eligible to sit for the exam if DLSE finds that state's experience requirements comparable; no list of states is published.

California Dept. of Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement - Electrician Certification Unit (ECU) ↗

Partly verified October 24, 2026: some items couldn’t be confirmed from official sources and are listed above

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Facts on this page trace to primary sources or first-hand IBEW Local 134 experience — see sources & methodology.