Electrician License Cost in California
In California, documented Electrician license fees total $175 — exam $100, application $75. The state requires 720 hours of pre-license education; tuition for that training is set by each school and is not included above. Always confirm the current schedule with California Department of Industrial Relations — Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, Electrician Certification Unit before paying.
Figures below come from the same dataset as the full guide and list only what the state publishes. Anything not published is marked “varies — check the board” rather than guessed.
Electrician license cost — California at a glance
| Pre-license education | 720 hrs required — tuition varies by school |
| Exam fee | $100 |
| Application fee | $75 |
| License fee | Varies — check the board |
| Documented fees total | $175 |
| BLS median annual wage | $63,190 (electricians) |
Official source: California Department of Industrial Relations — Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, Electrician Certification Unit ↗
Fees vs. median pay
The BLS median annual wage for electricians is $63,190.The BLS median annual wage for electricians is $63,190. Documented Electrician fees in California are $175 — about 0.3% of one year's median pay. The bigger investment is usually tuition and time.
Frequently asked questions
What does a Electrician license cost in California?
Documented fees in California total $175: exam $100, application $75. Pre-license education is the biggest variable cost and is set by each school, not the board.
Are the exam fee and the license fee the same thing in California?
No. The exam fee covers sitting for the test, while the application and license fees cover processing and issuing the credential. Each is listed separately in the table above where the state publishes it.
How much does Electrician training cost in California?
California requires 720 hours of pre-license education. Tuition is set by each approved school and varies widely, so contact the programs on your state's approved list for current prices.
Is a Electrician license in California worth the cost?
The BLS median annual wage for electricians is $63,190, so documented fees are roughly 0.3% of one year's median pay. Earnings vary widely by state and market — treat this as a planning estimate, not a promise.
Budget your Electrician licensing in California
This page is informational and not legal advice. Fees, pass rates and retake rules change frequently — verify all figures with California Department of Industrial Relations — Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, Electrician Certification Unit and your exam vendor before paying (retrieved 2026-08-20).