California General Electrician
Practice the California General Electrician exam the way it is given — 100 questions weighted like the real outline, on the 2023 NEC. Every calculation is computed and explained step by step.
One exam, 100 questions
You need 70% overall. Calculations sit inside the outline areas rather than in a separate portion, and our full-length practice exam draws from each area in the same proportions.
General Electrician exam
100 scored · 270 min- Safety6
- Determination of electrical system requirements22
- Installation66
- Maintenance and repair6
About the General Electrician Certification
Granted by California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) — Electrician Certification Unit
Required to work as an electrician for a California electrical contractor on any electrical system covered by the National Electrical Code.
Eligibility Requirements
8,000 hours of work for an electrical contractor installing, constructing or maintaining electrical systems covered by the National Electrical Code.
On the 2023 NEC since June 1, 2026
Study material written for the previous edition teaches these wrong. Every question here is grounded in the 2023 NEC.
| Topic | Previous edition | 2023 NEC |
|---|---|---|
| Non-dwelling general lighting unit loads220.42 | Table 220.12 | Table 220.42(A) |
| Lighting load demand factors220.45 | Table 220.42 | Table 220.45 |
| Non-dwelling receptacle demand factors220.47 | Table 220.44 | Table 220.47 |
| EV charging load in a load calculation220.57 | No rule | 7,200 VA or the nameplate, whichever is larger |
| Class 1 remote-control and signaling circuitsArticles 722, 724 | Article 725 | Article 724 (general rules in Article 722) |
What's Included
Every plan gets the same full-access study library.
What the exam covers
The four areas of the DIR candidate bulletin, at their published weights. References on screen during the exam: the 2023 NEC, NFPA 70E (2024) and the Cal/OSHA Pocket Guide.
- ✓Safety (6%) — electrically safe work conditions, lockout/tagout, arc-flash and shock protection, working space
- ✓Determination of Electrical System Requirements (22%) — load calculations, conductor sizing, overcurrent protection, grounding and bonding conductors, motor and transformer circuits
- ✓Installation (66%) — branch circuits and GFCI/AFCI, services and feeders, grounding and bonding, wiring methods, boxes and panelboards, equipment, special occupancies and systems
- ✓Maintenance and Repair (6%) — safety-related maintenance, testing, marking and reconditioned equipment
Scheduling & Fees
Where to take it
- Administered by
- CPS HR Consulting (Pearson VUE test centers)
- Retake policy
- After a failed attempt you wait 60 days, then send a retest application with a $100 exam fee.
Fees
- First application and test ($100 exam + $75 administration)
- $175
- Retest
- $100
- Renewal (every 3 years)
- $100
Keeping Your Certification Active
Renewal requirements
- Cycle
- Every 3 years
- Continuing education
- 32 hours — Each renewal also needs 2,000 hours of work in the industry; the 32 hours of continuing education must be relevant to your certification.
Sources: DIR Electrical Certification Candidate Information Bulletin (CPS HR, July 2026) · DIR — General Electrician certification · DIR — Electrician certification FAQs · DIR — California electrical examinations statistical overview 2023
Frequently asked questions
How is the California General Electrician exam structured?+
One exam of 100 multiple-choice questions in 4 hours 30 minutes, and you need 70% to pass. It covers Safety (6%), Determination of Electrical System Requirements (22%), Installation (66%) and Maintenance and Repair (6%). Calculations are part of the exam rather than a separate portion.
Which code edition is the exam on?+
Since June 1, 2026, the 2023 NEC — the basis of California’s 2025 Electrical Code. Earlier exams used the 2020 NEC, so older prep material cites tables that have since moved, such as the non-dwelling lighting loads now in Table 220.42(A).
Is the exam open book?+
The references are on screen instead of in your hands: the 2023 NEC, NFPA 70E (2024) and the Cal/OSHA Pocket Guide open as searchable PDFs beside each question. You may not bring your own books, so knowing where a rule lives — and searching for it quickly — is the skill being tested.
What do I need before I can sit the exam?+
For General Electrician, 8,000 hours of work for an electrical contractor installing, constructing or maintaining systems covered by the NEC. You apply to the DIR Electrician Certification Unit; the first application and test cost $175 ($100 exam fee and $75 administration fee). Once approved, you schedule with Pearson VUE and must test within one year.
What if I fail?+
You wait 60 days from the exam date, then send a retest application with a $100 exam fee.
How are the calculation questions checked?+
Every calculation answer — and every wrong option — is computed by code from the 2023 NEC tables and rules, not written by hand. The explanation walks through each step with the section it comes from.
How often do I renew, and what does it take?+
Every three years. Renewal needs 2,000 hours of work in the industry and 32 hours of continuing education relevant to your certification, plus a $100 renewal fee.
Ready to pass your exam?
Practice the full exam on the current code, with every calculation worked out.
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