How much does the California General Electrician exam and application cost?
The California General Electrician application fee is $75 and the exam fee is $100. Those are separate charges. The application goes through DIR for eligibility, and the exam fee covers your seat at the test center where the reference books are provided for you.
Last reviewed June 2026 · Answered by JourneymanIQ staff
Two fees, two stages
You pay $75 for the application that DIR reviews for eligibility, then $100 for the exam itself. Budget for both up front.
No book to buy for the exam
Unlike Texas, you do not bring your own NEC. The test center provides the references, so there is no codebook purchase needed just to sit the exam.
Keep a retake fee in reserve
If you do not pass, you wait 60 days and pay the $100 exam fee again to re-sit. Build that possibility into your budget so a retake does not catch you flat.
$75 application, $100 exam. No codebook to buy. Keep a retake fee in reserve just in case.
Sources
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