How to Verify a C-10 Electrician's License in California

You can verify any electrician's CA C-10 license for free, in under a minute, at cslb.ca.gov's "Check a License" tool — here's exactly what to look for once you're there.

Why this matters

California contractor licensing is administered statewide by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) — there's no county-by-county system the way some states split it. Electrical contracting work requires a C-10 license specifically. A business calling itself "licensed and insured" isn't the same as a business you've actually confirmed holds an active C-10 license — the only way to know for sure is to check.

Step-by-step verification

1. Go to cslb.ca.gov and select "Check a License."
2. Search by the business or individual's name, or by license number if you have one from a quote or invoice.
3. Confirm the license status reads Active — not expired, suspended, or revoked.
4. Confirm the classification listed includes C-10 (Electrical Contractor).
5. Check whether a bond is shown as on file — CSLB's record shows bond status, though it doesn't always list the dollar amount.
6. Cross-check that the business name on CSLB's record matches exactly what's on your quote or invoice.

Red flags

• No CSLB record at all for the name given
• License listed as expired, suspended, or revoked
• A classification list that doesn't include C-10
• The business name on your quote doesn't match the licensed entity on file

What about small jobs?

California's minor-work exemption (AB 2622, effective January 1, 2025) allows unlicensed work only when the total job is $1,000 or less, no permit is required for that specific work, and no employees are used on the project — all three conditions have to hold. Most real electrical jobs, especially anything touching a panel or requiring a permit, don't qualify. See our Electrician Cost Guide for the full breakdown.

Skip the legwork

Every electrician we match you with holds an active CA C-10 license at the time of matching — call [TRACKED NUMBER] to get started, and verify the license yourself anyway once you have a name, the same way you would with anyone else.