C-10 Exam Books: The Study List CSLB Publishes, and What You Can Read Online
Short answer: study from the 2025 California Electrical Code, and practice with questions written to it. Everything else on CSLB's list fills in specific topics. And remember the rule that changes how you study: CSLB says the C-10 exam is a closed-book examination. The books stay home on exam day.
The C-10 trade exam list
CSLB's C-10 study guide lists these resources:
- 2025 California Electrical Code. The electrical code on CSLB's list.
- 2025 California Building Code
- 2025 California Energy Code
- 2025 California Fire Code
- American Electricians' Handbook (McGraw-Hill)
- Photovoltaic Systems (American Technical Publishers). The exam includes energy production and storage: photovoltaic, wind, generators, batteries and capacitors.
- Cal/OSHA: the General Industry & Electrical Safety Orders and the Construction & Electrical Safety Orders
- Ugly's Electrical References (Jones & Bartlett)
You can read a lot of this online. CSLB says California code books can be viewed online, at dgs.ca.gov/bsc. The Cal/OSHA safety orders can be viewed online at dir.ca.gov. Buy the electrical code if you like paper. Read the rest online when a practice question sends you there.
The Law and Business exam list
CSLB's Law and Business study guide lists these resources:
- California Contractors License Law & Reference Book. CSLB also lets you view it online.
- California Employer's Guide (DE 44) from the Employment Development Department
- California Labor Code, and the California Financial Code for the PACE program
- Get Licensed to Build and Maintain and Change Your License, both on CSLB's website
- NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, 14th Edition
- Publication 15 (Circular E), Employer's Tax Guide from the IRS
- Public Works Manual from the Department of Industrial Relations
- Cal/OSHA safety orders
Almost everything on this list is a government publication you can read online. The NASCLA guide is the one you buy.
Which book to start with
- The 2025 California Electrical Code. CSLB's guide puts Planning and Estimating at 28% of the trade exam and Rough Wiring at 27%. Both lean on the code.
- The Law Book, for Law and Business. It collects the licensing law and the related codes.
- The rest, topic by topic. Use practice questions to find the weak topic, then read the book that covers it.
Reading a code book cover to cover is the slow way. The fast way is to answer questions, miss some, and read the section behind each miss.
Where we fit
We do not replace the code book. We give you the questions. Every one of our 1,202 practice questions is written to the 2025 California Electrical Code and the 2026 CSLB law book, and each explanation names the section, so you know exactly which page to open. Every lesson and question is in English and Spanish.
Take the free practice test to find your weakest section, then open the book to that section.