Can You Take the C-10 Exam in Spanish? What CSLB Allows
Here is the straight answer, from CSLB's own exam FAQ.
CSLB offers Spanish versions of 10 exams commonly taken by candidates, and Law and Business is one of them. The C-10 Electrical exam is not on that list. So the C-10 trade exam is in English. If reading English is hard for you, CSLB may let a translator you choose read the trade exam to you, as long as CSLB approves that translator first.
That means most Spanish-speaking electricians take one exam in Spanish and one exam in English. Plan for both.
The two exams, side by side
| Exam | Spanish version? | Your options |
|---|---|---|
| Law and Business | Yes | Take the Spanish version |
| C-10 Electrical (trade) | No | English, or English read to you by an approved translator |
One rule surprises people: if you ask for a translator for an exam that has a Spanish version, CSLB requires you to take the Spanish version. A translator is for the exams that have no Spanish version, like the C-10.
How to get a translator approved
- Ask on your application. CSLB's guide says to check the appropriate box in Field 16 on the application form, and CSLB will send you more information.
- Already applied? Email exams@cslb.ca.gov with your name, application number and phone number, and ask for a Translator Form. Mail the completed form to CSLB.
- Wait for the review. CSLB reviews translator forms in the order they arrive, and it can take four to six weeks. You can see the status on your application page on the CSLB website.
- Schedule the exam. After CSLB approves your translator, PSI contacts you to schedule, or you can contact PSI yourself.
What your translator can and cannot do
- Can: read the exam to you. If a word is hard to translate, say the word in English.
- Cannot: define or explain terms, coach you, or help you choose an answer.
- Cannot bring a dictionary or any other translation tool. The translator follows the same list of prohibited items as you.
- Must show a valid government-issued ID. A translator who is a minor can show a current school ID with a photo.
PSI monitors every conversation between you and your translator. If a translator coaches or helps in any way, CSLB denies the application, and the candidate cannot take any CSLB exam for one year. Do not risk it with a friend who "knows the code."
Plan around the clock
CSLB gives you 18 months from the day it accepts your application to pass the exams. If you do not pass in that time, the application is void and you apply again with new fees.
A translator review that can take four to six weeks comes out of that same window. So ask for the translator on day one, and study while you wait.
How to study when you think in Spanish but test in English
Here is what actually matters, because even with a translator, the code words reach you in English.
- Learn every topic in your own language first. Grounding, bonding, box fill and load calculations are hard enough without a language problem on top.
- Then learn the English words for it. Your translator can only repeat a hard word in English. If you know "equipment grounding conductor" on sight, that question is easy. If you do not, it is a guess.
- Answer the same question in both languages. Read it in Spanish until you understand it, then answer it in English until it is automatic.
- Practice Law and Business in Spanish, since that is how you will take it.
That is exactly why every practice question and every lesson in our course is in both English and Spanish. You can switch the language at any time, learn a topic in Spanish and answer the same question in English. All 1,202 practice questions have the code section behind the answer.
Start here
Take the free practice test in Spanish or English. You get your score and your weakest section in about five minutes, and it shows you which part of the C-10 to study first. Take the free test or read the Law and Business exam guide.