The complete C-10 exam curriculum
Every topic on the California C-10 Electrical Contractor exam — 59lessons across the five official C-10 Trade sections and five Law & Business study sections, written to the 2025 California Electrical Code. Preview any lesson free, then unlock the full course with 1,202 practice questions.
C-10 Trade exam
Technical knowledge · 3½ hours
Planning & Estimating · 28% of the exam
- Dwelling Load Calculations — General Lighting, Small-Appliance, and Laundry (Standard Method)
- Sizing the Service: Minimum Rating and the 83% Dwelling Conductor Rule
- Demand Loads for Ranges, Dryers, and Fastened-in-Place Appliances
- The Optional Calculation Method for a One-Family Dwelling (220.82)
- Conductor Ampacity, Termination Temperature, and the Small-Conductor Rule
- Box Fill (314.16) and Conduit Fill (Chapter 9)
- Voltage Drop: The 3% / 5% Guideline and the Calculation
- Estimating Math: Takeoff, Labor, Markup vs. Margin, Overhead & Profit
- Reading Electrical Plans: One-Line Diagrams, Symbols, Scale & Schedules
- Permits, Plan Check, and Inspections in California
- Capstone: A Complete Dwelling Service Load Calculation (Standard Method)
Rough Wiring · 27% of the exam
- Wiring Methods: NM Cable, Raceways, and Securing Rules
- Grounding & Bonding Basics: EGC, GEC, Electrodes, and Color Code
- Receptacle Placement and GFCI/AFCI Protection in Dwellings
- Working Space Clearances and Panelboard Location Rules
- Underground Burial Depths (Table 300.5) and Physical Protection (300.4)
- Branch-Circuit Ratings, the 125% Continuous-Load Rule, and Receptacle Ratings
- Derating: Bundling Adjustment and Ambient Correction
- Services: Disconnect Location, Emergency Disconnect (2020/2023), and Clearances
- Box Installation: Pull-Box Sizing, Setback, and Where Boxes Are Required
- Switches: 3-Way/4-Way Wiring, Neutral at the Switch, and Grounding
- Capstone: Roughing In a Kitchen Circuit (Integrated Scenario)
Finish Wiring & Trim · 11% of the exam
- Receptacle Installation: Tamper-Resistant, Weather-Resistant, and Grounding
- Luminaire Installation: Closet Clearances, Wet/Damp Ratings, Support, and Recessed IC
- Faceplates, Box Covers, and Receptacle Replacement Rules
- Required Lighting Outlets in Dwellings (210.70)
- Capstone: Trimming Out a Bathroom and an Outdoor Patio (Integrated)
Startup, Troubleshooting & Maintenance · 16% of the exam
- Test Instruments: Meters, Meggers, and Safe Verification
- Ohm's Law, Power, and Series/Parallel Circuits
- Troubleshooting Opens, Shorts, and Ground Faults
- Wiring Verification: Polarity, Terminals, and Common Receptacle Faults
- Motor Circuits: Overloads, Conductor Sizing, and Troubleshooting
- Three-Phase Systems and Transformers
- Capstone: Diagnosing a Dead Branch Circuit (Integrated)
Safety · 18% of the exam
- Lockout/Tagout and Establishing an Electrically Safe Work Condition
- PPE and Arc-Flash Protection (NFPA 70E)
- Construction-Site Electrical Safety: GFCI, AEGCP, and Temporary Power
- Shock Approach Boundaries, Qualified Persons, and Energized Work (NFPA 70E)
- Ladders, Overhead Power Lines, and Jobsite Head Protection
- Electric Shock: Effects on the Body and Emergency Response
- Capstone: A Safe Day on the Job (Integrated Safety Scenario)
Law & Business exam
Legal & business knowledge · 3½ hours
Contracts & Change Orders
Bonds, Insurance & Licensing
Employment, Payroll & Safety
Estimating, Bidding & Project Management
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