How difficult is to get a California contractor licence?

Question

Hello all,

I am planning to start a construction agency business in the coming months. In California, to work as a contractor, we need to obtain a contractor licence from Contractors State License Board. Based on what I have heard there are two tests we have to pass in order to be qualified as a contractor. One is a law test and another one is a trade test. And, it is hard to pass the exams it seems. I heard it takes years to get the licence in the state of California. I don't know why but, it is better in other states it seems. Anyway, I am thinking of joining a  California contractor school to pass the tests. I would like to know whether anyone here has ever tried to get a contractor licence in the state of California? How was the whole process? Were the exams easy? To others, how long does it take to get a licence in your state? Is it easy to obtain a licence there in your state?

Karen Margrave · Answer

@Jeffrey L Evans  Getting a license in CA is harder than many states. In order to qualify for the test you need to have  to have the experience required. As @Manolo D. mentioned, you can go on the website for the CSLB and look at what the requirements are.  I got my license back in 1993, so requirements may have changed since then. The law portion of the test is much the same as in real estate. The trade part, is exactly that, information you should know about the trade.

Bruce Woodruff · Answer

I know this topic is 5 years old, but it got bumped it seems. @Kenneth Chavez is correct.... the Cali test is no joke. When I took the GC test, the pass rate was only 12%...it was technically easier to pass the Bar! :-)

The trade exam contained a set of plans and an architectural scale, the law exam was just memorizing stuff.

Jonathan Furtado · Answer

I'm a licensed general contractor in California I passed my law and my trade the first time around.  There were a few people around me who did not pass.   And starting next year all contractors will have to have workman's comp regardless of employees as of right now it's only a c-39 roofing contractor who has that requirement.  But they did raise all of our bonds to $25,000 as of the first of this year so, I guess we're all going to be the same.

workman's comp also helps and protects your subcontractors financially as well.

Alan F. · Answer

Yep, CA is much harder than any other state. For a C-10 4yrs documented w2 employment for only another C-10 plus JATC approved school.  Then pass Journeyman test. 4 more years documented w2 for C-10 & school then apply for license. Post bond & pass both tests. Starting in 2025 workers comp too even with no employees.

Bruce Woodruff · Answer

Although I am generally anti-Govt, this is one of the few areas where I think they got it right. Especially when you read all the horror stories from elsewhere.

Really? Workers Comp with not even an employee? What is the point of that?

Bruce Woodruff · Answer

Ah, no.....I've been licensed since 1983. The B1 test is pretty rough, it used to be that the pass rate was 12%. Less than the State Bar.

You'll need to read a set of plans and do pretty decent math. If he has been in the trades for a couple decades he'll be fine I think...those Contr. schools are pretty good too, especially for the Law part of the exam.....

Alan F. · Answer

Absolutely, but if you don't use subcontractors or have any w2 employees it adds overhead.

Much respect to B-1's still operating in CA!

Alan F. · Answer

Lol you already know, revenue! Imagine filing a claim on yourself lol.

How difficult is to get a California contractor licence?

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