California Contractor License Requirements

The Requirements Checklist

• Age: the qualifying individual must be at least 18 years old.
• Experience: four full years of experience in the classification within the last ten years, as a journeyman, foreman, supervising employee, contractor or owner builder.
• Experience certification: someone with firsthand knowledge of your work must certify it on the Certification of Work Experience form.
• Exams: the Law and Business exam and the trade exam for your classification (C-61 applicants take only the Law and Business exam).
• Asbestos open book exam: required of every new applicant before a license is issued.
• Fingerprinting: every owner, officer, partner and responsible managing employee listed on the application is fingerprinted through Live Scan.
• Contractor bond: a $25,000 contractor bond, plus a $25,000 Bond of Qualifying Individual in some cases.
• Workers’ compensation: a certificate of insurance, or an exemption if you have no employees.
• Fees: the $450 application fee and the initial license fee ($200 sole owner, $350 other business types).

Experience Requirements in Detail

CSLB gives credit only for experience at a journey level or higher. A journeyman is a fully qualified worker who can perform the trade without supervision, or someone who completed an apprenticeship. Helper, laborer, trainee and apprentice time does not count as journey level experience.

You may receive up to three years of credit for technical training, apprenticeship or education, but at least one year must be practical experience. See education credit and how to verify your experience.

Exam Requirements

After CSLB accepts your application, you schedule your exams with PSI. Each exam is multiple choice and you have three and a half hours to complete it. You have 18 months from the date your application is accepted to pass. If you fail an exam, you must wait 21 days before you can pay and reschedule.

Business and Insurance Requirements

The license belongs to the business entity, not to the qualifier. Corporations must be active with the California Secretary of State. LLCs must also file a $100,000 LLC Employee/Worker Bond and carry liability insurance. See bond requirements and workers’ compensation requirements.

What Is Not Required

• A college degree or any formal education
• U.S. citizenship (a Social Security number or an ITIN can be used)
• Living in California (out of state applicants are fingerprinted with hard copy cards)

See getting a license with an ITIN.

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