Does College or Trade School Count Toward CSLB Experience?
Exactly how much credit CSLB gives for degrees, apprenticeships and technical training, and how to submit it.
Quick answer
Yes, partly. CSLB can credit up to three years of the four year experience requirement for education, apprenticeship or technical training, but at least one year must be practical, hands on experience. You must submit official sealed transcripts or an apprenticeship completion certificate.
How Much Credit Each Type Can Earn
| Education or training | Maximum credit |
|---|---|
| A.A. degree in building or construction management | 1½ years |
| Four year degree in accounting, architecture (B license only), business, economics, mathematics, physics or a field related to your trade | 2 years |
| Professional degree in law | 2 years |
| Substantial college course work in accounting, architecture, business, construction technology, drafting, economics, engineering, mathematics or physics | 2 years |
| Certificate of completion of an accredited apprenticeship in the classification | 3 years |
| Four year degree in construction technology or management, or engineering directly related to the classification | 3 years |
| Four year degree in horticulture, landscape horticulture or landscape architecture (C-27 only), or interior design (C-33 only) | 3 years |
How to Claim Education Credit
- Ask your school to send official sealed transcripts directly to CSLB.
- Degrees earned outside the U.S. must be translated and evaluated by an accredited evaluation service in the U.S.
- For apprenticeship credit, include your certificate of completion or a certified union statement of completion.
The One Year Rule
No matter how much education you have, at least one of your four years must be practical experience at a journey level or higher in the classification.
Choosing a School
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Content reviewed against CSLB sources: November 2026
CSLP is an independent contractor license school and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Contractors State License Board. Rules and fees can change, so always confirm current requirements with CSLB.Online California Contractor License Courses
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Does College or Trade School Count Toward CSLB Experience?: FAQs
Does an exam prep course count as experience?
No. Exam preparation helps you pass the CSLB exams. It is not education credit toward the experience requirement.
Can I get four years of credit with a degree?
No. The maximum credit is three years, and at least one year must be practical experience.
Does a degree from another country count?
It can, if the transcripts are translated and evaluated by an accredited evaluation service that does business in the U.S.