United States · Licensing examWho needs a CSLB license?
Anyone taking on a construction job in California, unless the whole job is under $1,000 in labor, materials and other costs, needs no building permit and uses no employees. CSLB says a bigger job can't be split into smaller contracts to get under the limit.
To apply you must be 18 or older, and your qualifying person needs at least 4 full years of experience at journey level, or as a foreman, supervisor or contractor, within the 10 years before you file. CSLB can waive the exams only under Business and Professions Code sections 7065.1 and 7065.2, some waivers are suspended, and in some cases only the trade exam is waived.
What's on the California contractor license exam?
The Law and Business exam is the same for every classification. CSLB's study guide splits it into seven sections, with these approximate shares:
| Section | Share |
|---|---|
| Contract requirements and execution | 21% |
| Employment requirements | 20% |
| Business finances | 15% |
| Safety | 14% |
| Business organization and licensing | 13% |
| Insurance and liens | 12% |
| Public works | 5% |
Each question has four choices, there's no penalty for guessing, and some questions need math. Trade exams are multiple choice too, and most include blueprints or drawings. Only the C-61 Limited Specialty classification skips the trade exam. CSLB doesn't publish one pass mark: the test site tells you the percentage you need for each exam, and you get your result before you leave.
Booking with PSI, retakes and the 18-month window
- When CSLB accepts your application, it mails a Notice to Schedule an Examination. You book each exam and pay its fee directly with PSI.
- Bring photo ID: a valid driver's license, a DMV ID card or a military ID. No personal calculators or phones are allowed; the test center has calculators.
- To cancel without losing your fee, PSI needs notice two days before the appointment.
- If you fail, wait 21 calendar days before you pay to book again.
- You have 18 months to pass. After that your application is void and you start over with new fees. Passed exams count for 5 years.
- If English is hard for you, a translator can read the exam to you, but CSLB must approve the translator in advance, and you can't use one if the exam is offered in your language.
CSLB fees and what comes after the exams
CSLB's fee list, checked in October 2026, gives these amounts. You also file a contractor bond before an active license is issued; the bond page has the amounts and the extra LLC bond.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application, one classification | $450 |
| Initial license, sole owner | $200 |
| Initial license, other businesses | $350 |
| Active renewal, sole owner | $450 |
| Active renewal, other businesses | $700 |
| Fingerprinting | $32 DOJ and $17 FBI, plus the live scan fee |
What CSLB tells you to study
CSLB publishes a free study guide for the Law and Business exam and for each trade exam. The Law and Business guide lists its sources: the California Contractors License Law & Reference Book (free to read on CSLB's site), the NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, 14th Edition, IRS Publication 15, the state's Public Works Manual and the Cal/OSHA safety orders.
Separate pages cover four classifications: C-20 for HVAC, C-39 for roofing, C-27 for landscaping and B-2 for residential remodeling.
Sources: CSLB and 5 more. Checked October 2026.
- CSLB: Contractors license ↗
- CSLB: Before applying for a license ↗
- CSLB: Studying for the exam ↗
- CSLB: Law and Business Examination Study Guide ↗
- CSLB: My exam application was accepted ↗
- CSLB: List of all fees ↗
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.
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