What are the CSLB requirements to qualify?

To qualify you must be at least 18 years old, have a Social Security number or ITIN, and show four years of journey-level experience in your classification within the last 10 years. You also pass the required exams, file a $25,000 contractor bond, and meet workers' compensation rules. Contractors Intelligence School helps applicants prepare for the Law and Trade exams.

How many years of experience do I need?

You need a combined total of four years of full-time, journey-level experience in the trade within the last 10 years. Journey level means an experienced worker who can perform the trade without supervision, not a trainee. Experience can come from work as a journeyman, foreman, supervisor, contractor, or owner-builder, and it must be verified by someone with firsthand knowledge.

Can I substitute education for experience?

Yes. You may receive credit of up to three years toward the four-year requirement for technical training, apprenticeship training, or education, including a college degree. At least one year must be hands-on practical experience in the trade. This substitution can shorten the experience you need to document, but it does not remove the exam or other licensing requirements.

Do I need a Social Security number to apply?

You need either a Social Security number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, known as an ITIN. The CSLB accepts an ITIN in place of a Social Security number, so applicants without an SSN can still apply. You will provide this number on your Application for Original Contractor's License during the application process.

What exams does the CSLB require?

Most applicants take a Law and Business exam and a Trade exam for their classification, plus a mandatory open-book Asbestos Awareness exam. The passing score is generally 70 percent. Contractors Intelligence School's courses prepare you for the Law and Trade exams so you can approach test day confident and ready to pass on your first attempt.

How long does it take to get licensed?

Most applicants complete the process in about four to eight months from application to receiving the license card. The timeline includes exam preparation, CSLB application processing, fingerprinting, scheduling and passing the exams, and filing the bond and fees. Starting exam prep early and submitting a complete, accurate application are the best ways to avoid delays.

Do I need a contractor bond and workers' compensation?

Yes. Every California contractor must file a $25,000 contractor license bond before the license is issued. You also need workers' compensation insurance if you have employees, or you file an exemption if you do not. These requirements protect consumers and workers, and the CSLB will not issue your license until they are satisfied.

Requirements About The Exam Fees

Requirements

Requirements to Get a California Contractors License

How do you get a contractors license in California? Choose your CSLB classification, document four years of journey-level experience, and submit the Application for Original Contractor's License with the $450 fee. Complete Live Scan fingerprinting, pass the Law and Business exam and your Trade exam, file a $25,000 contractor bond, and settle workers' compensation. Once you pay the initial license fee, the CSLB issues your license. Most applicants finish in four to eight months. See the full step-by-step process.

Before you can apply for California contractors license, you must meet the following experience requirements:

4 years of experience in the trade.*
Be at least 18 years old.**
Social Security number or ITIN

Don't have 4 years of experience?

A college degree can be substituted for up to three years of that experience.

The State will accept self-employed experience.

*You must have a combined total of 4 years full-time journeyman-level experience in the last 10 years. Journey-level experience applies to a person who has completed an apprenticeship program or is an experienced worker, not a trainee, and is fully qualified and able to perform a specific trade without supervision.

**Even though you can apply for a contractors license when you are 18 years old, it is recommended that you be at least 23 years old due to the experience requirement.

The experience you document has to match the classification you apply for. Most applicants qualify under the B general building contractors license, A general engineering contractors license, C-10 electrical contractors license, C-36 plumbing contractors license, C-20 HVAC contractors license, C-27 landscaping contractors license, C-33 painting contractors license or C-39 roofing contractors license. New to the process? Read our guide on how to get your contractors license in California.

Not sure which classification fits your trade? Browse the California contractor license classifications. Budgeting the process? Every cost is broken down on our California contractor license fees page. Ready to start studying? Our Complete California Contractors License Prep Program covers everything you need, and you can test your knowledge first with our contractors license practice exams.

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Step-by-Step: How to Get Your CSLB Contractors License

Meeting the experience requirements above is the first half of the process. These are the steps the CSLB takes you through, from picking a classification to holding the license in your hand.

Choose your CSLB classification. Pick the classification that matches the work you perform. Most applicants qualify under a general or specialty classification listed in the California contractor license classifications. The experience you document has to match the classification you apply for.
Document four years of journey-level experience. Show a combined total of four years of full-time, journey-level experience in that classification within the last 10 years. Up to three of those years can be substituted with technical training, apprenticeship training, or a college degree, but at least one year must be hands-on work in the trade. Your experience must be certified by someone with firsthand knowledge of it.
Submit the Application for Original Contractor's License. File the application with the CSLB along with the $450 application fee and your certification of work experience. Incomplete applications are the most common cause of delay, so check every signature and date before sending.
Complete Live Scan fingerprinting. The CSLB requires Live Scan fingerprinting for a criminal background check. Live Scan runs about $75, and you can see it alongside every other cost on our California contractor license fees page.
Pass the Law and Business exam and your Trade exam. Both are multiple-choice, computer-based exams and the passing score is generally 70 percent. Exam fees are $51.43 each, paid to the CSLB's approved testing vendor. Our Complete California Contractors License Prep Program covers both.
Complete the Asbestos Awareness exam. The CSLB also requires a mandatory open-book Asbestos Awareness exam. It is separate from your Law and Trade exams and is not something you need to study for the way you study for those two.
File a $25,000 contractor bond and settle workers' compensation. Every California contractor must file a $25,000 contractor license bond with the CSLB before the license is issued. You also carry workers' compensation insurance if you have employees, or file an exemption if you do not.
Pay the initial license fee and receive your license. The initial license fee is $200 for sole ownerships and $350 for corporations, partnerships, joint ventures, and LLCs. Once it is paid and the bond and workers' compensation are on file, the CSLB issues your license.

Most applicants move through this process in four to eight months. New to all of this? Start with our guide on how to get your contractors license in California.

California Contractors License Requirements FAQ

CSLB requirements on this page were last reviewed in August 2026 by Contractors Intelligence School, a California contractor license exam prep school.