Academy License Center
contractors SchoolCalifornia's #1 Contractor License Home Study Courses!
Call us toll free (888) 996-7400
|
Academy License Center contractors SchoolCalifornia's #1 Contractor License Home Study Courses! Call us toll free (888) 996-7400
|
|
|
Who must be a licensed Contractor? What are the major components of the state examination? How long does the state examination take? What is involved with the computer-assisted testing (CAT) system? What kind of feedback will I receive? Where are the examinations given? What will I receive to show that I'm licensed?
How long before I receive my license documents?
Will conviction of a criminal offense prevent a person from
being licensed as a contractor?
How long is a license valid? Who must be a licensed
Contractor? All businesses or individuals who construct or alter any building, highway, road, parking, facility, railroad, excavation, or other structure in California must be licensed by the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) if total cost (labor and materials) of one or more contracts on the project is $500 or more. Contractors including subcontractors, specialty contractors, and persons engaged in the business of home improvement must be licensed before submitting bids. Licenses may be issued to individuals, partnerships, corporations, or joint ventures. What kind of experience is required for a
contractor license? At least four years of experience is required to qualify for the exam. Credit for experience is given only for experience as a journeyman, foreman, supervising employee, contractor, or owner-builder. These are defined as follows:
Are there education requirements for a license? No. You do not have to meet any education requirements in order to qualify for a contractor's license. May I substitute any education, technical training, or apprenticeship
training for the required experience? You may receive credit for technical training, apprenticeship training, or education instead of a portion of the required four years of practical experience. You must provide written documentation of any training or education claimed in place of experience. Acceptable documentation includes copies of apprenticeship certificates and college transcripts. How much credit
can I expect to receive for technical training, the completion of an
approved apprenticeship program, or related college or university
education? The CSLB may credit training, apprenticeship, or education as follows: A maximum of 1-1/2 years upon submission of transcripts of the following:
A maximum of 2 years upon submission of transcripts of any of the following:
A maximum of 3 years upon submission of any of the following:
Do I need to reside in California to get and keep a
contractor license? No. Is there an examination requirement for a
contractor license? Yes, the qualifying individual for a contractor's license is required to pass written law and trade examinations. Also, contractors who engage in the business of home improvement or who provide goods and services for home improvement must complete the Home Improvement Certification open-book exam. What are the major components of the state examination?
How long does the
state examination take? You will be given 2 -1/2 hours to complete each examination. Failure to arrive at the test site on time may result in your seat being given to another candidate. What is involved with the computer-assisted testing (CAT) system?
What kind of feedback will I receive?
Unsuccessful test-takers are given a statement showing how well they performed in each section of the test. So the test-taker will know what areas to emphasize in preparing to retake the state examination. If I fail to appear for an examination or fail to pass the Law and Business and/or Trade examination, may I retake the examination(s)?
If you fail the Law and Business examination and/or your trade examination, you must also pay a $50 fee each time you are rescheduled. You are given 18 months to pass the examinations. If you do not pass within 18 months after your application is accepted by the Board, your application is considered void, and you will have to submit a new application. The void date on an application may be extended up to 90 days if you provide documented evidence that the failure to complete the application process was due to a medical emergency or other circumstance beyond your control. To file for rescheduling, complete the application on the bottom of the notice informing you that you failed to pass the examination and submit it with the $50 fee to the CSLB. (Please note any address change on this form.) You will be sent a notice informing you where and when to appear for your next examination. Examination results are good for five years. If you pass either the Trade or the Law and Business examination but fail the other, you need only take the examination you failed as long as you retake the examination within five years. Where are the examinations given? To make the examination procedure more convenient for applicants, testing centers are located throughout the state. The examination sites are located in San Diego, San Bernardino, Norwalk, Oxnard, Oakland, Sacramento, San Jose, and Fresno. CSLB testing staff use zip codes to assign applicants to the testing center nearest their business address. The Notice to Appear for Examination mailed to you will state where you will take your examination; the date and time of the exam; what identification is required; and directions on how to get to the examination site. What will I receive to show that I'm licensed?
How long before I receive my license
documents? You should receive your wall certificate and pocket card within approximately one week of the time your license is issued. Are there any financial requirements to
qualify for a contractor license? Yes. All applicants, other than those applying for a joint venture license, must have more than $2,500 worth of working capital. Also, a contractor's bond in the amount of $7,500 is required. Is Workers' Compensation insurance
required? All contractors are required to present proof of worker's compensation insurance coverage. Contractors who do not have employees working for them will be required to file a certificate of exemption. Will a conviction of
a criminal offense prevent a person from being licensed as a contractor? The CSLB’s applications and other forms include questions regarding criminal convictions. The CSLB may deny a license if the crime is substantially related to the duties, functions and qualifications of a contractor. Failure to disclose the requested information may, in and of itself, be grounds for denial of a license. Even if a crime is found to be substantially related to the duties, functions and qualifications of a contractor, an individual may be licensed if he or she has demonstrated sufficient rehabilitation. In 2003, the Legislature mandated that all applicants for licenses and home improvement salesperson registrations would be required to submit fingerprints with each application. All new applicants for licensure, including each officer, partner, owner and responsible managing employee; and all home improvement salespersons will have to submit fingerprints. Fingerprints are not required for: Individuals who are currently licensed by the CSLB, as long as they do not apply for any changes to their licenses; and Applicants for joint venture licenses. How much are the state licensing fees? It costs $250 for an original application fee, and $150 for the initial license fee for one classification. A contractor's license is initially issued for a two-year period. It will expire two years from the last day of the month in which it was issued. The license must be renewed every two years. However, you will not be required to take the exam again. What are the contractor license
classifications? The CSLB issues a license to contract in a particular trade or field of the construction profession. Each separate trade is recognized as a "classification". You may add as many classifications to your license as you can qualify for. The CSLB issues licenses for the following classifications:
Please refer to "License Classification" page, for a detailed description of these trades.
|
|
Send mail to
Webmaster@academylicensecenter.com with questions or comments about this web
site.
|
