Who issues California contractor licenses?
The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) is the California state agency that licenses and regulates contractors. The CSLB is part of the Department of Consumer Affairs and has been operating since 1929. Every contractor working on a project of $500 or more in California must hold a CSLB-issued license.
The three license classifications
- Class A — General Engineering Contractor. For specialized engineering work: highways, dams, bridges, utilities, pipelines.
- Class B — General Building Contractor. For projects involving two or more unrelated trades with carpentry/framing as a central component. This is the classification most residential and commercial builders need.
- Class C — Specialty Contractor. 40+ subclasses for single-trade specialists (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, roofing, drywall, etc.).
If you build, remodel, or frame structures and your work routinely involves multiple trades, you likely need a Class B. See our General B exam guide.
The basic eligibility requirements
- 18 years or older
- Valid Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
- 4 years of journey-level, supervisory, foreman, or contracting experience in the trade within the last 10 years
- Pass both the Law & Business exam and your classification's trade exam
- Be fingerprinted (Live Scan) and pass a background check
- Post a $25,000 contractor bond
See our full requirements breakdown for the documentation you'll need to gather.
The application process, step by step
- Submit your application. Form 13A-1 plus the $450 application fee. Include your Certification of Work Experience, signed by your qualifying individual.
- Wait for processing. Typically 4-8 weeks. The CSLB will mail you exam approval and scheduling instructions.
- Schedule your exams. Both Law & Business and your trade exam are taken at PSI testing centers across California.
- Pass both exams. You have 18 months from approval to pass both. 21-day waiting period between retakes; $100 per retake.
- Submit post-exam paperwork. Bond, Workers' Comp (if applicable), $200 initial license fee, Live Scan.
- Receive your active license. Usually 2-4 weeks after submitting post-exam documents.
Total cost breakdown
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $450 |
| Initial license fee | $200 |
| Fingerprinting (Live Scan) | ~$75-100 |
| Contractor bond ($25,000) | ~$200-400/year |
| Exam retake (each) | $100 |
| Exam prep course | $199 (Premium) |
Start with a readiness check
Before paying the $450 application fee, find out where you stand. Take our free readiness test — you'll know in 10 minutes whether you're ready to begin scheduling exams or whether you need targeted prep. Then explore our Premium course for a complete study path.