California Contractor License Requirements
Every figure below was read off the CSLB or the statute, and the sentence it came from is listed at the bottom of this page. Where a figure could not be verified this page says so rather than showing a number.
What the state requires
- Licence
- B - General Building Contractor
- Issued by
- Contractors State License BoardCal. Bus. & Prof. Code div. 3, ch. 9 (Contractors' State License Law)
- Exam
- Law and Business examination plus a Trade examination for the classification applied for; an Asbestos Open Book Exam is also taken after the license examinationPSI
- Exam fee
- No verified figureOriginal application (exam or waiver, one classification) is $450. The initial license fee is $200 for a sole owner and $350 for any other business type (corporation, partnership, joint venture, LLC) and issues the license for two years. CSLB does not publish a flat examination fee: applicants self-schedule and pay PSI directly, so exam_fee_usd is null. Active timely renewal is $450 (sole owner) or $700 (non-sole owner); C-10 electrical pays $20 more.
- Application fee
- $450
- Initial licence fee
- $200
- Licence bond
- $25,000Contractor's bond of $25,000 filed with the Registrar. A separate Bond of Qualifying Individual, also $25,000, is required when the license is qualified by an RME, or by an RMO who does not own at least 10% of the voting stock. A disciplinary bond, when imposed, may not be less than $25,000 nor more than ten times the contractor's bond.
- General liability
- Not requiredCSLB does not require general liability insurance as a condition of licensure (only LLC applicants must carry a separate liability policy). Workers' compensation coverage or a certificate of self-insurance must be on file as a condition of licensure unless the licensee is exempt; C-8 Concrete, C-20 HVAC, C-22 Asbestos Abatement, C-39 Roofing and C-61/D-49 Tree Service contractors must carry it whether or not they have employees.
- Workers compensation
- Required
- Experience
- 4 yearsAt least four years of journey-level, foreman, supervising-employee or contractor experience in the classification applied for, within the last 10 years. Up to three years may be credited for technical training, apprenticeship training or education; at least one year must be practical experience.
- Continuing education
- No continuing education requiredCSLB publishes no continuing education requirement for contractor license renewal; renewal is a fee and a bond/workers' comp filing.
- Renewal
- Every 2 years
- NASCLA exam
- AcceptedOnly inside CSLB's reciprocity program. A candidate who passed the NASCLA Commercial Building exam and has held an equivalent general builder license in good standing for five or more years in a reciprocal state (Louisiana, North Carolina, Mississippi, Utah, Nevada, Arizona) may have the B - General Building trade exam waived; the California Law and Business exam is still required. CSLB does not accept the NASCLA exam from a first-time California applicant. NASCLA also lists CSLB among agencies that accept its accredited exam.
What people get wrong
The $450 is an application fee, not the whole cost: the license is not issued until the separate $200/$350 initial license fee is paid, so a sole owner pays $650 and a corporation/LLC $800 before the license exists. The universal workers' compensation mandate that SB 216 (2022) set for January 1, 2026 was pushed back by SB 1455 (2024); the exemption for licensees without employees still exists today except in the five classifications listed above.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a contractor licence in California?
- Yes. California issues a state general contractor licence — B - General Building Contractor — through the Contractors State License Board. The $450 is an application fee, not the whole cost: the license is not issued until the separate $200/$350 initial license fee is paid, so a sole owner pays $650 and a corporation/LLC $800 before the license exists. The universal workers' compensation mandate that SB 216 (2022) set for January 1, 2026 was pushed back by SB 1455 (2024); the exemption for licensees without employees still exists today except in the five classifications listed above.
- How much is the California contractor licence bond?
- $25,000. Contractor's bond of $25,000 filed with the Registrar. A separate Bond of Qualifying Individual, also $25,000, is required when the license is qualified by an RME, or by an RMO who does not own at least 10% of the voting stock. A disciplinary bond, when imposed, may not be less than $25,000 nor more than ten times the contractor's bond.
- Does California accept the NASCLA exam?
- Yes. Only inside CSLB's reciprocity program. A candidate who passed the NASCLA Commercial Building exam and has held an equivalent general builder license in good standing for five or more years in a reciprocal state (Louisiana, North Carolina, Mississippi, Utah, Nevada, Arizona) may have the B - General Building trade exam waived; the California Law and Business exam is still required. CSLB does not accept the NASCLA exam from a first-time California applicant. NASCLA also lists CSLB among agencies that accept its accredited exam.
Sources
“Original Application (exam or waiver for one classification) $450 ... Initial License Fee (Sole Owner) $200 ... Initial License Fee (Non-Sole Owner) $350”
https://www.cslb.ca.gov/About_Us/Library/Fees.aspx“You must file a Contractor's Bond or Information on Alternatives in Lieu of Bond Requirements with the Registrar in the amount of $25,000. ... A contractor license initially is issued for a two-year period.”
https://www.cslb.ca.gov/contractors/applicants/contractors_license/exam_application/Issuing_My_License.aspx“The bond must be in the amount of $25,000. ... The amount may not be less than $25,000 nor greater than ten times the amount of the contractors' bond.”
https://www.cslb.ca.gov/contractors/maintain_license/bond_information/bond_requirements.aspx“You must have at least four (4) years of experience, in the class you are applying for, to qualify to take the examination. ... You may receive credit of up to three (3) years for technical training, apprenticeship training, or education toward the four (4) years of required experience in the classification for which you are seeking licensure.”
https://web.cslb.ca.gov/Contractors/Applicants/Contractors_License/Exam_Application/Experience_For_Exam.aspx“All active C-8 Concrete contractors, C-20 Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning contractors, C-22 Asbestos Abatement contractors, C-39 Roofing contractors, and/or C-61/D-49 Tree Service contractors are required to carry workers' compensation insurance or a valid Certification of Self-Insurance, whether or not they have employees.”
https://www.cslb.ca.gov/contractors/maintain_license/workers_compensation.aspx“As a condition of licensure, an applicant must take and pass two examinations: Law and business and Trade.”
https://www.cslb.ca.gov/Contractors/Applicants/“To make the examination procedure more convenient for applicants, testing is performed at PSI Exams. You will be responsible for self-scheduling each test and paying the associated fees directly through PSI.”
https://www.cslb.ca.gov/contractors/applicants/contractors_license/exam_application/Application_Accepted.aspx“Candidates must have taken and passed the NASCLA Commercial Building exam and have held a General Builder license from Louisiana in good standing for five years or more to qualify for a B - General Building trade exam waiver.”
https://www.cslb.ca.gov/contractors/applicants/reciprocity/reciprocal_classifications_list.aspx
Then there is the exam
Practise California exam questions free, with explanations that cite the reference book and section.