How to Get a Contractor License in California

California requires a state license for every trade we track. The main contractor license is the CSLB Contractor License, which costs $650 to start and needs two exams, Law and Business plus Trade. All 10 trades we could rate score the same, 72 of 100.

The California contractor license

How to apply

1. Confirm you have 4 years of journey-level experience in the classification.
2. File the exam application with the $450 fee and Live Scan fingerprints.
3. Pass the Law and Business exam and the trade exam at PSI.
4. Send the $25,000 bond, workers compensation proof and the initial license fee.
5. Pull permits from the city or county building department.

Required for any job needing a permit, using employees, or totaling $1,000 or more.

Official license page

State license requirements for each trade in California

Tap a column to sort. Difficulty covers the state license only. Checked October 18, 2026.

Details for each trade

Foundation repair

CSLB defines C-21 as raising, lowering, cribbing, underpinning, demolishing and moving structures including their foundations, but not repairs to the parts that stay. Pier and underpinning work fits C-21; rebuilding or repairing foundation concrete as part of a larger remodel fits B General Building (or C-8 for concrete only). Ask the building department whether the work needs engineered plans. A license is required when the job needs a building permit, uses any employees, or totals $1,000 or more in labor and materials.

Ask the city or county building department whether the repair needs a permit and an engineer letter or sealed design.

1. Confirm you have 4 years of journey-level experience in the classification.
2. File the exam application with the $450 fee and Live Scan fingerprints.
3. Pass the Law and Business exam and the trade exam at PSI.
4. Send the $25,000 bond, workers compensation proof and the initial license fee.
5. Pull permits from the city or county building department.

Difficulty 72, hard (exams 15, business and law exam 5, experience 20, fees 15, bond 8, insurance 5, background check 4).

Checked October 18, 2026 against CSLB fee schedule; CSLB, Issuing my license (initial fee, $25,000 bond, workers comp); CSLB, Experience for exam (4 years journey level); CSLB, Before applying ($1,000 minor work rule); CSLB Examination FAQ (PSI); CSLB C-21 classification; CSLB C-8 classification.

General contracting (residential remodels, additions and home improvement)

B covers building projects that use 2 or more unrelated trades. B-2, added in 2021, covers non-structural improvements to existing wood-frame homes using at least 3 unrelated trades. A license is required when the job needs a building permit, uses any employees, or totals $1,000 or more in labor and materials.

Ask the city or county building department about building permits for remodels and additions.

1. Confirm you have 4 years of journey-level experience in the classification.
2. File the exam application with the $450 fee and Live Scan fingerprints.
3. Pass the Law and Business exam and the trade exam at PSI.
4. Send the $25,000 bond, workers compensation proof and the initial license fee.
5. Pull permits from the city or county building department.

Difficulty 72, hard (exams 15, business and law exam 5, experience 20, fees 15, bond 8, insurance 5, background check 4).

Checked October 18, 2026 against CSLB fee schedule; CSLB, Issuing my license (initial fee, $25,000 bond, workers comp); CSLB, Experience for exam (4 years journey level); CSLB, Before applying ($1,000 minor work rule); CSLB Examination FAQ (PSI); CSLB B-2 classification (B&P 7057.5).

Roofing

Roof coverings and weatherproofing. A license is required when the job needs a building permit, uses any employees, or totals $1,000 or more in labor and materials.

Ask the city or county building department whether a reroof needs a permit.

1. Confirm you have 4 years of journey-level experience in the classification.
2. File the exam application with the $450 fee and Live Scan fingerprints.
3. Pass the Law and Business exam and the trade exam at PSI.
4. Send the $25,000 bond, workers compensation proof and the initial license fee.
5. Pull permits from the city or county building department.

Difficulty 72, hard (exams 15, business and law exam 5, experience 20, fees 15, bond 8, insurance 5, background check 4).

Checked October 18, 2026 against CSLB fee schedule; CSLB, Issuing my license (initial fee, $25,000 bond, workers comp); CSLB, Experience for exam (4 years journey level); CSLB, Before applying ($1,000 minor work rule); CSLB Examination FAQ (PSI); CSLB C-39 classification.

Plumbing

Plumbing systems. A license is required when the job needs a building permit, uses any employees, or totals $1,000 or more in labor and materials.

Ask the city or county building department who may pull plumbing permits.

1. Confirm you have 4 years of journey-level experience in the classification.
2. File the exam application with the $450 fee and Live Scan fingerprints.
3. Pass the Law and Business exam and the trade exam at PSI.
4. Send the $25,000 bond, workers compensation proof and the initial license fee.
5. Pull permits from the city or county building department.

Difficulty 72, hard (exams 15, business and law exam 5, experience 20, fees 15, bond 8, insurance 5, background check 4).

Checked October 18, 2026 against CSLB fee schedule; CSLB, Issuing my license (initial fee, $25,000 bond, workers comp); CSLB, Experience for exam (4 years journey level); CSLB, Before applying ($1,000 minor work rule); CSLB Examination FAQ (PSI); CSLB C-36 classification.

Electrical

Electrical systems. C-10 renewals cost $20 more ($470 or $720). A license is required when the job needs a building permit, uses any employees, or totals $1,000 or more in labor and materials.

Ask the city or county building department who may pull electrical permits.

1. Confirm you have 4 years of journey-level experience in the classification.
2. File the exam application with the $450 fee and Live Scan fingerprints.
3. Pass the Law and Business exam and the trade exam at PSI.
4. Send the $25,000 bond, workers compensation proof and the initial license fee.
5. Pull permits from the city or county building department.

Difficulty 72, hard (exams 15, business and law exam 5, experience 20, fees 15, bond 8, insurance 5, background check 4).

Checked October 18, 2026 against CSLB fee schedule; CSLB, Issuing my license (initial fee, $25,000 bond, workers comp); CSLB, Experience for exam (4 years journey level); CSLB, Before applying ($1,000 minor work rule); CSLB Examination FAQ (PSI); CSLB C-10 classification.

HVAC

HVAC systems. A license is required when the job needs a building permit, uses any employees, or totals $1,000 or more in labor and materials.

Ask the city or county building department who may pull mechanical permits.

1. Confirm you have 4 years of journey-level experience in the classification.
2. File the exam application with the $450 fee and Live Scan fingerprints.
3. Pass the Law and Business exam and the trade exam at PSI.
4. Send the $25,000 bond, workers compensation proof and the initial license fee.
5. Pull permits from the city or county building department.

Difficulty 72, hard (exams 15, business and law exam 5, experience 20, fees 15, bond 8, insurance 5, background check 4).

Checked October 18, 2026 against CSLB fee schedule; CSLB, Issuing my license (initial fee, $25,000 bond, workers comp); CSLB, Experience for exam (4 years journey level); CSLB, Before applying ($1,000 minor work rule); CSLB Examination FAQ (PSI); CSLB C-20 classification.

Irrigation

C-27 builds and repairs landscape systems and grades plots for them; irrigation is landscape system work. A license is required when the job needs a building permit, uses any employees, or totals $1,000 or more in labor and materials.

Ask the city or county building department and the water utility about permits and backflow devices for the water connection.

1. Confirm you have 4 years of journey-level experience in the classification.
2. File the exam application with the $450 fee and Live Scan fingerprints.
3. Pass the Law and Business exam and the trade exam at PSI.
4. Send the $25,000 bond, workers compensation proof and the initial license fee.
5. Pull permits from the city or county building department.

Difficulty 72, hard (exams 15, business and law exam 5, experience 20, fees 15, bond 8, insurance 5, background check 4).

Checked October 18, 2026 against CSLB fee schedule; CSLB, Issuing my license (initial fee, $25,000 bond, workers comp); CSLB, Experience for exam (4 years journey level); CSLB, Before applying ($1,000 minor work rule); CSLB Examination FAQ (PSI); CSLB C-27 classification.

Concrete flatwork (driveways, sidewalks and work in the public right-of-way)

Forms, pours and finishes pavement, flat and other concrete work. A license is required when the job needs a building permit, uses any employees, or totals $1,000 or more in labor and materials.

Ask the city or county building department about driveway, sidewalk and right-of-way permits.

1. Confirm you have 4 years of journey-level experience in the classification.
2. File the exam application with the $450 fee and Live Scan fingerprints.
3. Pass the Law and Business exam and the trade exam at PSI.
4. Send the $25,000 bond, workers compensation proof and the initial license fee.
5. Pull permits from the city or county building department.

Difficulty 72, hard (exams 15, business and law exam 5, experience 20, fees 15, bond 8, insurance 5, background check 4).

Checked October 18, 2026 against CSLB fee schedule; CSLB, Issuing my license (initial fee, $25,000 bond, workers comp); CSLB, Experience for exam (4 years journey level); CSLB, Before applying ($1,000 minor work rule); CSLB Examination FAQ (PSI); CSLB C-8 classification.

Drainage and detention (grading, drainage, stormwater and detention ponds)

Cuts, fills, excavation, grading, trenching and paving. Ask CSLB which classification fits drainage piping. A license is required when the job needs a building permit, uses any employees, or totals $1,000 or more in labor and materials.

Ask the city or county building department about grading, drainage and stormwater approvals.

1. Confirm you have 4 years of journey-level experience in the classification.
2. File the exam application with the $450 fee and Live Scan fingerprints.
3. Pass the Law and Business exam and the trade exam at PSI.
4. Send the $25,000 bond, workers compensation proof and the initial license fee.
5. Pull permits from the city or county building department.

Difficulty 72, hard (exams 15, business and law exam 5, experience 20, fees 15, bond 8, insurance 5, background check 4).

Checked October 18, 2026 against CSLB fee schedule; CSLB, Issuing my license (initial fee, $25,000 bond, workers comp); CSLB, Experience for exam (4 years journey level); CSLB, Before applying ($1,000 minor work rule); CSLB Examination FAQ (PSI); CSLB C-12 classification.

Demolition

Demolishes and removes structures including foundations. A license is required when the job needs a building permit, uses any employees, or totals $1,000 or more in labor and materials.

Ask the city or county building department about demolition permits.

1. Confirm you have 4 years of journey-level experience in the classification.
2. File the exam application with the $450 fee and Live Scan fingerprints.
3. Pass the Law and Business exam and the trade exam at PSI.
4. Send the $25,000 bond, workers compensation proof and the initial license fee.
5. Pull permits from the city or county building department.

Difficulty 72, hard (exams 15, business and law exam 5, experience 20, fees 15, bond 8, insurance 5, background check 4).

Checked October 18, 2026 against CSLB fee schedule; CSLB, Issuing my license (initial fee, $25,000 bond, workers comp); CSLB, Experience for exam (4 years journey level); CSLB, Before applying ($1,000 minor work rule); CSLB Examination FAQ (PSI); CSLB C-21 classification.

Exams for a California license

Tap a column to sort. Each exam name opens the provider's bulletin or exam page. A blank cell is a fact not confirmed from the provider, and the linked bulletin has the full rules.

• Trade exams must be taken in California or Oregon. Each classification has its own study guide.

Checked October 18, 2026 against PSI CSLB Law and Business examination guide; CSLB examination FAQ; CSLB Law and Business study guide; PSI CSLB General Building (B) examination guide; CSLB examination study guides.

Official sources

• Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
• CSLB License Classifications
• CSLB Fees

Licensing pages for nearby states cover Arizona, Nevada, and Oregon.

Rules and fees change, and this is not legal advice. Confirm with the licensing board before you apply or bid.