What is the C-61/D-21 Machinery License?
C-61/D-21 Machinery and Pumps Contractor
A machinery and pumps contractor installs, removes, modifies or repairs:
- (a) Pumps; conveyors; cranes; dock levelers; various hoisting and material handling equipment and meters.
- (b) Dumb waiters; handicap lifting and assistance equipment; automated speed rail trolley systems for garment hanging.
- (c) Automatic car washing racks and auto body paint finishing booth equipment.
- NOTE: Construction of buildings and/or roof structures for this equipment is not included – CSLB.GOV
The C-61/D-21 machinery License is the classification required in the state of California for anyone looking to contract for projects involving machinery and pumps where the cost of labor and materials exceeds $500.
C-61 Limited Specialty Classification
The C-61 Limited Specialty License is an umbrella term for all licenses that may fall under a more obscure category of construction work. They cover specific areas of construction and construction-related tasks.
If your skillset or business is limited to one particular portion of trade work, you could obtain a C-61 limited specialty license to contract over $500 for your services legally.
Typical activities associated with the D-21 Machinery License
The D-21 contractor license covers a wide range of services associated with a variety of commonly used machinery.
While services may vary based on expertise, typical duties include:
- Design, fabrication, installation and repair of various types of machinery
- Installation and repair of automatic car wash equipment
- check Repair of auto body paint finishing booth equipment
- check Handicap lifts and overhead factory cranes
- Design and installation of conveyor belt systems
- check Load dock levelers and dumb waiters
- check Trouble shooting and repair of garment conveyors
- check Maintaining personal and job-site safety
- check Preparing bids, making invoices and accounting
- check Site evaluation and cost calculations
Car wash machinery is included under the C61/D21 license
Functioning machinery is often a vital aspect of industrial businesses that depend on assembly line production to meet quotas and fulfill orders.
As we move closer to the age of artificial intelligence and increased dependence on robots, services offered by machinery pumps contractors will become invaluable.
Subcontractor License
Due to the nature of the trade, machinery pumps contractors typically work directly with businesses that depend on some type of machinery for their bottom line.
In a construction setting, a General Engineering Contractor may hire a D-21 machinery Contractor specifically for their expertise.
A contractor holding the D-21 license may also be hired for their equipment.
As a result, a general engineering contractor ensures that this phase of the project is executed correctly.
Learn more about the General Engineering Contractor License!
CSLB
The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) is the governing body for all contractors in the state of California. Their sole responsibility is to protect the consumer public.
They ensure that anyone charging over $500 for construction services is qualified and registered with the state.
The C-61 / D-21 Machinery contractor license is issued to contractors by the CSLB.
D-21 Machinery License Requirements
To get the D-21 contractor license individuals must prove a minimum of 4 years journeyman level experience and pass a law exam.
To qualify for an exam date you must meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Have a valid Driver's License or USA Issued Identification
- Have a Social Security or ITIN #
- check Not Currently be on probation or parole
You must also have:
- 4 Years Journey Level Experience
- A Qualifying Individual to sign off on your experience
- A way to prove your experience if the state asks for documentation
What is journey level experience?
Journeyman level experience means that you have worked unsupervised full time for a Factory, General A contractor, or someone that holds the D-21 License.
- A journeyman can perform all of the duties associated with his or her trade.
The CSLB will want to see four full-time years over the last ten years. The years do not need to be consecutive, but they do need to be four years in total.
Signature of a Qualifying Individual
The following people may act as a Qualifying Individual when applying for the machinery license
- Licensed General Engineering Contractor
- C-61 / D-21 License Holder
- Former Supervisor (within the last 10 years)
- check Fellow Employee (within the last 10 years)
- check Business Associate
- check Fellow Journeyman
- check Union Representative
How to fill out the Contractor License application
In addition, your Qualifying Individual will need to provide a brief but detailed description of your knowledge and skillset.
The way this description is written is critical to whether or not your application gets accepted.
For example:
“Eduardo knows how to fix conveyor belts” is not detailed enough.
The CSLB will want to see something like:
“Eduardo has troubleshot conveyor belt systems of all kinds, hoists, conducted diagnostics, installed and repaired new systems” etc.
Most importantly, the description written by your qualifying individual has to include the core skills required for the contractor's license.
Work experience for the Contractor License
You must be prepared to submit documentation supporting the experience you claim to have. The Contractors State License Board gives you a few ways that you can prove your experience which include:
- Tax Returns
- Check Stubs
- Contracts
- Material Order Invoices or Receipts
The CSLB receives thousands of applications per month so there is a good chance they won’t document your experience but if you are one of the applicants that get reviewed you will need to be ready to submit something.
The CSLB does not accept pictures of projects.
Online Practice Exams and Study Guides
Application Processing, Fees and Criminal History
The time it takes to get your application processed and assigned a test date fluctuates throughout the year.
Typically you can expect:
- 6-8 Week Application Processing Time
- 3-4 Week wait for an Exam date
I have seen some situations where applicants got their test date sooner and somewhere they got their test date much later.
The most common reasons your application would get held up are:
- Time of year (processing time slows down during the holidays)
- Criminal History
- Proving Experience
- Mistakes on your application
Contractor License Fees
The Current CSLB fees are:
- State Application Fee – $330
- License Activation Fee – $200 (after you pass the exam)
- Fingerprinting
- Bond Fee (What is a Construction Bond?)
Can you get a Contractors License with a Felony in California?
Having a criminal record in no way stops you from getting a C-61/D-21 contractor License. I have personally helped guys with all types of criminal records obtain multiple licenses.
The key is, to be honest on the application, even if the felony or misdemeanor happened years ago and even if it was expunged.
BE 100% HONEST ON THE APPLICATION, because they will see everything anyway when you do fingerprinting. The CSLB handles criminal records on a case-by-case basis.
Remember, their responsibility is to protect the public.
Typically the CSLB is most concerned with Fraud, Embezzlement, and Forgery.
The Contractor License Exam
Contractor licenses are broken down into four categories:
1) A-General Engineering
2) B-General Building
3) C-Specialty classes
4) C-61 / D-Limited Specialty classes
Each category of license except the D-Limited Specialty license class requires that you pass a TRADE exam. C-61 Classification licenses do not have trade portions.
You must only pass a LAW exam. The exam is:
- 115 Questions on Contractor LAW
- 3 Hours to complete
- Multiple choice, taken on a computer
- check Closed Book
The Law Examination is divided into eight major sections:
1. Business Organization (10%)
- Company organization
- Project organization
2. Business Finances (15%)
- Cash management
- Budget and planning
- Taxes
- Financial reporting
3. Employment Requirements (12%)
- Employment regulations
- Evaluation and record-keeping
- Payroll
4. Bonds, Insurance, and Liens (10%)
- Bonds
- Workers’ compensation insurance
- Liens and other remedies
- Other insurance
5. Contract Requirements and Execution (23%)
- Bidding
- Cost control
- Contracts
- Payments
6. Licensing Requirements (8%)
- Business license
- Contractor’s license
- Activity regulation
7. Safety (15%)
- Training and reporting requirements
- General safety
- Hazardous/unknown materials
8. Public Works (7%)
- Prevailing wage requirements
- Bonding requirements
- Insurance requirements
What is Contractor License LAW?
Recommended Resources
CSLB Test Locations
There are currently CSLB test locations in the following cities:
- Sacramento
- San Bernardino
- San Diego
- San Jose
- Berkeley
- Fresno
- Norwalk
- Oxnard
- The CSLB will assign you a testing center based on your location
- The test is not available online
- The CSLB allows you to bring a pre-approved translator with you
- The CSLB will grant you 18 months after your application is accepted to pass the law test
- You must wait three weeks before retaking the state exam ($60 per retake)
California Contractors License Exam Prep
- Getting the D-21 Machinery License is a smooth process if you have the right information.
- It can be confusing to see un-familiar terms used to describe tools or job site practices. The Contractor LAW exam covers a number of different topics.
- Questions are presented to you as if you are running a large scale remodeling business with multiple employees.
- Being prepared and knowing what to study is the most important thing you can do in ensuring your success on the contractor license exam.
Machinery Apprenticeship
If you do not have the experience required to get the C-61/D-21 Machinery Contractor license, not to worry!
Your journey begins here. Generally, someone looking to become a contractor would want to look into an apprenticeship to find an experienced person to work with.
For a detailed explanation of this process, check out my article: Apprentice vs Journeyman!
Blueprint Reading Course
Learn Blueprint Reading!
Contractors working in factories installing various types of machinery and pumps should be able to read designs and symbols on construction blueprints.
If installation or repair is part of a larger project, being able to execute their duties within the larger scope of the job is essential.
Reading blueprints is an invaluable skill for all tradesmen but can be especially important for elevated flooring contractors.
Check out our Free Blueprint Reading Course!
OSHA Certification
Occupational Safety Hazard Association
Statistically, 21% of all work-related fatalities are in construction.
That equals about 1 and 5 worker deaths on average. In the construction industry, the leading cause of worker deaths is reported as falls, struck by an object, electrocution, and caught-in/between.
Working in factories can be dangerous, especially if your workers are not properly trained.
For employment within a factory environment typically it is a requirement that you have completed some level of OSHA training. Learn more about OSHA Training.
Conclusion
Becoming a licensed and bonded contractor can be a huge step up in your career if you are looking to start your own company or become an RMO for an existing firm!
The key is to take action and follow these steps from beginning to end.
If you have found this article helpful feel free to drop a comment below and be sure to check back for updates!