What is the C-61/D-24 Metal Products License?
“A metal products contractor installs, modifies, or repairs the following:
- (a) Metal cabinets, lockers, modular storage structures, mail chutes, cable racks; and aluminum or vinyl storm doors and windows.
- (b) Metal wall tiles; aluminum fascia covers; and metal gutters.
- (c) Aluminum studs and trusses; metal railings and turnstiles; metal prison cell accessories such as welded-to-structure cell furniture; grills and cabinets“ – CSLB.GOV
The C-61/D-24 Metal Products License is the classification required in the state of California for anyone looking to contract for projects involving everyday metal products 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
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-24 Metal Products License
The D-24 contractor license covers a wide range of services associated with metal products.
While services may vary based on expertise, typical duties include:
- Design, fabrication, installation and repair of various metal products
- Installation and repair of aluminum trusses, turnstiles and cabinets
- Metal stamping and corrugated metal
- Fabrication of fascia covers metal and aluminum gutters
- Customized metal products production
- Metal Forming
- Cost calculations, bidding, accounting, and bookkeeping
- Maintaining personal and job-site safety
- Adhering to environmental safety codes
There are several licenses offered within the metal discipline.
The D-24 contractor is generally a common classification held by companies that produce simple metal products.
Online Practice Exams and Study Guides
Subcontractor License
Due to the nature of the trade, metal contractors typically work directly with businesses or clients looking to have customized jobs done.
In a construction setting, a General may hire a D-24 Metal Contractor specifically for their expertise or specialized equipment.
As a result, a general contractor oversees the project to completion and ensures that this phase of the work is executed correctly.
Learn more about the General 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-24 Metal contractor license is issued to contractors by the CSLB.
D-24 Metal Products Contractor License Requirements
To get the metal products 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 metal production company or someone that holds the D-24 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 metal products contractor license
- Licensed General Contractor
- C-61 / D-24 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:
“Jose knows how to fabricate filing cabinets” is not descriptive enough.
The CSLB will want to see something more like:
“Jose has worked with various types of metal products to create filing cabinets, lockers, modular storage structures, and mail chutes”
Most importantly, the description written by your qualifying individual has to include the core skills a metal contractor is expected to have.
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.
However, 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.
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-24 Metal 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 exams.
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
Learn more about Contractor License LAW!
Recommended Resources
- CSLB Law & Business Study Guides and Practice Tests
- Introduction to Blueprint Reading
- OSHA Safety Certification Bundle
CSLB Test Locations
- Berkeley
- Fresno
- Norwalk
- San Jose
- Oxnard
- Sacramento
- San Bernardino
- San Diego
- You have 18 months after your application is accepted to pass both examinations
- You must wait 3 weeks to re-take the exam. $60 Per Re-take
- You must score 70% or more
What is on the Law & Business portion of the C-61/D-24 Metal Products License exam?
California Contractors License Exam Prep
- Getting the D-24 Metal Products 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.
Metal Apprenticeship
If you do not have the experience required to get the C-61/D-24 Metal Products Contractor license, not to worry!
Your journey begins here. Generally, someone looking to become a metal 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
Contractors that work with Metal Products or installation 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.
Learn Blueprint Reading Here!
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.
Installing or repairing metal products can be dangerous, especially if your workers are not properly trained.
For employment within a metal products company, 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 metal products 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!