What Jobs Can You Do With a C-23 contractor license?
The C-23 classification is for individuals or companies that specialize in ornamental metalworks services.
There are a variety of jobs you can bid on if you have this license, including:
- Ironworks
- Metal Fabrications
- Wrought Iron
- Metal Crafts
- Casts, cuts, shapes, stamps, and forges
- Brass, bronze, copper, and stainless steel
- Design, Fabrication, and Installation
- Architectural Metals
- Gate Services and Custom Gates
- Stair and guard railings
- Fireplace screens
- Garden arches
- Courtyard entrances
- Bakers and Pot racks
- Kitchen Islands
- Baltic Iron Doors
- Welding Repair
- Metal Design and Production
- Ornamental Iron/Welding
- Iron and Brass
- Wire Partitions
- Iron Design
- Front entry, wine room, security screen, courtyard doors
- Security and property line fences
- Pool enclosures and perimeter fences
- Pet enclosures, stables, and sheds
- Railings, staircases, metal bridges, and gazebos
- Chamfering and Shaping jobs
C-23 Metalworks Contractors and the CSLB
The C-23 license is one of 74 classifications available in California. Contractors in the state of California are governed by the CSLB(Contractors State License Board)
There are 4 major classification categories:
- A-General Engineering
- B-General Building
- B-2 Residential Remodeling
- C-Specialty
- C-61 Limited Specialty
Expanding your Metalworks business in California
Contractors in California can hold multiple classifications.
The most common pairings for the C-23 license are:
- C-60 Welding
- C-13 Fencing
- C-51 Structural Steel
- B-General Contractor
- D-28 Doors, Gates, and Activating Devices
Requirements for California C-23 Contractors
To get a contractor license you must meet the following basic requirements:
- 18 Years of Age
- 4 Years of Journeyman Level Experience
- Social Security or ITIN #
- Not Currently on Probation or Parole
- Signature from a licensed contractor, fellow employee, supervisor, or business associate
What ornamental metal concepts do I need to know for the exam?
You will definitely want to be prepared for any curveballs that could come up on the C-23 contractor license exam.
You may be presented with questions related to planning and estimation, fabrication, and safety procedures that you may or may not be familiar with.
It will be important to review everything you can.
Below is a breakdown of what you need to know:
1. Planning and Estimating (25%)
- Review project information
- Design ornamental metal products
- Site evaluation
- Fabrication preparation
- Cost calculation
2. Fabrication (23%)
- Cutting
- Tooling
- Forming metal
- Assembly
3. Installation (18%)
- Posts
- Fences, railings, and gates
- Staircases
- Miscellaneous products
4. Finishes and Repairs (12%)
- Preparation and application
- Repairs
5. Safety (22%)
- Personnel and job site
- Transportation
- Environmental
What's the C-23 ornamental metal exam process like?
The exam will be:
- 115 Questions Law & Business
- 115 Questions Ornamental Metals
- Multiple Choice
- Closed Book
- 3 Hours to Complete each section
- Taken via Computer at a proctored exam facility
- Exam centers located all over the state of California
Math Skills
There will be math on your CSLB law & business and trade exam.
On the law side, questions will be presented to you as if you are a General Building Contractor with multiple projects running simultaneously with several employees.
You can expect math questions related to:
- Arithmetic
- Cost Estimation
- Percentages and Decimals
The math you can expect on the C-23 license exam may vary. Be prepared for questions that may include:
- Geometry
- Units of measurement
Blueprint Reading Skills
Blueprint reading is a fundamental skill for all contractors.
Knowing how to interpret plans and is a key part of the job if you are working within a construction crew.
Some aspects of plan reading may also be your examination.
For a deeper look at blueprint reading concepts, check out this free blueprint reading guide.
CSLB law & business exam
Our complete course is a guide for aspiring California metal contractors.
A step by step break down all of the essential knowledge you need to be successful on your CSLB law & business examination.
In addition to passing your exam, those looking to get the C-23 license will be equipped with a crash course on how to run a profitable business.
You will learn:
- Company organization
- How to bid effectively
- Understanding cost control
- Various contract types
- Cash management
- Estimation fundamentals
- CAL/OSHA
- Business Structures
- Worker’s Compensation and Taxes
- Insurance Types in Construction
- Labor Laws and Employee Rights
- Hiring and Firing Practices
- Contractor Bonds
- Mechanics Liens
- State Laws and Statutes
- Project Management 101
- Prevailing Wages and Public Works
- And Much More!