- Construction Zone Traffic Control Contractors offer a highly specialized service to Construction companies engaging in any project that impedes or is near traffic.
- Commonly used by public works contractors engaging in the construction, maintenance or repair of freeways, roadways, and or below-ground pipeline projects.
- Traffic control services are often outsourced to firms that specialize in ensuring a safe construction site as well as providing traffic control equipment for lease or rental.
This article will provide you with every single detail you need to know about:
- Construction zone traffic control
- C-31 License requirements
- California Contractor License exam questions
- Study guides
- How to fill out the C-31 License application
What is a Construction Zone Traffic Control Contractor?
The C-31 license is the classification required in the state of California for all persons looking to bid on Construction Zone Traffic Control projects where the cost of labor and materials exceeds $500.
A Construction Zone Traffic Control license does not allow you to bid on a project outside of the realm of traffic control.
Duties of a Traffic Control Contractor
Traffic Control Contractors sometimes referred to as traffic management contractors generally vary based on the specific needs of the client but generally include:
- Designing traffic control plans
- Creating and installing customized traffic control signs
- Installation of traffic control devices
- Implementing lane closures
- Directing traffic
- Loading and securing construction equipment for transport
- Applying for lane closure permits and notifying the public of the construction
- Maintaining job site safety
- Bidding, estimating, accounting, and book-keeping
Construction Zone Traffic Control Contractors may also be required to hold an American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) flagger and traffic supervisor certification.
Traffic Control companies must also have traffic signs approved by the California Department of Transportation.
Construction Zone Traffic Control Subcontractor
In many cases, traffic control contractors work directly with a General Contractor or General Engineering Contractor.
They may continually provide traffic control services for multiple projects over an extended period of time.
General Contractors seek out companies that hold the traffic control license as they typically have all the necessary equipment and are familiar with the process of pulling the correct permits required.
General Contractors oversee that the traffic control subcontractor has not only executed their duties in adherence to the codes and laws of a specific county or municipality but often to the specific customized requests of the client.
For a deeper look at the functions of a General Contractor check out this article.
The 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 and ensure that anyone charging over $500 for construction services is qualified and registered with the state of California.
The traffic control license is issued to contractors by the CSLB.
The CSLB administers applications and exams. They also maintain a database of all active and inactive contractor license numbers which are public domain.
How to get a Traffic Control License
To get a C-31 license in California, you must prove a minimum of 4 years of journeyman-level experience and pass a two-part state exam with the Contractor State License Board.
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 #
- Not Currently on probation or parole
You must also have:
- 4 Years Journey Level Experience
- A Certifier to sign off on your experience
- A way to prove your experience if the state asks for documentation
What is Journey Level Experience?
Journey-level experience is experience gained working unsupervised full-time for either a construction zone traffic control company, General Contractor, union, or directly under someone that holds the traffic control License.
Some Journeyman-level tradesmen have also completed apprenticeship programs. A Journeyman level tradesman can perform all the duties associated with his or her trade.
The state will want to see 4 full-time years of experience within the last 10 years. The years do not need to be consecutive, but they do need to be 4 years in total.
Signature of a Certifier
The following people may be used as a certifier to sign off on your experience when applying for the traffic control license:
- Licensed General Contractor
- C-31 traffic control license Holder
- Fellow Employee (within the last 10 years)
- Former Supervisor (within the last 10 years)
- Business Associate
- Fellow Journeyman
- Union Representative
Filling out the C-31 Traffic Control License Application
Your Qualifying Individual will also need to provide a brief but detailed description of your masonry knowledge and skillset.
The way this description is written will be critical to whether or not your application is accepted. For example:
“Ed set up some cones and directed traffic for us while we fixed an underground pipe” will not be accepted by the CSLB.
Your description will want to read something more like:
“Ed has Verified permits for traffic control projects, knows proper procedures for flagging, owns and maintains all personal protective equipment, and has designed traffic control plans” etc.
Work experience for the Traffic Control License
There is a possibility that the CSLB will ask you to submit documentation supporting your construction zone traffic control experience.
The state board gives you many ways to prove your experience including Tax Returns, check stubs, receipts, invoices, and even contracts.
The contractor’s state license board receives thousands of applications per month so there is a good chance they won’t request further documentation of your experience but if you are one of the applicants that get reviewed you will need to be ready to submit this documentation.
Once your application has been accepted, you should receive your exam date within a matter of weeks.
Application Processing, Fees, and Criminal History
The average application processing time is between 6-8 weeks.
Typically you receive your exam date with another 3-4 weeks’ notice before actually going to take the exam.
- This time frame can fluctuate based on many factors including:
- Time of year (processing time slows down during the holidays),
- Criminal History,
- Request to prove further documentation of experience
- Potential mistakes on your application.
In total, the entire process should take 90 days assuming none of the mentioned issues arise.
The current state fees are:
1. State Application Fee (one-time fee per application sent to the state board )
2. License Activation Fee ( paid every two years )
Upon passing the exam, you will also be required to provide a Contractor Bond number. For more information on bonding. Check out my article on Contractor Bonds.
Can you get a Contractor’s License with a Felony in California?
Having a criminal record in no way stops you from getting the construction zone traffic control License.
Thousands of contractors get licensed each year despite their criminal records. 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 when you do a live scan fingerprinting. The CSLB handles criminal records on a case-by-case basis.
See the CSLB’s verbiage below:
Just because you have been convicted of a crime does not automatically mean
your application will be denied. CSLB’s Criminal Background Unit (CBU) reviews
all criminal convictions to determine if the crime is substantially related to
the duties, qualifications, and/or functions of a contractor. Since no two
conviction records are the same, they are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The
criteria used by CSLB include whether the crime shows the present or potential
unfitness of an applicant or licensee to perform the functions authorized by
the license in a manner consistent with the public health, safety, or welfare.
In addition, CSLB reviews and considers any evidence of rehabilitation
submitted by the applicant or licensee. Please see the above link to the
California Code of Regulations sections 868 and 869 for more specific
information on the criteria for determining substantial relationship and
rehabilitation.
Learn more about the Background Check Process here:
Fraud, Embezzlement, and Forgery
Remember, the state board’s responsibility is to protect the public.
In my experience, they are mainly concerned with criminal charges associated with fraud, embezzlement, forgery, or some type of financial-related crime.
If your conviction does not fall under these categories most likely, you will have no issues when applying for a masonry license, but you will need to be prepared to submit any court documents or prove rehabilitation at the state’s request.
In the state of California, you are required to divulge any criminal charges when applying for any type of state license even if they have been expunged.
Contractor License Exam
The traffic control license exam will be:
- 115 Questions of Contractor LAW
- 115 Questions on Construction Zone traffic Control
- 3 hours to complete each portion
- Multiple choice exam
- Done on a computer
- Closed Book
The Construction Zone Traffic Control license (C-31) Examination is divided into four key sections:
1. Planning and Estimation (16%)
- Designing traffic control plans
- Reading and evaluating plans to determine the scope of work
- Evaluating compliance with CA MUTCD and other regulations
- Estimating material, equipment, and labor costs
2. Permits and Notifications (4%)
- Verifying permits for traffic control projects
- Notifying the public and the appropriate agencies regarding traffic control
3. Traffic Control Installation (56%)
- Developing installation plans with contingencies
- Installing traffic control devices
- Procedures for flagging
- Inspecting and maintaining traffic control zones
- Removing traffic control devices
- Implementing lane closures
4. Safety (24%)
- Personal protective equipment
- Evaluating traffic control equipment
- Loading and securing equipment for transport
- Implementing safe environments and emergency procedures
Recommended Resources
- C-31 Online Practice Exams and Study Guides
- Introduction to Blueprint Reading
- OSHA Safety Certification Bundle
CSLB Test Locations
The C-31 Traffic Control license exam is administered on a computer.
The CSLB has exam centers all over the state of California. Once your
application is approved you will be given a list of locations you can go and
take the exam based on your zip code.
These are proctored facilities with cubicles where you take the exam on a
computer. The computer will have a calculator for your use. You will not be
able to bring in a phone, notes, or personal calculator to the exam center.
The Contractors State License Board will assign you a testing center based on your location. The state exam is not available online.
You are allowed to bring a pre-approved translator with you. The CSLB will grant you 18 months after your application is accepted to pass both examinations.
($100 per retake)
For more information about what is on the California Contractor LAW Exam, be sure to check out our blog post covering everything you need to know.
Contractor license exam prep
Getting your traffic control license can be a smooth process if you have the right information.
Understanding the difference between how things are done every day on the job site vs. how the state will expect you to perform your trade is a very important part of passing the exam.
Trade Experience vs Trade Exam Questions
Applicants get surprised by how different the subject matter on the state exam is from their years of first-hand experience.
They get confused when they see terms used to describe tools or job site practices.
Remember, they are testing you on all the things you will be allowed to bid on, so make sure that you are knowledgeable on all aspects of your trade.
Being prepared is the most important thing you can do in ensuring your success on the contractor license exam.
Consistent Study Process
Studying C-31 license practice tests along with explanations and diagrams for as little as 10 minutes a day is a small investment to make, but will increase your likelihood of success.
It will be essential to study a standardized resource that will give you the information that you need, which is to pass the state exam.
For schools and C-31 traffic control license study guides designed to help you with the state exam, check out my post on the best resources to pass your state exam.
Construction Zone Traffic Control Training
If you don’t have the 4 years required journeyman-level experience to obtain a C-31 license, not to worry.
Your journey begins here.
Traffic Control work is highly specialized with an unlimited amount of opportunity.
Whether you are brand new to the industry, have dabbled over the years or are coming back and want to brush up your skills, there is a myriad of resources available to help you learn the basics or get up to speed. Books, Certification Classes, and courses are available in most cities and online.
Traffic Control Certifications
Usually, someone looking to enter traffic control would begin obtaining certification with the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) and then find a traffic control company to get a job.
After gaining the necessary 4 years of journeyman-level experience, you would then be able to apply for the C-31 Traffic Control license.
For information on courses in your area or books to get you on the right path click here.
EPA Certification
Containing lead paint when making alterations to a home or structure built before 1978 is vital for construction zone traffic control contractors.
Having a solid understanding of the health effects of lead paint and proper procedures to contain or remove it are valuable skills for all tradesmen working in a residential or commercial setting.
Traffic control contractors looking to build a profitable business must position themselves as experts and the authority within their industry.
They must be a source of information for their clients and community if they want referrals and repeat business.
For more information on adhering to EPA Standards when dealing with Lead Paint check out my article on lead safety.
Blue Print Reading Course
It is critical for construction zone traffic control contractors to be able to follow specific designs and blueprints to correctly identify the full area of a construction site.
Safety is the most essential aspect of the traffic control license, so being able to see parts of a construction project that may pose a particular danger to the public and applying the necessary traffic control procedures is very important.
The ability to quickly interpret construction blueprints is an invaluable skill for all tradesmen but is especially important for traffic control contractors.
Get Started!
There is a massive opportunity in this space for individuals who have the required experience, professional-grade equipment, traffic control license, and bonding.
Companies that obtain the construction zone traffic control License that are professional, safe, and offer excellent customer service can quickly build a profitable business.
Offering critical services to lucrative construction businesses that require work zone safety, can position you to become very wealthy.
Getting the C-31 license can be a huge step in your career if you are looking to start a business or even become an RMO.
Just take action!