What Is A General Contractor License?
The General Contractor License is the classification required in the state of California for all contractors that want to bid on residential and commercial construction or remodel projects where the cost of labor and materials exceeds $500.
General Contractors can oversee projects that include a variety of different trades and areas of expertise including:
- Earthwork and Demolition
- Rough Framing and Carpentry
- Flooring
- Stacking, Joisting, Bracing, and Installing Girders
- Roofing and Installing Shingles
- Installing Gas Lines and Sewer Lines
- Mixing Mortar and Pouring Concrete
- Landscaping and Painting
- Electrical Work
- Wiring and Installing Receptacles
- Insulation and Acoustical Work
- Plumbing, Installing Sinks and Bathrooms
- Residential Home Construction and Remodels
- Commercial Apartments, Restaurants, and Strip Malls
- Lathing and Plastering
Jobs You Can Do With a General B License!
What Is the Role of the General Contractor?
General contractors are expected to have a supervisory-level knowledge of all trades associated with residential and commercial building projects.
For example, if a homeowner needs several things repaired on their home they would hire a general contractor that is licensed and qualified to oversee various stages of the construction process.
They are responsible for sub-contracting specialty tradesmen to complete tasks on a construction project.
A General Contractor will often oversee the direct management of a job site and report to either a project manager, or architect, or directly to the client.
Construction plans may be delivered to the general contractor who would then assess the scope of the project.
They would then be responsible for:
- Hiring Subcontractors
- Ensuring Job Site Safety
- Estimating Labor and Material Costs
- Ensuring the Job is completed on time and at spec.
- Pulling Building Permits
- Ensure that the Project is being executed to code
- Scheduling Inspections
- Keeping clients, project managers, and investors up to date on progress
Blueprint Reading
Anyone in a supervisory role on a construction site should know how to read blueprints.
General contractors have to be able to follow specific designs, and symbols, and interpret what an architect is trying to communicate.
The ability to quickly identify lines, abbreviations, and measuring tools are vital skills. Blueprint reading is also very important for the General Contractor License test.
A general contractor may be asked to create functional sketches and assess costs and hire workers based on a construction blueprint.
If you would like more info on blueprint reading courses that can help you brush up on these important skills be sure to check out my Blue Print Reading Course for a basic introduction to the concepts you will want to know about.
General Engineering Contractor vs. General Building Contractor
There is a lot of misinformation about what a General B contractor can and can't do.
The biggest differences between the general contractor and general engineering contractor licenses are illustrated below:
General Building Contractor (General B)
- Residential and Commercial Projects
- Homes, Apartment Buildings, Restaurants, Strip Malls
- Framing, Electrical, Concrete, Plumbing
- Requires 4 Years of Journeyman Level Experience
- Must pass the LAW and TRADE exam
General Engineering Contractor (General A)
- Engineering and Public Works Projects
- Bridges, Dams, Freeways, Waterways, Airports, Railroads, refineries
- Engineering, Earthwork, Tunneling, Concrete
- Requires 4 Years of Journeyman Level Experience
- Must pass the LAW and TRADE exam
General Contractor License Requirements
To receive an exam date with the Contractor State License Board, you must meet the following basic requirements:
- 18 Years of Age
- Valid Drivers License OR USA Issued Identification
- Social Security OR ITIN #
- Cannot Currently Be On Probation or Parole
You must also have:
- 4 Years Journey Level Experience
- Signature From a Certifier
- A Way To Prove Experience If The State Boards Asks
Journeyman Level Experience
Journeyman-level experience means that you have worked unsupervised full-time for a construction company, a General B contractor, or a union.
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. There are several ways you can prove your experience to the CSLB.
Signature of a Certifier
A certifier is someone other than yourself who can confirm your experience.
This person can be either a:
- Licensed General Contractor
- Fellow or Former Employee (within the last 10 years)
- Foreman or Supervisor
- Business Associate
- Fellow Journeyman
Whoever you choose must include their information and a brief description of your experience.
The main areas of expertise a General Contractor needs to have experience in are:
- Framing and Rough Carpentry
- Concrete
- Plumbing
- Electrical
Work Experience for The Contractors License
You must be prepared to submit documentation supporting the experience you claim to have.
The Contractors State License Board gives you many ways to prove your experience including:
- 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.
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
Fees
The Current CSLB fees are:
- State Application Fee
- License Activation Fee (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 General 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. In my experience, they are primarily concerned with criminal charges associated with:
- Fraud
- Embezzlement
- Forgery
In the state of California, you are required to divulge any criminal charges when applying for any state license even if they have been expunged.
You will need to be prepared to submit anything they ask for regarding your criminal history.
The General Contractor License Exam
Contractor licenses are broken down into four categories:
1) A-General Engineering (LAW + TRADE )
2) B-General Building (LAW + TRADE)
3) C-Specialty Classes (LAW + TRADE)
4) C-61/D- Limited Specialty (LAW TEST ONLY)
The General Contractor License Exam consists of two parts:
- 115 Questions LAW
- 115 Questions TRADE
- 3 Hours To Complete Each Portion
- Multiple Choice Exam
- Close Book / Taken on a Computer
- Some Questions may refer to a diagram
The General Contractor Exam is broken up into five major portions:
1. Planning and Estimation (17%)
- Scope of work and code compliance
- Design and construction error identification
- Shop drawings, plans, and specifications
- Field inspection performance
- Coordination of project
- Cost estimation for materials, equipment, and labor
2. Framing and Structural Components (22%)
- Subfloor and wall framing
- Roof framing
- Seismic and load requirements
- Decks
- Siding and stucco
3. Core Trades (30%)
- Plumbing
- Electrical
- HVAC
- Concrete
- Earthwork and surveying
- Insulation, acoustical, and weatherproofing
- Roofing
4. Finish Trades (19%)
- Painting, staining, coating, and interior wall covering
- Tile and stone
- Floor covering
- Cabinetry and millwork
- Plaster, drywall, and ceilings
- Windows, skylights, and doors
- Landscaping
5. Safety (12%)
- Personnel safety
- Transportation and traffic control
- Environmental safety
Recommended Resources
- Complete General Contractor Home Study Kit
- Introduction to Blueprint Reading Course
- Construction Trade Skills Courses
CSLB Test Locations
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.
- You have 18 months after your application is accepted to pass both examinations
- $100 Per Re-take
What is on the L of the General Contractor License exam?
California Contractor License Exam Prep
Here are some things to remember!
- The questions you will see on the exam may use outdated terms
- Processes may be completely different from how things are done on the job site
- You will see questions about things you may have never done before
- Questions will be presented to you as if you are running a large-scale construction business with several employees and jobs happening all at once.
- Know all aspects of your trade
Construction Professionals from various backgrounds, trades, and experience levels get licenses each year in California.
In my experience, most are startled by how different the subject matter on the state exam is from their years of first-hand experience.
You must be as prepared as you possibly can.
Studying just 15 minutes a day consistently can dramatically increase your chances of passing the test on your first try.
Focus on and study ONLY the information that you need to pass the state exam.
Construction Apprenticeships
If you don’t have the four years required journeyman-level experience to obtain a General Contractor License, do not worry.
Your journey begins here.
Construction is a trillion-dollar industry and highly skilled tradesmen are always in demand.
Whether you are completely new or have some experience already, there are resources available to you.
Generally, someone looking to become a general contractor would want to look into an apprenticeship program.
For a detailed explanation of this process, check out my article: Apprentice vs Journeyman.
EPA Certification
Understanding how to safely contain lead-based paint when altering structures built before 1978 is required by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The most profitable contractors are the ones that position themselves as the experts and are the most knowledgeable and helpful to their clients.
Becoming EPA Certified is a requirement for general contractors and can be completed in a one-day, 8-hour course.
Staying EPA compliant is not only important to the survival of your business but also to the safety of your customers.
For a complete guide on how to get EPA Certification, check out this article.
Conclusion
Getting the General Contractor License can be a huge step up in your career and position you to grow your business, or become an RMO!
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!