General Engineering Contractors (also known as the General A or Class A Contractors) specialize in construction projects commonly associated with public works including
- water power
- irrigation
- airports
- refineries
- pipelines
- freeways
- bridges
- power plants
Jobs You Can Do With the General A License
What Is A General Engineering Contractor?
The General Engineering Contractor License is the classification required in the state of California for all contractors looking to bid on projects that include specialized engineering knowledge where the cost of labor and materials exceeds $500.
General Engineering Contractors are sometimes referred to as public works contractors or civil engineering contractors.
They often engage in:
- Excavation
- Demolition
- Paving
- Grading
- Installing pipelines
- Constructing bridges
- Retrofitting high-rise buildings
- Trenching
- Overseeing the construction of railways, airports, and refineries
- Water Power
- Irrigation
- Power Plants
- Airports Airways
- Sewage disposal plants
- Land Leveling
- Surfacing
- Flood Control
- Inland Water Ways
Public Works Projects
Public works refer to infrastructure projects that are funded by taxpayers.
Typically these types of projects serve the society directly and include:
- Bridges, railroads, and freeways
- Airports
- Public parks
- Municipal Buildings
- Hospitals
Generally, these types of large contracts are awarded to General Engineering companies that hold a Class A license.
These projects are often very lucrative because they provide services and maintain infrastructure that the public is highly dependent on.
Duties of a General Engineering Contractor
General A contractors are expected to have a supervisory-level knowledge of all trades associated with engineering projects.
They are responsible for sub-contracting specialty tradesmen to complete tasks on a construction project.
In many cases, a General Engineering Contractor will oversee the direct management of a job site and report to either a project manager, a team of engineers, or directly to the client.
Construction plans may be delivered to the engineering contractor who would then assess the scope of the project.
They would 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
- 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. Engineering contractors have to be able to follow specific designs, and symbols, and read complex structural prints.
The ability to quickly identify lines, abbreviations, and measuring tools are vital skills.
A general engineering contractor may be asked to create functional sketches and assess the costs and labor needed 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.
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 engineering 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 the safety of your customers.
For a complete guide on how to get EPA Certification, check out the article.
General Engineering Contractor vs. General Building Contractor
There is a lot of misinformation about what a General 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
Some things to remember are:
- Having the General Engineering Contractor License does not mean you can bid on Residential or Commercial projects associated with the General B license.
- To get the General B license if you hold the Class A, you will need to pass the General Contractor (B) Test.
General Engineering Contractor License Requirements
To receive an exam date with the Contractors 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 of Journeyman Level Experience
- Signature from a Certifier
- A way to prove experience if the state board asks
Journeyman Level Experience
Journeyman-level experience means that you have worked unsupervised full-time for a construction company, a General A 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.
Signature Of a Certifier
A certifier is someone other than yourself who can confirm your experience.
This person can be either a:
- Licensed General Engineering 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 A contractor needs to have experience in are:
- Excavation
- Seismic Safety
- Bridges
- Structural Construction
- Concrete Placement and Earthwork
- Estimation
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 Contractor’s License with a Felony in California?
Having a criminal record in no way stops you from getting a General Engineering 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.
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:
BE 100% HONEST ON THE APPLICATION, because they will see everything anyway when you do fingerprint. 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.
Contractor Exam: The General Engineering License
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 Engineering 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 Engineering Examination is divided into eight major sections:
1. Planning and Estimating (19%)
- Interpreting plans and specifications
- Code Compliance
- Evaluating job sites
- Coordinating projects
- Estimating costs for materials, equipment,
and labor
2. Structural Principles (5%)
- Constructing structures
- Seismic requirements
- Basic engineering
3. Earthwork and Surveying (14%)
- Surveying job sites
- Preparing job sites
- Assessing soil conditions
- Assessing soil compaction and expansion
4. Subsurface Work (20%)
- Shoring and sloping excavations
- Preventing erosion
- Tunneling, drilling, and boring
- Installing pipelines
- Connecting and testing systems
- Connecting dry utilities
5. Foundation and Concrete Construction (10%)
- Constructing forms and falsework
- Placing and finishing concrete
- Installing pilings and foundations
6. Buildings/Structures and Related Work (9%)
- Installing mechanical systems
- Installing plumbing pipes
- Installing electrical systems
- Demolition, disposal, and recycling
7. Roadwork and Paving (5%)
- Base for highways, roads, and parking lots
8. Safety (18%)
- Personnel and job site safety
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Hazardous material safety
Recommended Resources
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 Law & Business portion of the General Engineering 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
Thousands of construction professionals from various backgrounds, trades, and experience levels get licensed in California each year.
In my experience, most are startled by how different the subject matter on the state exam is from their years of first-hand experience.
Be as prepared as you possibly can before taking your General Engineering Test.
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 Engineering Contractor License, not to 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 engineering contractor would want to look into an apprenticeship program.
For a detailed explanation of this process, check out my article: Apprentice vs Journeyman.
Conclusion
Getting the General Engineering Contractor License can be a huge step up in your career if you are looking to expand your services, become an RMO or position yourself to make a lot more money!
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.
Also, be sure to check back for updates on the General Engineering license in California and also other states!