What is the D-16 Hardware, Locks and Safes License?
The D-16 Contractor License is the classification required in the state of California for anyone looking to charge for projects involving manually activated door or window locks 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 construction work.
They cover specific areas of construction and construction-related tasks.
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-16 Contractor License
The D-16 contractor license covers all of the typical services offered by a locksmith business.
While services may vary based on expertise and state, typical duties include:
- Installation and repair of manually operated locking systems
- Design and fabrication of manually operated locking systems
- Modifying safes and vaults
- Key origination and duplication
- Repairing window locks and vaults
- Estimation and cost calculation
- Adhering to state and federal regulations
- Bidding, creating invoices, accounting and book-keeping
- Maintaining job site safety
D-16 Hardware, Locks and Safes
- Installs and repairs manually operated locking systems only
- Designs and fabricates manually operated locking systems only
- Must pass LAW exam only
C-28 Lock and Security Equipment Contractor
- Installs and repairs manual and electronic security locking systems
- Designs and fabricates manual and electronic security locking systems
- Must pass LAW and TRADE exam
Scaling your Locksmith Business as a subcontractor
If you currently have locksmith business and are looking to scale and grow a contractor’s license is what you need.
Due to the nature of the trade, locksmith businesses that hold the D-16 license, typically work directly with homeowners or businesses.
In a construction setting, a General Contractor may hire a D-16 Contractor specifically for their expertise in locks.
A contractor holding the D-16 license may also be hired for their equipment.
As a result, a general contractor ensures that this phase of the project 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-16 Hardware, locks, and safes contractor license is issued to contractors by the CSLB.
D-16 Contractor License Requirements
For a locksmith business to become licensed, 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 #
- 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
Online Practice Exams and Study Guides
What is journey level experience?
Journeyman level experience means that you have worked unsupervised full time for a locks and safes company, or for a contractor that holds the D-16 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 D-16 license
- Licensed General Contractor
- C-61 / D-16 License Holder
- Former Supervisor (within the last 10 years)
- Fellow Employee (within the last 10 years)
- Business Associate
- Fellow Journeyman
- 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:
“Rick has changed locks” is not descriptive enough
The CSLB will want to see:
“Rick has run a locksmith business for several years. He has changed locks for safes as well as manually activated doors, window locks, and vaults. He has also created and duplicated keys” etc.
Most importantly, the description written by your qualifying individual has to include the core skills required for the hardware, locks, and safes contractors license.
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 Costs
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-16 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.
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
- 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
- Complete Home Study Kit
- Introduction to Blueprint Reading
- C-28 Lock and Security Equipment License Kit
CSLB Test Locations
There are currently CSLB test locations in the following cities:
- Sacramento
- San Bernardino
- San Diego
- San Jose
- Berkeley
- Fresno
- Norwalk
- Oxnard
- The CSLB will assign you a testing center based on your location
- The test is not available online
- The CSLB allows you to bring a pre-approved translator with you
- The CSLB will grant you 18 months after your application is accepted to pass the law test
- You must wait three weeks before retaking the state exam ( $60 per retake )
California Contractors License Exam Prep
- Getting the D-16 License for hardware, locks and safes 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.
Locksmith Apprenticeship
If you do not have the experience required to get the C-61/D-16 Hardware, locks, and safes contractor license, not to worry!
Your journey begins here. Generally, someone looking to become a 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
Hardware, locks, and safes contractors 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.
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!
EPA Certification
When making alterations to or around structures built before 1978, contractors must know how to contain lead paint if it is present.
Lead paint can travel miles through air, rest on soil, and enter air ducts causing potentially fatal respiratory damage.
Hardware, locks, and safes contractors looking to build profitable businesses must position themselves as experts and the authority within their industry.
Contractors must be a source of information for their clients and community if they want referrals and repeat business.
Learn how to get an EPA Certification in 8 hours!