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General Contractor
Total cost: $753+
Yes
License Required?
4 years
Experience Required
Yes
Bonding Required?
$753+
Total Initial Fees
2 years
Renewal Period
0 hrs
CE Hours
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Class B General Building Contractor covers projects involving two or more unrelated building trades or crafts. The B-2 Residential Remodeling classification was added in 2021 for improvements to existing single-family or multi-family residential wood-frame structures requiring 3+ unrelated trades.
Project Limit
License required for projects over $1,000 (labor + materials combined). Threshold raised from $500 effective Jan 1, 2025 via AB 2622.
Additional Requirements
Description
Class A General Engineering Contractor license. Covers construction of fixed works requiring specialized engineering knowledge (highways, bridges, dams, utilities, etc.).
Project Limit
License required for projects over $1,000 (labor + materials combined). Threshold raised from $500 effective Jan 1, 2025 via AB 2622.
Additional Requirements
Description
California licenses general contractors under Class A (General Engineering) and Class B (General Building). Class B-2 (Residential Remodeling) was added in 2021 for improvements to existing residential wood-frame structures requiring 3+ unrelated trades.
Project Limit
License required for projects over $1,000 (labor + materials combined). Threshold raised from $500 effective Jan 1, 2025 via AB 2622.
Additional Requirements
Description
Specialty contractor license for California. Covers specialized trades and construction activities. Categories: A (General Engineering), B (General Building), C (Specialty).
Additional Requirements
Experience & Documentation
Verified4
Years Required
Required
Documented Project History
Journeyman/Trade Experience
Minimum 4 years journey-level experience in the last 10 years. Up to 3 years may be satisfied by education (college, trade school, or apprenticeship). A bachelor's degree in a related field may substitute for up to 2 years. At least 1 year must be actual hands-on field experience.
Alternative Pathways (Education Substitutions)
Exam Requirements
VerifiedRequired
Trade Exam
Required
Business & Law Exam
Exam Provider
PSI Exams
Passing Score
72%
Open Book
No
Trade Exam Details
Trade-specific examination (Class A or B) via PSI Exams. Asbestos open-book exam required for ALL new applicants. Live Scan fingerprinting required.
Business & Law Exam Details
Law & Business examination covering contract law, lien law, licensing law, and business management via PSI Exams.
Retake Policy
Candidates may retake the exam after a waiting period. Contact the board for specific retake policies.
Overall licensing difficulty: 12/100
Study recommendation: 1–2 weeks of focused review is usually sufficient
Practice with realistic exam questions
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General Contractor Licensing Exam
Passing Score
72%
Administered By
PSI Exams
How long should you study? Most candidates study 2–4 weeks before taking the General Contractor Licensing Exam.
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Bonding Requirements
VerifiedSurety Bond Required
$25,000
Surety Bond Amount
Bond Types
Surety bonds protect consumers by providing financial recourse if a contractor fails to complete a project or violates licensing regulations. Bond costs are typically 1-3% of the bond amount annually.
Insurance & Workers' Comp
VerifiedRequired
General Liability
Required
Workers' Compensation
Minimum Coverage
General liability insurance required per state regulations
Additional Insurance Requirements
Workers' Comp Threshold
Required for ALL licensed contractors — no exemptions (effective Jan 1, 2025 via SB 216)
Workers' Comp Details
Effective January 1, 2025, SB 216 requires ALL active CSLB licensees to carry workers' compensation insurance, including sole proprietors with no employees. Exemption certificates are no longer accepted.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee | $450 |
Exam Fee $51.43 per exam ($102.86 total for Law & Business + Trade). Provider: PSI Exams. Rescheduling fees eliminated. | $51.43 |
License Fee Sole owner: $200; Non-sole owner: $350 | $200 |
Renewal Fee Per 2 years | $450 |
Total Initial Fees Approximate: $450 application + $102.86 exams + $200 license (sole owner). Non-sole owner: $903+ | $753+ |
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Renewal & CE Requirements
Verified2 years
Renewal Period
0 hrs
CE Hours Required
Renewal Fee
$450
Regulatory Board
Contractor licenses must be renewed on schedule. Many states require continuing education covering building codes, safety practices, business law, and energy efficiency standards.
Out-of-State Reciprocity
VerifiedAccepts Out-of-State Credentials
ICC Certification Not Accepted
Reciprocity Type
Trade exam waiver with specific states
Transfer Details
California has limited reciprocity (trade exam waiver only) with Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, and North Carolina for applicants who have held a license in good standing in one of those states for at least 5 years in a classification on CSLB's Reciprocal Classifications List. The CSLB Business and Law exam is still required — it is not waived. CSLB does not accept NASCLA examinations as a standalone qualification.
General contractor license reciprocity varies significantly by state. Some states recognize ICC certifications, while others require passing the state exam regardless of prior credentials. Always verify current policies with the state licensing board.
Moving to another state? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Compare California with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
California made two major changes effective Jan 1, 2025: (1) licensing threshold raised from $500 to $1,000 (AB 2622), and (2) workers' comp exemption eliminated for all licensees including sole proprietors (SB 216). CSLB uses PSI Exams with a 72% passing score (higher than most states). The $25,000 contractor bond is among the highest in the country. No NASCLA, no reciprocity.
CRITICAL 2025 CHANGE: Licensing threshold raised from $500 to $1,000 effective January 1, 2025 via AB 2622. Any project over $1,000 (labor + materials combined) requires a CSLB license.
CRITICAL 2025 CHANGE: Workers' comp exemption eliminated effective January 1, 2025 via SB 216. ALL licensed contractors must carry workers' comp — even sole proprietors with zero employees.
License classifications: Class A (General Engineering), Class B (General Building), Class B-2 (Residential Remodeling, added 2021), Class C (Specialty — 44 subcategories).
Contractor bond: $25,000 (increased from $15,000 in January 2023). Bond of Qualifying Individual: additional $25,000 if RME/RMO with < 10% stock.
California does NOT accept NASCLA exams and does NOT offer reciprocity with any state.
No continuing education required for renewal. Biennial renewal: $450.
Lien Law Basics
Preliminary Notice: Required
Lien Deadline: 90 days after completion of the project (or cessation of work)
California construction lien law: Preliminary notice is required to preserve lien rights. Lien filing deadline: 90 days after completion.
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General Contractor requirements in California verified against California Contractors State License Board (CSLB), April 2026.
Official CSLB website — verified during GC audit
Accessed 2026-03-22
General Contractor Schools in California
Compare approved training programs, costs, and requirements.