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How to pass the California Class B General Building contractor exam

Two closed-book exams, no reference books in the room, and an 18-month window to pass. Here’s how the California Class B license works and how to study for it, checked against CSLB’s own documents.

At a glance

The exams

Times and format are from CSLB’s exam FAQ and Get Licensed to Build guide. CSLB’s study guides say both exams are closed book, four choices per question, one best answer, and no penalty for guessing. A calculator is provided, and you can’t bring your own. Spanish versions of both exams are offered.

Before you apply

• Age: the applicant or qualifying individual must be 18 or older.
• Experience, 4 years: the qualifier needs at least four full years of journey-level experience, or as a foreman, supervisor or contractor, in the classification, within the 10 years before applying. Someone with first-hand knowledge must certify it.
• Education credit: CSLB may credit an apprenticeship, technical training or accredited schooling toward experience, but every qualifier must show at least one year of practical journey-level work.
• Contractor bond: a $25,000 contractor bond (or cashier’s check) before the license is issued. A separate $25,000 bond of qualifying individual may be needed for an RME or an RMO who owns less than 10% of the company.
• Workers’ comp: proof of coverage, or an exemption if you have no employees. Some specialty classes (C-8, C-20, C-22, C-39, C-61/D-49) must carry it even with no employees.
• Other items: fingerprints for a background check and CSLB’s asbestos open-book exam before the license is issued. LLCs also need a $100,000 LLC/worker bond and liability insurance.

Step by step

1. Confirm your four yearsCount only journey-level, foreman, supervisor or contractor time in B-type work from the last 10 years. Line up the people who will certify it.
2. Apply to CSLBSend the original license application with the $450 application fee. When CSLB accepts it, you get a notice to schedule your exams.
3. Schedule with PSIBook each exam online or by phone. You can cancel or reschedule without losing the fee if PSI gets your notice two days before the exam.
4. Study without booksBoth exams are closed book, so you need to know the material, not where to find it. Use CSLB’s free study guides to see the topic weights.
5. Pass both exams within 18 monthsIf you fail, you can retake after 21 calendar days, paying PSI again each time. After 18 months the application is void and you reapply.
6. Finish licensingPay the initial license fee ($200 sole owner, $350 non-sole owner), file the $25,000 bond, workers’ comp proof or exemption, the asbestos open-book exam and fingerprints.

The reference books

California’s exams are closed book. No reference books are allowed in the room, so CSLB’s study guides list resources to study from, not books to bring.

For Law and Business, the study guide lists the California Contractors License Law & Reference Book, the California Employer’s Guide (DE 44), the California Labor Code, the California Financial Code sections on PACE, CSLB’s Get Licensed to Build and Maintain and Change Your License, the NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management (14th ed.), IRS Publication 15 (Circular E), the DIR Public Works Manual, and the Cal/OSHA safety orders.

For the B trade exam, the list includes the 2025 California Building, Residential, Electrical, Energy, Fire, Green Building, Mechanical and Plumbing Codes (Title 24), the North American Architectural Woodwork Standards, the California MUTCD, the California Vehicle Code, Fundamentals of Building Construction, Modern Carpentry, Olin’s Construction Principles, Materials, and Methods, and the Cal/OSHA safety orders.

Topic weights: Law and Business covers business organization and licensing (13%), finances (15%), employment (20%), insurance and liens (12%), contracts (21%), public works (5%) and safety (14%). The B exam covers planning and estimating (15%), framing and structural (20%), core trades (30%), finish trades (20%) and safety (15%). Many of these resources can be read free online through CSLB and DGS.

A 6-week study plan

On test day

• Arrive at least 30 minutes early with a valid, unexpired government photo ID. The name must match your application.
• Bring nothing into the room. Books, notes, phones, calculators, food and drinks (even water) are not allowed.
• A calculator is provided for questions that need math.
• Answer every question. There’s no penalty for guessing, so never leave one blank.
• Read all four choices. Questions are written to have one best answer.
• If English isn’t your first language, Spanish versions of both exams are offered, and CSLB may approve a translator in advance.

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