Step 1. Meet the General Requirements:

In California, to qualify to become a licensed contractor an individual must be 18 years of age or older and have the experience and skills necessary to manage the daily activities of a construction business, including field supervision, or must be represented by someone else with the necessary experience and skills, who serves as the qualifying individual.

The contractor or other person who will act as the qualifying individual must have had, within the ten years immediately before the filing of the application, at least four full years of experience at a journey level, or as a foreman, supervisor, or contractor in the classification for which he or she is applying. The experience claimed on the application must be verifiable and individuals who have knowledge of the experience must certify the accuracy of the experience information provided by the applicant.

Step 2. Obtain an Application for Original Contractor's License or call us at 1-800-966-9596.

Step 3. Complete the application and all accompanying forms in ink or with a typewriter.

Forms completed in pencil will be returned to you.

Take the time to read and follow carefully the instructions attached to the application. Note especially that if you are applying for credit for experience, all experience and certifications in support of experience must be submitted with the application. No experience verification will be accepted after the application has been accepted.

Proofread your application for any omissions. If the Contractors Division has to return the application to you for any missing information, your license will be delayed.

Step 4. Sign and date the application:

NOTE: Applicants with a disability requiring special testing accommodations must complete Form 13E-77, Special Accommodation Request For Examination.

Step 5. Submit the $250 to the Contractors Division nonrefundable application processing fee.

Note the $50 fee for each additional classification.

You may apply for only one classification, which requires passing an examination. After your license is issued, you may apply for additional classifications that you qualify for.

Step 6. Obtain Fingerprinting:

After submitting your completed application fom you will be notified by the CCLB about how to be fingerprinted.

Step 7. Pass your Trade test and the Business, Law and Management test:

Upon passing the CCLB will mail you your license.