In California, many contractors begin their careers in that gray zone between employee and business owner. You may be doing side work, getting referrals from friends, or thinking about starting your own company. Understanding what you can legally do without a California contractor license, and where the line is crossed, is critical if you want … Read more
If you’ve been working in the trades for a few years and are thinking about getting your California contractor’s license, you’ve probably asked yourself this question: “Do I really have enough experience to qualify?” It’s one of the most common and misunderstood steps in the licensing process. The California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) requires … Read more
A California contractor license is still worth it in 2026 for anyone who wants to build a serious, long-term contracting career in the state but it may not be necessary for every person doing small side jobs. The key is understanding what kind of work you want to do, what the new $1,000 threshold really … Read more
Preparing for a California contractor license exam today means preparing for a more electrified future than ever before. Across trades, exam questions are quietly shifting to match new energy, air quality, and decarbonization rules that take full effect with the 2025 Energy Code on January 1, 2026. For serious candidates, understanding how electrification shows up … Read more
Preparing for the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) exam can feel like standing at the threshold of your next big career move. You’ve built the experience, gathered your paperwork, and studied hard, but many first-time test takers still stumble on the same hidden pitfalls. After helping hundreds of contractors prepare, we’ve identified seven of … Read more
Every contractor preparing for the California State License Board (CSLB) exam quickly learns that this test is unlike any jobsite challenge. It’s about knowing your trade, but it’s also about knowing how to think like the test writers. The CSLB wants to ensure you can apply your trade knowledge safely, legally, and professionally. But if … Read more
For many specialty contractors in California, the Law & Business exam feels like an unnecessary formality. Like a hurdle to overcome before focusing on the trade test that “really matters.” But that mindset is one of the biggest mistakes applicants make. The reality is that the Law & Business test isn’t just a licensing checkpoint; … Read more
Preparing for your California contractor license exams means learning to manage not just content, but the clock. Both the Law & Business and trade exams typically give you about three and a half hours to finish, and both are multiple-choice, closed-book tests taken at a PSI center. Yet students at our California contractor prep school … Read more
Why CSLB Flags Experience Claims The CSLB’s job is to make sure only qualified people take the exam and get licensed, so they are strict about work experience. Your four years of journeyman-level or higher experience must be recent (within the last 10 years), clearly described, and verifiable through someone who actually saw you do … Read more
Many contractors preparing for their California trade exam expect to face a test filled with technical trivia such as formulas, exact measurements, or obscure code details. But in reality, the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) designs its exams to measure something much more important than rote memory: professional judgment. Passing your exam isn’t about cramming … Read more