State Requirements

California Contractor State Requirements

Not everyone can get a California contractors license. You must have four years of experience in your trade. See Classifications for the trade classifications available. This experience must be within the last ten years or more if you served in the military during that time. This experience can be engaging in or supervising the trade. The State will accept self-employed experience, EVEN if it was in California without a license. If you don’t have the full four years required, college or trade school can count up to three years toward the four-year requirement. Call one of our service representatives for further details on school credit.

You must have a Social Security Number or ITIN.

There are fees to apply for the license and fees to maintain the license.

The State offers 44 contractors license classifications. These include General Engineering, General Building, Electrical, Painting, Plumbing, HVAC, Landscaping, Flooring, Roofing, Drywall and a whole host of others.

You must pass a Law and a Trade exam in order to obtain a license (unless you are attempting to get a C-61 Limited Specialty license, in which case you are only required to take the Law).