CSLB Contractor Exam FAQ

Anyone who constructs or alters any building, highway, road, parking facility, railroad, excavation, or other structure in California must be licensed by the CSLB if the total cost of one or more contracts on the project is $1000 or more (including labor and materials).

A C-10 License is the trade-specific test for electrical contractors. The Law & Business exam is a general test that all contractors must pass to receive any CSLB license, covering legal, safety, and business principles.

Yes, you must pass both exams to obtain your California Contractor License. The Law & Business Exam tests your knowledge of state contracting laws, employee safety, mechanics liens, and business management. The C-10 Trade Exam tests your specific electrical knowledge and trade practices. You need both to operate legally as an electrical contractor. They are typically taken on the same day, one after the other.

Both exams are strictly closed-book, multiple-choice, computer-assisted tests given at official CSLB testing centers. The Law & Business exam contains 115 questions, and the C-10 Trade exam also contains 115 questions. You have exactly 3.5 hours (210 minutes) to complete each exam.

You must have at least 4 years of journey-level experience within the last 10 years in the classification you are applying for.

Yes. All applicants must submit fingerprints via Live Scan for a criminal background check conducted by the DOJ and FBI. Having a criminal record does not automatically disqualify you, but you must disclose all convictions on your application.

No. Your qualifying examination must be taken in person at one of the PSI test centers. While the California Law and Business exam can be taken out of state, all trade exams must be completed in California or Oregon.

PSI has multiple test centers located in California (such as Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles area, etc.) and one in Oregon. The Law & Business exam can also be taken at various participating locations in 18 other states.

Yes. The Law & Business exam is available in Spanish, and candidates requesting a translator for it must take the printed Spanish version instead. The C-10 Electrical Trade exam is only available in English; however, accommodations may be made for you to bring an approved translator.

All applications are given 18 months from the day they are accepted to pass the examination(s). If you do not pass within 18 months, your application is considered void, and you will have to submit a new application with new fees.

No. All conversations between translators and exam candidates are monitored by PSI. Translators cannot define terms or bring any translation tools into the exam. If the translator prompts, coaches, or assists in any way, both may be subject to prosecution, your application will be denied, and you cannot take any CSLB exam for one year.

The exam consists of 115 multiple-choice questions.

You are given exactly 3 and a half hours (210 minutes) to complete the Law & Business exam.

The exam covers Business Organization & Licensing (13%), Business Finances (15%), Employment Requirements (20%), Insurance and Liens (12%), Contract Requirements & Execution (21%), Public Works (5%), and Safety (14%).

The exact passing score varies slightly depending on the statistical difficulty of your specific test form, but generally, you must correctly answer around 72% of the questions to pass.

While you don't need to memorize exact code numbers (e.g., 'Labor Code 2802'), you must understand the concepts behind them, such as prevailing wage laws, workers' compensation requirements, overtime rules, and the exact timelines for terminating employees.

It covers Planning and Estimating (24%), Rough Wiring (24%), Finish Wiring & Trim (10%), Startup, Troubleshooting & Maintenance (20%), and Safety (22%). This includes load calculations, grounding, conduit bending, and OSHA safety regulations.

The C-10 exam consists of 115 multiple-choice questions.

You are given exactly 3 and a half hours (210 minutes) to complete the C-10 Trade exam.

Yes, heavily. You must be able to perform calculations for box fill, conduit fill, voltage drop, motor loads, and overall service loads without referencing the NEC book, as the exam is closed-book.

The California C-10 exam is currently based on the 2022 California Electrical Code (CEC), which is an amended version of the 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC).

The current fee for an Original Contractor License Application for one classification is $450. This fee is non-refundable.

Once you pass your exams, you must pay an Initial License Fee before the license is issued. The fee is $200 for a sole owner license, or $350 for a non-sole owner (corporation, LLC, partnership).

Yes. Active contractor licenses must be renewed every two years. The active renewal fee is currently $450 for a sole owner and $700 for non-sole owners. Note: C-10 contractors pay an additional $20 surcharge ($470 for sole owners, $720 for non-sole owners).

While the CSLB requires you to carry a $25,000 contractor's bond, you do not pay $25,000. You buy a premium from a surety company, which typically costs between $150 and $250 per year depending on your personal credit score.

If you hire any employees, you must carry workers' compensation insurance. If you operate as a sole owner with zero employees, you can file an exemption form with the CSLB and bypass this cost.

Because the exams are closed-book, repetition is key. Memorize necessary code articles, load formulas, and legal timelines. We recommend dedicating 60% of your time to the C-10 trade (especially calculations) and 40% to Law & Business.

We recommend a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks of dedicated study, spacing out practice exams. Rushing the material often leads to failure, especially on the Law & Business side, which contains dense legal terminology.

If you fail one or both exams, you can retake them. You only have to retake the specific exam you failed (if you pass Law & Business but fail C-10, you only retake C-10). The failing score report will indicate your overall score and a breakdown by section.

No. Test questions and answer keys are not available for review. If you fail your exam, you are only provided with a breakdown by section of how many questions you answered correctly and incorrectly.

You can retake the exam as many times as you need, but you must wait at least 21 calendar days between attempts. You have an 18-month window from the time your application is approved to pass the exams before your application is voided.

The CSLB charges a $100 rescheduling fee every time you need to retake a failed exam.

Arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment. You will forfeit your fee if you arrive late.

You must bring your 'Notice to Appear for Examination' and a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID. Do not bring tools, reference books, or calculators—a basic calculator and scratch paper will be provided.

You must provide one valid, non-expired form of government-issued ID. Accepted forms include a U.S. Driver's License or state-issued ID card, Government-issued passport, Resident Alien Card (green card), U.S. military ID, or U.S. Employment Authorization Card.

You must cancel or reschedule at least two days prior to your scheduled examination date to avoid forfeiting your fee. You must do this via the PSI website or by calling PSI directly; a voicemail or email to CSLB is not accepted.

Absolutely. Practice tests train your brain to quickly recall formulas and facts under time pressure. They also expose you to the specific phrasing the CSLB uses, which can often be tricky and designed to catch you overlooking details.

At the end of your examination, you'll be given a printed report showing whether you passed or failed. Your examination results are confidential. The passing score report does not show your overall score.

When you pass the examination(s), you will be mailed a Bond and Fee letter to your business mailing address. This letter lists the issuance requirements specific to your application, such as paying your initial license fee and securing your contractor bond.

If you experience technical issues at the PSI test center, email your name, application fee number, and a description of the issue to exams@cslb.ca.gov so the CSLB can investigate with PSI.

While our website provides a comprehensive question bank and highly realistic mock tests to train your test-taking skills, you should supplement your studies with official material. The CSLB provides free Study Guides on their website for both the Law & Business and C-10 exams. These official guides list exactly which reference books and code books (like the California Electrical Code) you should read to build your foundational knowledge.