California Contractors License Schools

MC Excavating

How did most of you guys get your contractors license?

Did you take an online course, a school, or just went and took the test?

Its time for me to break out on my own and get my California contractors license (C-12 Earthwork and Paving). It may take a year or so to actually start operating my own business, but Its now time to get my license first. I'm setting goals and this is first in line. I want to get the ball rolling.

I'm 28, and have about 8 years of experience. About 6 1/2 years of running heavy equipment in the field and about a 1 1/2 years estimating and project managing for a large union fence company about ($2.5 million in sales).

I'm not the greatest at absorbing everything I read, so I was thinking a class or a video / audio course would be best for me.

Have any of you used a video / audio course?

Would you recommend it?

Have any of you used an online course?

Would you recommend it?

If you guys want more info out of me, just ask.

tkle

I used the books.I eventually read the whole thing,but for the test they tell you to only study the questions,reading the answers first.They weren't the same questions that were on the test,but similar.You will have a number of months before your test date to absorb them.I've had friends take the classes.First they didn't cover the trades,just the law.Second they were only for a weekend with the opportunity to go back and review just before the test.Not much chance to absorb anything.Finally for me,I would have had to drive over 100 miles to attend.Don't know about the videos or CD's,but with the book I could mark what I had trouble with and easily go back and review.I could also take the book everywhere with me.As someone said they studied on their lunch break.I had my books with me while waiting in the car for the test center to open.That would have been hard with a video or an online course.The books are also a lot cheaper.
Send in your app now,like I said it takes several months to process.They give you 8 attempts at it and in my opinion it's so easy that it's a joke.It's the right way to do it though.Good luck.

MC Excavating

So, what licenses do you have tkle. I'm thinking I would like to get licenses for other trades such as concrete and landscaping or would I be better off just waiting to get these after I get my excavation business going. I will mostly be running compact equipment such as skidsteers and mini excavators so doing these other trades would be beneficial for my equipment.

tkle

Sorry I missed your post.I have a B-1 and a C-29.
If you have the qualifications I'd say go for it now.I proved 4 years for each license,though my masonry experience also counted as part of the B requirement.Your skidsteer experience may also count as landscaping experience.Landscapers are also allowed to do concrete as part of their work which may lead to that license as well.Getting 1 lisence first may well lead to getting enough experiance for the next.You only have to pass the law part once.After that you just take them for the individual trade you're after.It used to be only $50.00 to take the additional tests since you're already in the system.There is no additional license fee nor bond cost unless you do pools.Insurance is a different matter.

jordanbragg

I passed the test for my C-36 on May 22 of '06 and my license number is still pending; so plan on waiting for a while before you actually get your business going.

tkle

Congragulations.Don't remember how long mine was pending.A month or two at best,but it seemed like forever.Waiting to take the test took several months,all the more reason to get an ap in as soon as possible.Plenty of time to study.How long was your wait?

TridentOps

I passed my B- License test in September...i've got some time to waiit and man is it killing me!

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Trident Construction Management
Remodeling, Landscape and Water Features