California Licensing

License Guru

Thank you for the kind words. I'm glad I could help.

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Phil Cocciante
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License Guru

Thats a hard one to answer. Since you posted this question, what have you heard from the cslb?

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Phil Cocciante
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License Guru

All they need to do is show the experience on the app, if its accepted and can pass the test there off and running. Unfortunately there is no test for stupid. I processed many an app at the board where I'd throw up my hands and send them to the exam. If they can pass the test, that's all the state requires. Sorry. I guess I've contributed in a small way to putting stupid licensed contractors on the street.

$400. That's it. Plus the cost of the bond.

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Phil Cocciante
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License Guru

Piece of cake. Submit the Disassociation form then submit your App for new a license (waiver). Pay the $400 and submit a new bond. No test, dont have to show experience. The current license will have 90 days to replace you. After 90 days the license is suspended.

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Phil Cocciante
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License Guru

Fyi.... I'm closing my business, Contractor University, but I'll still be here to offer assistance to anyone who needs help with their CA license. I will also offer a fr*ee review of your application if you need it. You can also send me an email by clicking on my name. Sometimes I dont get the thread notification, so if I dont reply here within a week or so please send me an email.

Thanks. Phil

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Phil Cocciante
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Z's dad

Sorry to hear about your business Phil. I guess I got in just in time. You've been an enormous help and we all appreciate your time to answer our questions.

buckleyclan

Thanks for all your help Phil. I wish you the best in your next endeavor.

License Guru

I'm still here, still offering advice and application processing and review. Just closing the current biz and continuing in a more scaled down version.

Had a "biz partner" problem.

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Phil Cocciante
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Mark Wood

Hi,

I have moved over from England recently and I'm just about to submit my application for C54. I have filled out a work experience form which covers everything in the tile industry. How many of these forms do I need to submit...would one be enough if it shows all my skills.

Cheers

Mark

License Guru

Yes, one form is sufficient as long as it covers at least a 4 year period in the last 10 years.

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Phil Cocciante
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Mark Wood

Thank you for the prompt reply. Yes it does cover more than 4 years. Is there ever a problem with the application with people from overseas?

Cheers

Mark

License Guru

No, it is not a problem. But that's not to say that they may ask for more verification. What type of verification I don't know. I'm just saying they may ask you to go an extra step to prove your experience.

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Phil Cocciante
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csmylie

I passed both tests my first time in late october. I still havent heard anything from the cslb. I keep checking online and nothing has been posted. I didnt send my fingerprints until early december so maybe that is what they are waiting for? Also, I noticed that it no longer says young journeyman when I log in to check my status.

License Guru

Congratulations! Did you submit your bond and proof of workers comp or the exemption form?

If you have no criminal background, your prints would/should go thru the system in just a few days. If you do, then it will be much longer!

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Phil Cocciante
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csmylie

I called today and asked them what was going on. I had recieved a letter when I passed my exam saying not to send in my bond info etc. until i received a letter from them saying that my experience has been verified. Apparently she had said that something must have slipped through the cracks and i never received that letter and i should have. So I now have less than thirty days (which i dont think will be a problem) to send everything else to the issuance unit and they will give me my license number and certificate. I did ask, and my prints and everything are already cleared. So I guess as long as i get the required information to them in time I should get my license fairly quickly?

BKFranks

As soon as your license number is made available, the insurance companies and BBB we be calling you non-stop. You won't hear anything from the state till a few days later. They solicitors will know before you will.

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Bodger

Same thing happened to me when I got my application approved and was awaiting a test date assignment.
The contractor license schools descended like vultures a few days before the CSLB notified me that I had been approved. One of them even had a sales pitch that made them sound as if they were calling from the CSLB to provide test study materials for a fee.
Very shifty bunch, those schools.

License Guru

Yes, once you have everything to the issuance unit you're all set. The number should come soon after that.

What is with the BBB? They must live on the cslb's site. Many times I worked my back side off to get a number issued for a client only to call them with the good news and be told by the client that the BBB called already. Twice I called the BBB office in the clients area and chewed them out. They coulda cared less.

Having had a "school" myself, I understand their tactics. As soon as your app hits the state's web site they begin sending out their post cards/flyers/brochures. I never used that marketing technique, mostly because of cost and a tightwad partner, but it is effective marketing. Maybe that's why I'm disolving my corp. I didn't compete in the direct mail wars.

I know of the school you're talking about with the slick pitch pretending to be part of the cslb. Cant remember exactly which school it is now, but while I was at the board we got a hold of their marketing material and tried to put a stop to it.... never happened. CSLB drops the ball again!

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Phil Cocciante
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ChillaWatt

Go to Ebay and search for "contractors license exam" plenty of guides to choose from.

License Guru

I did the ebay search. the top auction states "answers verbetim" That's impossible! The state changes the questions for each and every exam. There is no way that the answers provided in that auction are "verbetim."

There are plenty of Quickpass products but I would not recommend that system. I sold quickpass for several years and I know that the material has not been updated in well over a year. Some classifications were not updated at all.

The materials sold by cloc or acontractorslicense are the best on the market. I too sold this product and am in the process of obtaining a new contract with the same publisher. Academy License Center Contractor School also sells this product but I'm not sure as to why they only offer study materials for 4 classifications.

Just to give my two cents again on the "schools" that state 98% pass rate. That is really just a smoke screen, a marketing tool to get people to buy their product. The "school" has no control over the student, the way the student studys, the retention ability of the student, the questions on the exam. Far too many variables, that is why I will never state a pass rate. The consumer has to be aware of overblown marketing statements.

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Phil Cocciante
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