California Licensing

wireless

Does a traffic citation have to be declared on the application? Can one apply for a license in the corporate name and then use a DBA which is not listed on the license?

License Guru

Hello wireless,

No, traffic citations do not get listed. Only misdemeanor's and felony's.

You can use a dba but it should be listed on the license. ABC Wireless Inc. dba: Can You Hear Me Now Wireless.

If you do not include the dba on the license and potential clients go to the cslb site to see if Can You Hear Me Now Wireless has a license they will not find you. One way around part of that is to include the corp name and the dba (and of course your license number) on any and all advertising.

__________________
Phil Cocciante
You've got Questions? I've got Answers!

Nelson Finish C

Thank you very much, Phil. It kind of sounds to me like the Board wont be as hard nosed as they would lead you to believe. They would make you think that these guys will be fined enormous amounts of money.
Well, I think what I will do is give them a chance to comply, and send them to you, Phil. That seems like the fair and logical thing to do.
Again, thanks

License Guru

Works for me. And thank you.

__________________
Phil Cocciante
You've got Questions? I've got Answers!

cabman

Thanks for sharing such useful info, you are AWESOME!! I was wondering, if I had a couple of DUIs over 10 years ago, do I have to put them on my app? Will this disqualify me for licensing (as a cabinet installer)? What if I DON"T include them? Do they automatically check for this?

License Guru

DUI's 10 years ago... no problem. Not disclosing it... big problem.

Your prints will come back showing the Dui's, if you don't disclose them your app will be automatically rejected and you will lose the $250 app filing fee. You would have to then reapply paying the $250 again.

Dont forget to complete the Criminal Disclosure form. I'll attach one here.

Attached Files

DisclosureStatementRegardingCriminalPleaConviction.pdf (99.3 KB, 44 views)

__________________
Phil Cocciante
You've got Questions? I've got Answers!

momosgarage

After seeing all the above posts, I wonder why CSLB checks criminal reords not related to the qualifications, functions, and duties of a contractor. Engineers and architects only have to show criminal records related to industry performance when applying for a license. It all seems like a mild form of discrimination.

License Guru

The real reasons why fingerprinting for contractors was instituted is unclear, but the differenece between architects/engineers and contractors is that the contractor (most) spends a great deal of time in and around the clients home and the people they are working for. If an architect is a child molestor, the chances of him coming into contact with my kid is slim to none when I go to see him in his office. The contractor on the other hand....

See my point?

__________________
Phil Cocciante
You've got Questions? I've got Answers!

TallPaul

License Guru,

I have searched and lurked for a while.

I graduated from a California University with a BS in Mechanical Engineering in 2006. I am now 25.
I spent about total ~1 year drawing plans and doing some site supervision in the custom swimming pool industry while in school (3 summers added together)
I spent ~1 year interning at a GC company where I was paid commission based on jobs obtained through my bidding, and I also did some onsite sub-supervision for those jobs and odd labor that subs didnt finish or werent assigned to.

The board website says an Engineering degree can count UPTO 3 years of experience. Will Mechanical Engineering give me 3 years credit for General Building?
Furthermore, will be combined ~2 years of experience be enough in the boards eyes to get licensed as a GC in California?

Thank you for useful information throughout this thread and site.

License Guru

Good Morning TallPaul,

Your degree will give you two years so you'll have to show 2 years of GC experience. Can you show two years of experience in framing and two unrelated trades?

I'm wondering if your age will be a problem. When did you finish school? I'm wondering because the board might want to know how you were able to gain your experience if you in school.

__________________
Phil Cocciante
You've got Questions? I've got Answers!

TallPaul

License Guru,

I'm currently 25. I graduated in 2006. I was hoping the mechanical engineering would count towards the maximum 3 years allowed, but I suppose it is not relevant enough for the GC category to get the maximum 3 years?

The 1 year GC experience was post graduation, while the pool construction was summers and some right after graduation.

Thank you!

License Guru

You would get 3 years if you applied for the A-Gen Eng classification. Your experience in pools would not apply towards the B class because it is a specialty trade.

__________________
Phil Cocciante
You've got Questions? I've got Answers!

sandboxdoc

Question for LicenseGuru,

How does the CSLB verify the certifiers? What shall I say to my certifiers to give them a headsup?

License Guru

The CSLB has no actual SOP for verifying certifiers at the initial review phase. If the app is sent to investigation for review of experience (happens periodically) they will ask for more proof.

The certifier is signing under the penalty of perjury, so they should have the actual first hand knowledge of the experience they are atesting to.

__________________
Phil Cocciante
You've got Questions? I've got Answers!

JamesD123

My application was received on June 25 and I just got a letter today stating that my test date is July 23. I had heard from several people that it would take around 3 months to get the test date and was surprised at the early date.

I'm the best man for a wedding that weekend and won't have enough time to study. I was planning on taking the test anyway knowing that I'll probably fail. But if failure results are public record, then I'd rather not take the test and reschedule.

I received more than 30 letters from licensing schools, bond companies, etc along with the test date notice, so I gather that my application information is not private. Will my results also be accessible?

Thanks very much for any help on this.

License Guru

Hello James.

Welcome to CT.

Test dates have been about 3-4 weeks from the time the application is posted for most testing centers. It's been that way for quite some time. Whoever told you 3 months is mis-informed.

You can request a new test date by faxing a signed letter to the testing center in Sac. The fax number is at the top of the testing notice.

No, your test results are not posted on the cslb website. Pass or fail.

That direct mail comes at you hard, doesn't it? lol I don't partake in the direct mail trade. Did you use any of the services offered in those direct mail pieces?

Good luck on your exams. Let us know how you did.

Here's my direct mail piece.... go check out my website.

__________________
Phil Cocciante
You've got Questions? I've got Answers!

JamesD123

Hi License Guru,

Thank you for the reply and information. Good to know the results aren't posted. It may be a minor thing, but I don't want that on my record.

Thanks also for the link to your site, I'll check it out more thoroughly later. And yes, the direct mail blizzard is amazing-- I've only opened a few so far and am not planning on getting any study materials right now. I have a CA contractors law book, and also materials from something called Television Education that my friend used to pass the test.

Sorry to belabor the point, but do you know how these direct mail companies get the application information?

Since it's $50 to reschedule now, or $50 to reschedule if I fail on the 23rd, I think I'll take the test for the experience.

Thanks for the well-wishes-- this'll be interesting.

License Guru

I sell the teled product also. It's the best on the market.. by far.

The law book (B&P Code sections) won't help much for preparing for the exam.

Sorry, I meant to address that question in my previous post... when the application is entered into the CSLB system it shows on the website instantly. Many companies will either get the list of new applicants from the board or they will get that info directly from the board's website. So your name, biz name, and biz address will be public knowledge. But nothing else. They don't even indicate publicly on the cslb website what the test date is when it's issued.

I'm sure they did that to make it harder for service companies like mine to obtain information they need for their clients.

No, there is no reschedule fee if you want to change the first date. They will charge you if you request to reschedule the original date more than once.

__________________
Phil Cocciante
You've got Questions? I've got Answers!

JamesD123

That's great news about the teled product. The narrators on the cds really seem to know what's pertinent to the test and what's not.

Thanks for the tip on the law book-- I'll be happy not to have to wade through it.

I'm wracking what's left of my mind for a reason why CSLB would publish applicant info on their website. I know there's a way to access info by entering the Fee #-- does this mean that CSLB processes fee #s in numerical order, so that a direct mail company can simply punch in numbers and pull up the info? I don't see any other accessible applicant list on their site, but maybe I just missed it.

(Hope this isn't too tedious-- I'm just curious about things like this.)

On my notice it says that "A $50 Fee is charged for all reschedules"-- but if there's no charge for the 1st one then I think I'll reschedule.

Many thanks for all the help.

License Guru

Why do they make the applicant info public?? I don't know. They keep restricting the information about individual applications so maybe one day they'll make it all PIN protected. Not sure what the direct mail whres will do then. LOL

Yes the app fee numbers (AFN) are sequential. So all you have to do is put in a number and narrow it down to see the latest apps received.

I'm almost positive they will let you reschedule the initial test date once without charge. But.... I could be wrong! Wouldn't be the first time.

__________________
Phil Cocciante
You've got Questions? I've got Answers!