California Licensing

License Guru

The basic requirement is to have 4 years experience within the B trade. You must show experience in framing and two unrelated trades. If you've done bath remodels I would assume you've done framing and electrical, plumbing, tile, tape/texture. All of that will qualify you to add the classification to your existing license.

Complete the State's Application for Additional Classification, submit it with $50 and wait for the trade test date to arrive.

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Phil Cocciante
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bryan1981

I been in the general contracting trade for over 6 years of experience, from complete bathroom kitchen and house finish work. My questions is, i been working under my fathers general contractor license, he is planning to retire in about 2 years. Is there a way for him to transfer the license to me when he retires? I have a BA in architect design.

any inputs would be greatly appreciated
cheers Bryan

License Guru

California does have what is called a "family waiver." You may qualify to continue the license as the new qualifier. If you can show the experience you may not have to take the trade exam, but you may need to take the law exam.

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Phil Cocciante
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bryan1981

[quote=License Guru;444788]California does have what is called a "family waiver." You may qualify to continue the license as the new qualifier. If you can show the experience you may not have to take the trade exam, but you may need to take the law exam.[/quo


Thank you for your Input on this ( Guru ), I guess i better start and prepare myself for the law exam.

License Guru

If you'd like to post your fathers license number here, or email it to me, I will check to see if it qualifies for the family waiver.

Click on my name below to send me an email.

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

bryan1981

I'll try to get the # send to you asap, His been working in the trade for over 40 yrs. Thanks again for your time

J87513

hey license guru, thanks for answering all of our questions.

I have a question regarding experience. I have 2 years of experience as a foreman in CA and 2 years experience as a licensed contractor in AZ. I pretty much got my original experience in CA, then got my AZ contracting license because they didn't require as much experience. I know I can't get reciprocity, but will the CSLB count my two years of experience in CA and two years of contracting (in good standing) in AZ to get my CA contracting license.

It's kind of like half reciprocity and half normal experience, do you understand?

thanks alot,
J

License Guru

Yes, 2 yrs Ca and 2 yrs Az will qualify you for the exam. When you get your app together, email or fax it to me and I'll review it for you.

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Phil Cocciante
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BKFranks

I believe your experience just needs to be within the past 10 years wherever it was you worked.

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License Guru

That is correct. 4 years within the last 10. The experience does not have to all be within CA.

You will need someone from AZ to certify your AZ experience.

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Phil Cocciante
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essrmo

can a gc do his own plumbing and elctriacal work?

License Guru

Can you clarify the question? Do you mean on your own personal projects or part of contracted job?

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Phil Cocciante
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enap66

Hi...
Yes, if you're still answering questions... Please! I took the test recently, studied with some CDs that I purchased but there wasn't ONE question off the CDs that were on the exam. Real bummer. I passed the law, luckily but failed the general by 3 questions. Can you recommend to me the best way to pass this next time? What study material have you heard of that works well, according to UNKNOWN sources... un huh. Any input would be great!

Thanks!

License Guru

What CD’s did you use? Knowing that will help me recommend a better product.

The State has a pool of about 3000 questions that they pull from. The chances (depending on the study material you used) of seeing "word for word" questions on the exam are slim to none. The key is to remember, study or memorize the answers. The answers will always be the same. Know the basis for the answer. 2+2=4, 1+3=4, 10-6=4. I know that is very simplified but the basic premise is the same. The answer is always 4. So if you know the basis for the answer, you should be able to come up with the correct question.

Multiple choice tests…. Out of 4 questions 2 are always easily discounted. The other 2 are close to correct, 1 being more correct than the other. Eliminate the 2 obvious, then work the problem forwards and backwards to come up with the correct answer. I don’t know if this tip is common knowledge, just thought I’d throw it out there.

I do know some one who offers a very up-to-date system that is very thorough. Wink wink

Thanks for the post. I hope I helped. Any other questions, please ask away!!

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

essrmo

if a general contractor wanted to connect his own utilities to save money on a manufactured home install for example.

JumboJack

See post #38 in this thread for the answer.

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in texas with framing and cornish people will do it for 3.00 a foot. What do yall think about that? Just laber

enap66

Phil, I would love to know what you recommend then. When you say that the state pulls from the database of 3000 questions, what schools go over those 3000 questions, or what CDs are best? I used CSLS or contractor's school license school. They STANK!

enap66

Hey License Guru... Do you know of anyone who has used this school/course?
They're name is "Contractor's license.com". You can see them at:

http://www.contractorslicense.com/

If anyone has used them, please let me know. I need to retake my Ca trade exam. Thank you!

Also, I just called these guys. They say the same thing as everyone else, "guaranteed. we have people who sit in on the exams and remember the questions..." but everyone I speak to whose taken these types of courses says that the questions aren't on their study material. The name of this school is: eLicense School dba Dynasty School

Has you, License Guru, or anyone else ever heard of it?

Then there is "peerless institute." What do you think of them?

This one seems good "Academy License Center Contractor School" but... again, without the referals from anyone out there, it's difficult to say.

Also, whatever school/home study course you know as being good, please let me know!


Thank you very much License Guru!!

J87513

Hey License Guru, how do the exams work out in CA? Do I get the application approved first and then the exam? If somebody fails on of the 2 exams the first time, how long do they have to wait to retake it?

J87513

hey license guru, i heard that in ca, you have a limitation on the amount of times you can take the license exams. somebody told me it's like 2 retakes per year? is this true?