Thanks so much for your prompt reply! I'll list it, the attached form will be almost blank, so they may make me jump through hoops, but they won't trow out my app for lying. now i just have to send it to the school for review.

Thanks again!

 

I offer a free review to CT members if you'd like to have me look at it.

 

I didn't want to impose, but that would be wonderful! Can i email it to you? No fax machine :/

 

Email would be perfect. You can get my contact info by clicking on my avatar.

 

hey phil, i hate to be a bother, but would you know off hand about how long the app processing times are this time of year?

thanks, hope your christmas rocked!

 

They are currently working apps received on 12/16 and are giving test dates for the 3rd week of January. So if you submitted an app today you'd be sitting for the exams in about 5 weeks.

as a matter of fact, I had an excellent Christmas. Thank you. I hope you did too.

 

Clarification & advice on C-27 qualifying work experience

Phil,

First, props to you for your ongoing detailed replies to each person's questions. I've read all 48 pages of this thread over the last several hours and gotten answers to some questions that none of these sources have been able to help me with:

CSLB phone techs (blah,) CLCA (Cal. Landscape Contractor's Assn.) (better, but still opaque), Teachers w/ C-27's at local junior college, Current employer w/ a C-27, Other people in the industry w/C-27's

Rest assured when I'm ready to study for C-27 exams I'll be buying your materials.

-----

My situation:
Education:
- I hold a B.A. in History from a ***X completed in ***X
- I'm working to finish an A.S. (2-year) degree from a city college in ***XX ******XX (Landscape-related field)

Experience to date:
3/2008-4/2008, P.T. landscape maintenance
5/2008-6/2009, F.T. mix of landscape maintenance & install (P.T. at 2 different companies simultaneously, one of which holds C-27)
6/2009 -1/2012, (continuing), P.T. self-employed install-maintain business, about 15% install / 85% maintenance.
10/2011-1/2012 (continuing), P.T., re-joined previous C-27 company to get more install experience.

Assuming P.T. work counts for only half of required time, I'm wondering if the CSLB will consider all of the above as, more or less:

3 & 4 2008 PT: 1 month
5/2008 - 6/2009 FT: 13 months
6/2009-Present, PT, self-emp, mostly maintenance: 15 months.
10/2011-Present, PT, employee of C-27, 50/50 install & maintain, 2 months.
Adding in this year (1/2012 thru 12/2012), another 12 months.

Total: About 32 months, plus hoping for 2 years total for B.A. and upcoming A.S. degree.

Your comments?

- Am I right I get 1 year work exp. credit right off the bat, even for a B.A. in ****** (unrelated to C-27 in any way.)?

- Am I likely to get at least another year's work-exp. credit for a separate 2-year A.S. degree specifically in the trade?

- Will I get work-experience credit for landscape-maintenance work, whether for others or self-employed? Or does that need to be "adjusted" verbally in my application work exp. description by highlighting systems-related details such as irrigation troubleshooting & repair, and minimizing things like pruning, mowing, etc.

- Are the years of work-experience required to be full-time, or can it be part time? I.e. strictly speaking, say I need 3 years of work exp., does that mean I would have to show 6 years of part-time experience?

Thanks in advance for your answers,

Gosmond

 

You read every page?!?!? WOW!

Ok.... bottom line, you'll qualify for the exams. We'll use your 4 yr degree. That will give you 2 yrs towards the 4 yr requirement. The remaining 2 yrs can be self employed or employed experience, FT or PT or combination of both.

The 2 yr degree wont be accepted by the cslb. They'll only take BA's or BS's, whether or not it's related to your trade.

PT experience is 50% of full time. So you can submit separate work experience forms if needed to equal 24 months of FT experience.

Let me know when you're ready to begin the app process and I'll get you started.

Thanks for the email.

 

B.A. degree in an unrelated field?

You read every page?!?!? WOW!

Ok.... bottom line, you'll qualify for the exams. We'll use your 4 yr degree. That will give you 2 yrs towards the 4 yr requirement. The remaining 2 yrs can be self employed or employed experience, FT or PT or combination of both.

Yes, it was literally a page-turner, there was so much useful information.

Thanks for the quick reply.

Even though the B.A. degree is in the humanities (History?,) the CSLB will credit 2 years for that? You're sure?

I'm not ready to apply just yet, probably will wait till end of 2012 to do so: want to incorporate (or LLC), etc. and do it all right the first time through. Will definitely be right back in touch w/ you when I'm set to go.

 

Yep, 2 yrs credit. I'm sure.

 

I just received my c-33 license from the state and wanted to give a shout out to Phil for all his help. He prepared my application and I purchased my study materials through him as well. I had some issues with the law when I was younger and was worried about the whole process. Phil was always timely in answering any questions I had and was the ultimate professional throughout the entire process. It went off without a hitch and I passed my tests first try. I highly recommend to everyone looking to get their license to consider using Phil's services. Thanks again Phil for all your help. Your service was worth every penny.

-Nick D.

 

Hey Guru, hope you or anyone (that has been through the process of obtaining their contractor's license) can clarify the following steps to be taken after an application has been sent to the CSLB.

I was wondering what I should be expecting next from the CSLB. My application for a sole proprietor B license was received on 1/09/12, has been under "Application Posted" status since 1/13/12, and it says that they are currently working on applications received on 12/30/2011. Is this a good sign that everything is headed in the right direction?

On the original license application it says that after an application is accepted as complete (posted), the applicant is then sent instructions on the submittal of fingerprints. :laughing: Did I just answer my own question, is this the process that I should be expecting to go through next?
And what other steps should I expect before I am given an exam date?

Any advise is appreciated, just trying to be prepared! Thanks

 

Can you email or P/M me your app number? I'll get the PIN and look up the details.

btw.. POSTED is a good thing. The app has been processed, test date scheduled, and the fingerprint packet mailed.

 

Guru, like the rest i wanted to thank you for all the helpful information you have shared during this thread. I too have a few questions that you may be able to answer when you have time. I will try and keep my story as short as possible.

I applied for my c-10 when i was i believe 24, so i got the "young journeymen."

1) I applied for c-10 with a general partnership, passed the test did live scan. my partner didn't disclose all his background and was told it would be better to pull out and start a sole application.

2) I applied for c-10 again as a sole proprietor it was than transferred to the app investigation unit where he said he could only give me i believe around 3 years due to the amount i made. He got all his info from my previous employer. He sent me a letter to withdrawal so i could apply again when i got everything together, so i did.

I'm turning 26 in 3 months. I have been doing electrical for about 8 years now. Unfortunately only about 4 years on the books. For the past 2 years i have been working under a B Contractor doing all his electrical as well as my own work. Although i wasn't 1099 for the first year and everything was done cash. This past year i kept records and will be doing my company taxes and possibly 1099 from the B contractor.


Can i get experience credit working for a B contractor doing his electrical? When im applying for a C-10?

Will my self income taxes and possibly 1099 work as proof? The investigator said he based my experience off my income amount so is there a dollar amount that needs to be earned to be considered 1 year experience?

If i still cant qualify on my own my other options are a family or friend can qualify but only for a B license. My other option is the RMO Agency.
My concern with either of those options is will i be able to use that time and experience towards qualifying my self.

Another question although not as important is i paid the full $400 twice for both times applying. I understand i lost both app fees of $250 but am i entitled to the license fees of $150 refunded or do i lose those as well since i withdrew my apps.

Again i appreciate any info you can shed on my situation and all the info you have given to others.

Josh

 

Hello Josh. Welcome to CT and thank you for the kind words.

I would have to think that the next application is going to require the same level of proof as the previous apps. You said that some period was cash under the table. How will you prove this time period?

If the investigator gave you 3 yrs before, all you need to to show another year. Can you prove that year with pay stubs, 1099's, etc?

I would suggest you submit the original experience with the letter from the investigator approving 3 yrs and then the experience/proof of the additional year.

For the fees... yes, the cslb should have refunded the $150. It can take them up to 60 days. If it's been longer than that, you might want to send a letter to the cslb, attn cashiering, providing the application number(s) requesting the refund.

 

Yeah, i know I'm going to have to go through the same steps again. As for the time i was paid cash i just consider it wasted time i know i cant prove anything so I'm not going to use it.

As for last year where i should have a 1099 can i also use my self employed tax as proof? How much income would be considered a full year?
and if so how should i prove that the earned income was doing electrical?

 

Good questions. I used to know what was considered full time pay. I know the cslb has a threshold for what is considered full time.

 

Guru, you have no clue how excited when i found this thread of posting, i read about 10 pages of it, and it answered so many of my questions, but it also created some new ones. It my first posting, please bear with me, and i try to keep it short. i have been working since 1999 with a construction firm, starting in painting, then my boss added carpentry job to me as needed, from 2002 on, i was leading a small team of 1 or 2 ppl on sites. Then, i was moved again to work with a licensed electrician around 2004/2005, from then on, i was working nearly all electrical work with occasional carpentry work. i went solo in 2010, i have been work mostly with an individual real estate investor, on various projects, work involved commercial restaurant and residential buildings, carpentry, electrical, drywall, painting, and residential plumbing.
So, i feel like i am ready to apply for my license, my plan is to take the B test first, and add C-10 and C-33 immediately after receiving the B license.
i want to check with you and see if this is the best way to go about, and what should i be looking out for in terms of fulfilling the 4-yrs experience for each trade? Please help !!

 

Welcome to CT teteto23!!

Sounds like you have the needed experience for the B with the Framing, drywall, painting, etc experience. The kicker is that the cslb is cracking down on licenees using the same experience time frame when adding a classification and using the same time frame that was used for the initial license. So for the added classes you'll want to use a different 4 yr period. Example: B experience, 1/2008 to present. C-10 experience 1/2004 to 1/2008.

 

Phil, I have a question. What does "application status (secured)" mean? I passed my tests, sent in fingerprints and bond electronically, but still can't contract according to CSLB website.

 

When you're looking up your app, are you entering the app number without the PIN?

I'll check it out if you'd like to send me your app number.

 

You can only go back 10 yrs. 2/2002 is the cut-off. Your certifier does not need to be a contractor. They must have first hand knowledge of the experience you are submitting. A coworker, supervisor/foreman, journeyman, business associate.

 

She is the property investor, knows construction from an end-user point of view only, though, she does have first-hand knowledge of my work, as i have worked on multiple projects for her, would that work?

 

Yes

 

appealing a test result



Hi Phil:I was referred to you for this . . .
I read on an earlier thread that it is possible to appeal a test result. I was two answers short of passing this morning and the person monitoring the test handed me the appeal form and told me to complete and mail it.

Under what circumstances are the appeals allowed? There are definitely a few ambiguous questions, but not knowing which answers were marked wrong, its difficult to imagine them allowing an appeal based on questions/answers.
Thanks

 

SWEEEEET! Congratulations!!

I'm surprised the BBB didn't call you first. They are notorious for doing that in the hopes you'll waste your money by joining.

 

Hey Phil, just wanted to thank you again for your help, and say that i passed my exams i sent in all the additional paperwork (bond, fee, worker's comp exemption, etc.). so now it's the waiting game, thanks again!

 

Congratulations! Hopefully you'll have your license in the next couple of weeks. Be prepared for the call from the BBB telling you the license has been issued and asking you to waste your money on a membership.

 

CA contractor license study guides

wow, Mr. Guru, i'm impressed. you have helped a LOT of people here. thank you for the above and beyond. I am going to apply for a C-9 drywall license. Just wondering if you can recommend any study courses i should buy?
thank you