Step 2: Applying for a License When No Exam Required

    This step helps you understand how to apply for a license when no examination is required.

    Under what circumstances am I not required to take the examination?

    You are not required to take the examination if the qualifying individual meets one of the following requirements:

    • You are currently a qualifier on a license in good standing in the same classification(s) for which you are applying;
    • You have been a qualifier within the past five years in the same classification(s) for which you are applying;
    • Within the last five years, you have passed both the Law and Business Examination and the trade examination in the same classification for which you are applying, and the license for which you took the examinations was not denied due to lack of work experience.

    Original Application

    Take time to read and follow carefully the instructions attached to the application. If you are not required to take the examination complete the following:

    • Complete the Application for Original Contractor's License;
    • You may apply for more than one license classification at a time if you are not required to take the examination. You must pay a $150 additional classification fee for each additional class you apply for;
    • Complete the application and all accompanying forms in ink or with a typewriter. Forms completed in pencil will be returned to you. Make sure you sign and date the application;
    • Proofread your application for any omissions. If the Board has to return the application to you for any missing information, your license will be delayed;
    • Submit the application, the application processing fee ($450), if applying for any additional classification(s) submit a $150 processing fee for each and all required documents to:

      CSLB Headquarters
      Contractors State License Board
      P.O. Box 26000
      Sacramento, CA 95826-0026

    • Be certain to include your return address on the envelope; and
    • Do not submit any bonds or the initial license fee with your application.

    CSLB will acknowledge receipt of your application.

    The CSLB will send you a letter of acknowledgment. This letter will contain two important numbers: an Application Fee Number and a four-digit Personal Identification (PIN) Number, together with instructions on how to use these numbers to check on the progress of your application.

    Your Application Fee Number, also known as your "receipt number", will also appear on the front of your canceled check. Please retain a record of this number, and use it in all inquiries regarding your pending application.

    How long does it take to complete the license application process?

    Because there are many factors that affect the time it takes to process an application (type of application, workload, vacancies, etc.), processing times continually change. By using your Application Fee Number and your PIN (Personal Identification Number) to do an Application Status Check, you can get information on what date the Board is currently working on in regard to your specific type of application. This information is updated weekly and will give you a good idea of when your application will be pulled for processing.

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