Practice the two exams most California contractor license applicants take: Law and Business, which every applicant takes, and the General Building (B) trade exam. Every question is original, written to CSLB’s study guides, with an explanation that cites the law or code behind the answer.
115 questions on the real 3½-hour clock, weighted to CSLB’s study guide, with a score for every section and an explanation for every answer.
Or start with a free 10-question drillDuring hiring, an applicant signs an arbitration agreement and a safety rules acknowledgment. Later the employee asks for copies. What does California law require?
The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) licenses contractors in California. You need a license for construction work of $1,000 or more in labor and materials, and for smaller jobs that need a building permit. To get one, the qualifier (the owner or an employee who qualifies the business) needs four years of journey-level experience in the last ten years and must pass two exams: Law and Business, which is the same for every classification, and a trade exam for the classification. PSI gives both exams for CSLB.
CSLB received 39,654 license applications in 2025, and PSI gave 59,027 CSLB exams. Across all CSLB exams in fiscal year 2022/23, 71% of first attempts passed and 37% of retakes did.
Each exam has a free ten-question drill for every section of CSLB’s study guide, a guide to each section and a full timed practice exam. The first attempt at each drill is free; create a free account to save your results.
Every license applicant: Law and Business is the same exam for every classification, taken alongside the trade exam (C-61 Limited Specialty applicants take it with no trade exam). In fiscal year 2022/23, 17,737 candidates took it and 57% passed.
Applicants for the B General Building Contractor license, the license for building projects that use at least two unrelated building trades. You also take Law and Business. In fiscal year 2022/23, 7,243 candidates took the B exam and 44% passed.
Ready for the full exam?
115 questions on the real 3½-hour clock, weighted to CSLB’s study guide, with a score for every section and an explanation for every answer.
Or start with a free 10-question drillTwo: the Law and Business exam, which every applicant takes, and the trade exam for your classification, such as General Building (B), Electrical (C-10) or Plumbing (C-36). The C-61 Limited Specialty classification has no trade exam. CSLB grants exam waivers only in limited cases.
You get 3½ hours for each exam. An on-screen tutorial of up to 15 minutes comes first and does not count against your time.
The application fee is $450 for one classification, paid to CSLB. PSI then charges $51.43 per exam for every attempt, so Law and Business plus one trade exam is $102.86 on a first try. After you pass you pay the initial license fee ($200 for a sole owner, $350 for other entities) and file the $25,000 contractor bond.
As many times as you need within 18 months of CSLB accepting your application, waiting 21 calendar days after each failed attempt and paying PSI’s exam fee each time. After 18 months the application is void and you apply again with new fees.
In fiscal year 2022/23, 57% of Law and Business candidates and 44% of General Building (B) candidates passed, according to CSLB. Across all CSLB exams that year, 71% of first attempts passed and 37% of retakes did.
Yes. Law and Business, General Building (B) and several other trade exams are offered in Spanish, with an on-screen switch between English and Spanish. For an exam that is not translated, CSLB can approve a translator you arrange.
Yes. The California contractor pass unlocks the full timed practice exams and unlimited drills for both Law and Business and General Building (B).
Ready for exam day?
115 questions on the real 3½-hour clock, weighted to CSLB’s study guide, with a score for every section and an explanation for every answer.
Or start with a free 10-question drillOriginal practice questions for exam preparation, written to CSLB’s published study guide outlines. Independent practice, not affiliated with or endorsed by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) or PSI.