CSLB Law and Business: Public Works
Section 6 of CSLB’s Law and Business study guide · about 5% of the exam
115 questions across every section on the 3½-hour clock, with a score for public works so you know where you stand.
Free public works drillOn a public works project, within how many days after completion must the public entity release the retention it withheld from the original contractor (absent a dispute)?
Public Works on the Law and Business exam
Prevailing wages, certified payroll, DIR registration, apprentices, and the bond and insurance requirements on public jobs.
- Share of the exam
- About 5% (CSLB study guide); 6 of the 115 questions in our practice exam
- CSLB’s topics
- Prevailing wage requirements · Bonding requirements · Insurance requirements
- Our drill
- 10 questions from 30 public works questions, untimed, an explanation after every answer; one free attempt, unlimited with a pass
What public works questions test
- Prevailing wage: which projects are public works, who sets the rates (the Department of Industrial Relations), and paying the rate for each craft and classification
- Certified payroll records, contractor registration with the DIR, and apprentice requirements
- Bonds on public works: bid bonds, performance bonds and payment bonds, and when each is required
- Insurance requirements on public contracts, and the rules on listing and substituting subcontractors
Sit the full exam under the real clock
115 questions across every section on the 3½-hour clock, with a score for public works so you know where you stand.
Free public works drillHow to study it
- The section is small (about 5%), so learn the core rules well rather than every detail.
- Read the DIR’s Public Works Manual summary pages on prevailing wage, certified payroll and apprentices.
Common questions
How many public works questions are on the Law and Business exam?
CSLB weights Public Works at about 5% of the exam, the smallest section. CSLB does not publish the exact number of questions.
What resource covers public works?
CSLB’s study guide lists the Department of Industrial Relations’ Public Works Manual. The Labor Code sections on prevailing wage start at section 1720.
115 questions across every section on the 3½-hour clock, with a score for public works so you know where you stand.
Free public works drillThe other Law and Business sections
Section topics and weight from CSLB study guide: Law and Business (13E-LAW, 03-2026), checked November 2026.
Original independent practice questions written to CSLB’s published study guide outline. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) or PSI.