If you work in construction and want to become a licensed contractor in California, one of the first questions you need to answer is:

Which contractor license classification do I actually need?

California does not issue just one type of contractor license.

The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) licenses contractors according to the type of construction work they perform.

Some contractors need a General Building (B) license.

Others may need a B-2 Residential Remodeling license.

Infrastructure and engineering contractors may need an A General Engineering license.

Contractors specializing in one particular trade may need a specialty classification such as:

✓ C-10 Electrical

✓ C-36 Plumbing

✓ C-20 HVAC

✓ C-27 Landscaping

✓ C-33 Painting and Decorating

✓ C-39 Roofing

✓ C-8 Concrete

✓ C-9 Drywall

✓ C-15 Flooring and Floor Covering

✓ C-54 Ceramic and Mosaic Tile

✓ C-46 Solar

And there are many other California contractor classifications.

The correct license depends primarily on the type and scope of construction work you intend to contract for.

Choosing the correct classification before applying can save considerable time and confusion.

This is one of the biggest questions California contractor applicants have.

A General Building (B) contractor generally works on structures involving at least two unrelated building trades or crafts.

A specialty contractor generally performs work requiring specialized skills within a particular trade.

For example:

If your business primarily performs electrical work, you should investigate the C-10 Electrical classification.

If you primarily perform plumbing, look at C-36 Plumbing.

If you primarily perform roofing, look at C-39 Roofing.

If you primarily perform HVAC work, look at C-20 Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning.

But if you intend to contract for larger building or remodeling projects involving multiple unrelated building trades, a General B license may be appropriate.

The B General Building Contractor classification is one of California's broadest and most popular contractor licenses.

It is designed for contractors whose principal business involves structures requiring at least two unrelated building trades or crafts.

For example, a substantial residential remodeling project might involve:

✓ Framing

✓ Electrical

✓ Plumbing

✓ Drywall

✓ Flooring

✓ Painting

✓ Roofing

✓ HVAC

A General B contractor may be the appropriate contractor to coordinate and oversee a project involving multiple unrelated trades.

However, having a B license does not mean a contractor can automatically take every single-trade specialty project in California.

The scope of the contract matters.

There are important limitations.

A General B contractor generally cannot take a prime contract involving only one specialty trade unless the contractor also holds the appropriate specialty classification or uses an appropriately licensed specialty contractor, subject to the specific rules governing General Building contractors.

Framing and carpentry have special treatment under the General Building classification.

This is why someone who plans to operate primarily as an electrician, plumber, roofer, HVAC contractor or other single-trade contractor should not automatically assume a General B license is the correct choice.

It depends upon the remodeling work you intend to contract for.

If your projects involve multiple unrelated building trades, the B General Building classification may be appropriate.

California also has a B-2 Residential Remodeling Contractor classification specifically intended for certain remodeling work on existing residential wood-frame structures.

The two licenses are not identical.

Understanding the difference before applying is important.

The B-2 Residential Remodeling Contractor classification is more limited than the General B classification.

It applies to remodeling existing residential wood-frame structures where the project involves at least three unrelated building trades or crafts.

The B-2 classification is intended for nonstructural remodeling work and has important limitations.

A person whose experience and intended business are primarily residential remodeling may want to compare B-2 with General B before deciding which classification to pursue.

This depends on your experience and the type of work you want your business to perform.

A General B license has a broader building scope.

A B-2 is specifically directed toward qualifying residential remodeling work and is more limited.

Ask yourself:

Do I intend to build or substantially alter structures?

Is my experience primarily residential remodeling?

Will my projects involve structural work?

How many unrelated trades will typically be involved?

What kind of contracts do I intend to take after I am licensed?

Do not select B-2 simply because you think it might be easier.

And do not automatically select General B simply because it sounds broader.

The classification should match your legitimate experience and intended contracting business.

Kitchen remodeling is a perfect example of why classification selection can become confusing.

A complete kitchen remodel may involve:

✓ Carpentry

✓ Electrical

✓ Plumbing

✓ Drywall

✓ Cabinets

✓ Countertops

✓ Flooring

✓ Painting

A project involving multiple unrelated trades may fit within an appropriate general contractor classification.

But if your company only installs cabinets, performs electrical work, installs flooring or performs another single specialty, the appropriate specialty classification may be required.

The scope of the contract matters.

Bathroom remodeling can involve several trades, including:

✓ Plumbing

✓ Electrical

✓ Tile

✓ Drywall

✓ Painting

✓ Carpentry

✓ Flooring

A contractor managing a complete bathroom remodel involving multiple unrelated trades may have different classification needs from a contractor who only performs plumbing or tile work.

Again, look at what your company actually intends to contract for.

Accessory Dwelling Unit projects can involve substantial construction and multiple building trades.

Depending upon the project, ADU construction may involve:

✓ Foundation or concrete

✓ Framing

✓ Roofing

✓ Electrical

✓ Plumbing

✓ HVAC

✓ Insulation

✓ Drywall

✓ Flooring

✓ Painting

A contractor undertaking an entire ADU project should carefully evaluate the General Building classification and the actual scope of work.

A specialty contractor performing only one portion of the ADU project should evaluate the specialty classification applicable to that trade.

The C-10 Electrical Contractor classification applies to electrical contracting work within the scope established by CSLB.

Someone whose principal business involves electrical systems should generally investigate the C-10 classification rather than assuming a General B license is sufficient for stand-alone electrical contracting.

Typical electrical work may involve electrical wiring, equipment, fixtures and related electrical systems within the classification's authorized scope.

This is an increasingly common question.

California has both a C-10 Electrical Contractor classification and a C-46 Solar Contractor classification.

Solar projects can involve electrical systems and specialized solar-energy work, so the appropriate classification depends upon the work being contracted for and the legal scope of the classification.

Do not choose a classification based simply on the word “solar.”

Look at the complete scope of work your company intends to perform.

The C-36 Plumbing Contractor classification applies to plumbing contracting within its authorized scope.

If your principal business will be plumbing, a C-36 specialty license may be the appropriate classification.

Examples of plumbing-related work can include piping and plumbing systems within the scope established for the C-36 classification.

A General B license should not automatically be treated as a substitute for a C-36 when contracting for stand-alone plumbing work.

California's principal HVAC specialty classification is:

C-20 — Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning Contractor

Someone intending to operate an HVAC contracting business should investigate the C-20 classification.

This is particularly important for technicians who have years of HVAC experience and now want to start their own licensed contracting business.

California has a C-8 Concrete Contractor classification.

If your business primarily performs concrete work, C-8 may be the appropriate specialty classification.

Someone who performs concrete as one component of larger multi-trade building projects may have a different licensing situation.

California's painting specialty classification is:

C-33 Painting and Decorating Contractor

Someone whose contracting business is primarily painting and decorating should investigate the C-33 classification.

California's roofing specialty classification is:

C-39 Roofing Contractor

Contractors whose principal business involves roofing should investigate C-39 rather than assuming a General B license automatically covers stand-alone roofing contracts.

California's flooring classification is:

C-15 Flooring and Floor Covering Contractor

This classification applies to flooring and floor-covering contracting within its authorized scope.

California has a:

C-9 Drywall Contractor

classification for specialty drywall contracting.

California's principal landscaping classification is:

C-27 Landscaping Contractor

Landscaping can involve much more than basic yard maintenance, so applicants should review the actual CSLB scope of the C-27 classification when determining whether it matches their work.

California has a:

C-54 Ceramic and Mosaic Tile Contractor

classification.

A contractor specializing in qualifying tile installation should investigate C-54.

The A General Engineering Contractor classification is very different from General B.

General Engineering contracting primarily involves fixed works requiring specialized engineering knowledge and skill.

This may include areas such as:

✓ Roads and highways

✓ Utilities

✓ Sewers

✓ Drainage

✓ Pipelines

✓ Excavation related to engineering projects

✓ Infrastructure

✓ Water systems

✓ Other qualifying fixed works

Someone with extensive heavy civil, utility or infrastructure experience may need to investigate the A classification rather than General B.

A simple way to begin understanding the distinction is:

General A = engineering and infrastructure-oriented construction.

General B = building-oriented construction.

But actual CSLB classification definitions control.

Someone building houses or commercial buildings may be looking at General B.

Someone whose experience is primarily roads, utilities, pipelines, drainage or major infrastructure may be looking at General A.

Some contractors eventually hold both classifications.

This question requires more than simply looking at the word “handyman.”

California law regulates when a contractor license is required based upon the nature and scope of the work.

A person performing small repair work should understand the current California rules governing unlicensed work before advertising or accepting construction projects.

If your goal is to grow beyond limited handyman work into larger remodeling or specialty contracting projects, obtaining the appropriate contractor classification may become extremely important.

Do not assume that performing several trades automatically means you need General B.

The correct classification depends on the type of projects you contract for and how the trades relate to the overall work.

Likewise, do not assume you need a separate specialty license for every task appearing somewhere within a legitimate multi-trade General Building project.

The scope of the contract is critical.

Yes.

California contractors may hold multiple classifications when properly qualified and approved.

For example, a contractor might eventually hold:

B General Building + C-10 Electrical

or

B General Building + C-36 Plumbing

or

A General Engineering + specialty classifications

depending upon the contractor's experience, qualifications and business needs.

Yes.

An existing licensed contractor may apply to add another classification for which the qualifier is eligible.

This can be an excellent strategy for contractors whose businesses expand into additional areas.

For example, someone may begin with a specialty classification and later qualify for General B.

Or a General B contractor may later add a specialty classification that allows the company to contract directly for particular stand-alone specialty work.

Not necessarily.

More classifications are not automatically better.

Think about:

What work do I actually perform?

What work do I intend to advertise?

What contracts do I want to take?

What experience can I legitimately document?

Which classifications will actually help my business?

The best license is the one that legally matches the contracting business you intend to operate.

This is extremely common.

Someone may have 10 or 20 years in construction and still be unsure which classification best matches their career.

For example:

A project manager may have experience across multiple trades.

A solar installer may have substantial electrical experience.

A remodeler may perform many trades.

A plumber may have supervised complete remodels.

A concrete contractor may have significant General Engineering experience.

A superintendent may have supervised complete buildings without personally performing every trade.

The correct question isn't simply:

“What license do I want?”

The better questions are:

What work have I actually performed or supervised?

What classification does that experience support?

What work do I intend to contract for after I'm licensed?

No.

Your actual qualifying experience matters.

Construction job titles vary tremendously between companies.

One company's “Project Manager” may perform extensive field supervision.

Another company's project manager may primarily handle paperwork.

One “Supervisor” may oversee several trades.

Another may supervise only one specialty.

The actual construction duties and responsibilities should be evaluated.

Potentially.

An experienced construction professional may have legitimate experience relating to several classifications.

However, each classification has its own scope and qualification requirements.

Having enough experience for one classification does not automatically establish qualification for every other classification.

Selecting the appropriate classification before submitting your application is important.

Your experience certification, trade examination and eventual contracting authority are connected to the classification you request.

Do not simply select General B because it is popular.

Do not select a specialty classification because you think the examination will be easier.

And do not select a classification merely because another contractor told you to.

Choose the classification that accurately matches your legitimate experience and intended contracting work.

Start with these questions:

1. What construction work do I perform most often?

2. Do I primarily perform one specialty trade?

3. Do I manage projects involving multiple unrelated building trades?

4. Is my work primarily residential remodeling?

5. Is my experience primarily heavy civil, utilities or infrastructure?

6. What work do I want my company to contract for after I'm licensed?

7. What qualifying experience can I legitimately document?

Your answers will usually point toward the classification or classifications you should investigate.

Getting the right California contractor license begins with choosing the correct classification.

A person with years of excellent construction experience can create unnecessary problems by applying for a classification that does not match their actual work history or future business.

Before applying, understand:

✓ What the classification legally covers

✓ What experience CSLB requires

✓ Whether your work history supports the classification

✓ Which examination or examinations may be required

✓ How your experience should be documented

✓ What work you intend to perform once licensed

Best Contractor School helps California contractor license applicants understand the licensing process, prepare for California contractor examinations, and evaluate how their actual construction experience relates to the classification they are considering.

Whether you are considering General B, General A, B-2, C-10 Electrical, C-36 Plumbing, C-20 HVAC, C-27 Landscaping, C-33 Painting, C-39 Roofing, C-8 Concrete, C-15 Flooring or another California contractor classification, choosing the correct license is an important first step.

Best Contractor School

California Contractor License Exam Preparation & Application Guidance

Not sure which California contractor license you need?

Call David Warner: 714-716-9782

This information is provided for educational purposes. Contractor classification scopes and individual licensing decisions are controlled by the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB). Applicants should confirm the current CSLB classification description applicable to the work they intend to perform.