The California Contractors License Exam

Before you can apply for California contractors license, you must meet the following experience requirements:

4 years of experience in the trade.*
Be at least 18 years old.**
Social Security number or ITIN

Don't have 4 years of experience?

A college degree can be substituted for up to three years of that experience.

The State will accept self-employed experience.

*You must have a combined total of 4 years full-time journeyman-level experience in the last 10 years. Journey-level experience applies to a person who has completed an apprenticeship program or is an experienced worker, not a trainee, and is fully qualified and able to perform a specific trade without supervision.

**Even though you can apply for a contractors license when you are 18 years old, it is recommended that you be at least 23 years old due to the experience requirement.

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