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California Contractor License (CSLB): B, C-10, C-36 and C-20 Requirements

By Dale Morgan · Updated 2026-10-17 · Every fact links to its official source.

If you want to run your own trade business in California, the question isn't only "am I skilled enough?" but "which contractor license do I need, and what does the board expect before it issues one?" The answers are spread across many official pages, and secondhand summaries online are often out of date.

This guide brings the pieces together in one place for the four licenses most building-trade businesses ask about: general building, electrical, plumbing and HVAC. We wrote the explanations in plain English. Every requirement, number and fee is quoted from a fact our editor checked against the official page, and the link is right next to it so you can confirm it yourself.

Before you read on, one distinction saves a lot of confusion. The licenses below are contractor licenses: they let a business contract for work. They are not the same thing as an individual worker certification, which is a separate question. Each fact below carries a scope label so you can see which kind it describes.

A practical way to use this page: read the general building section first, even if you're a specialty trade, because it explains the basics that the board applies across classifications. Then jump to your trade, and keep the official links open as you prepare your application.

Want to check a California contractor? Search the CSLB license list in our lookup.

chart iconVerified facts at a glance

Typical licensing path1Find thelicensing authority2Log supervisedexperience3Pass theexam4Apply andpay fees5Renew and keepup CE
Typical licensing path. A general outline only; the order and requirements differ by jurisdiction — see the verified facts below.
Application fee by license — contractor licenses (verified values only)California General Contrac$450California Electrician$450California Plumber$450California HVAC$450
Application fee by license — contractor licenses (verified values only) (USD). Each bar is a single number quoted on an official page and reviewed by our editor; amounts are for the license type named in the scope note below and are not totals. Jurisdictions without a verified value are left out rather than estimated.

Chart sources (application fee):

Renewal fee by license — contractor licenses (verified values only)California General Contrac$450California Electrician$450California Plumber$450California HVAC$450
Renewal fee by license — contractor licenses (verified values only) (USD). Each bar is a single number quoted on an official page and reviewed by our editor; amounts are for the license type named in the scope note below and are not totals. Jurisdictions without a verified value are left out rather than estimated.

Chart sources (renewal fee):

section iconGeneral building contractor (CSLB)

Here is what the official California pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our California general contractor license requirements page.

Licensing authority

Is a state/provincial license required?

License levels

Experience / hours

Education & training

Exam

Fees

Renewal

Reciprocity & endorsement

section iconElectrical contractor (CSLB)

Here is what the official California pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our California electrician license requirements page.

Licensing authority

Is a state/provincial license required?

Experience / hours

Education & training

Exam

Fees

Renewal

section iconPlumbing contractor (CSLB)

Here is what the official California pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our California plumber license requirements page.

Licensing authority

Is a state/provincial license required?

Experience / hours

Education & training

Exam

Fees

Renewal

section iconHVAC contractor (CSLB)

Here is what the official California pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our California hvac license requirements page.

Licensing authority

Is a state/provincial license required?

Experience / hours

Education & training

Exam

Fees

Renewal

steps iconHow to use this guide

help iconFAQ

How much does it cost? (General building contractor (CSLB))

CSLB sole owner: $450 non-refundable application fee; $200 initial license fee after passing the exam. (Contractor license (B General Building, CSLB)) — source: Apply for a Sole Owner license, verified 2026-10-17

What exam is required? (General building contractor (CSLB))

CSLB: applicants must pass a trade exam and/or a business and law exam, given by an approved testing vendor (exam fees paid to the vendor). (Contractor license (B General Building, CSLB)) — source: Apply for a Sole Owner license, verified 2026-10-17

How much experience do I need? (General building contractor (CSLB))

CSLB: the qualifier needs four years of journey-level experience within the last ten years. (Contractor license (B General Building, CSLB)) — source: Apply for a Sole Owner license, verified 2026-10-17

How often must the license be renewed? (General building contractor (CSLB))

CSLB sole owner license renewal: $450 every two years. (Contractor license (B General Building, CSLB)) — source: Apply for a Sole Owner license, verified 2026-10-17

How much does it cost? (Electrical contractor (CSLB))

CSLB sole owner: $450 non-refundable application fee; $200 initial license fee after passing the exam. (Contractor license (C-10 Electrical, CSLB)) — source: Apply for a Sole Owner license, verified 2026-10-17

What exam is required? (Electrical contractor (CSLB))

CSLB: applicants must pass a trade exam and/or a business and law exam, given by an approved testing vendor (exam fees paid to the vendor). (Contractor license (C-10 Electrical, CSLB)) — source: Apply for a Sole Owner license, verified 2026-10-17

How much experience do I need? (Electrical contractor (CSLB))

CSLB: the qualifier needs four years of journey-level experience within the last ten years. (Contractor license (C-10 Electrical, CSLB)) — source: Apply for a Sole Owner license, verified 2026-10-17

How often must the license be renewed? (Electrical contractor (CSLB))

CSLB sole owner license renewal: $450 every two years. (Contractor license (C-10 Electrical, CSLB)) — source: Apply for a Sole Owner license, verified 2026-10-17

How much does it cost? (Plumbing contractor (CSLB))

CSLB sole owner: $450 non-refundable application fee; $200 initial license fee after passing the exam. (Contractor license (C-36 Plumbing, CSLB)) — source: Apply for a Sole Owner license, verified 2026-10-17

What exam is required? (Plumbing contractor (CSLB))

CSLB: applicants must pass a trade exam and/or a business and law exam, given by an approved testing vendor (exam fees paid to the vendor). (Contractor license (C-36 Plumbing, CSLB)) — source: Apply for a Sole Owner license, verified 2026-10-17

How much experience do I need? (Plumbing contractor (CSLB))

CSLB: the qualifier needs four years of journey-level experience within the last ten years. (Contractor license (C-36 Plumbing, CSLB)) — source: Apply for a Sole Owner license, verified 2026-10-17

How often must the license be renewed? (Plumbing contractor (CSLB))

CSLB sole owner license renewal: $450 every two years. (Contractor license (C-36 Plumbing, CSLB)) — source: Apply for a Sole Owner license, verified 2026-10-17

How much does it cost? (HVAC contractor (CSLB))

CSLB sole owner: $450 non-refundable application fee; $200 initial license fee after passing the exam. (Contractor license (C-20 HVAC, CSLB)) — source: Apply for a Sole Owner license, verified 2026-10-17

What exam is required? (HVAC contractor (CSLB))

CSLB: applicants must pass a trade exam and/or a business and law exam, given by an approved testing vendor (exam fees paid to the vendor). (Contractor license (C-20 HVAC, CSLB)) — source: Apply for a Sole Owner license, verified 2026-10-17

How much experience do I need? (HVAC contractor (CSLB))

CSLB: the qualifier needs four years of journey-level experience within the last ten years. (Contractor license (C-20 HVAC, CSLB)) — source: Apply for a Sole Owner license, verified 2026-10-17

How often must the license be renewed? (HVAC contractor (CSLB))

CSLB sole owner license renewal: $450 every two years. (Contractor license (C-20 HVAC, CSLB)) — source: Apply for a Sole Owner license, verified 2026-10-17