It’s Nearly 2017 – Don’t Get Caught Without a Contractor’s License…
If you’re working in the construction and skilled labor industry in the current year and you don’t have your general contractor’s license or trade certification, then you’re walking on thin ice. The Department of Consumer Affairs Contractor’s State License Board (CSLB) has been getting aggressive with sting operations within the state, targeting unlicensed and fraudulent contractors that bid for work. The CSLB has taken serious measures to partner with the California Highway Patrol as well as a number District Attorney offices to profile, cite, and convict unlicensed contractors that prey on unsuspecting homeowners.
The law says…
California Business and Professions Code section (§) 7028 holds that a state-issued contractor license is required for any home improvement job that costs $1,000 or more in combined labor and material. Did you know that contracting without a license, for first-time offenders, will get you up to 6 months in jail and/or up to $5,000 in fines? Repeat violations carry harsher penalties; a second offense earns you a mandatory 90-day jail sentence.
CSLB sting operations are also targeting unlicensed contractors that advertise their services as “licensed” online under California Business and Professions Code § 7027.1, which requires that unlicensed contractors state in all advertising that they are not licensed. CSLB’s Statewide Investigative Fraud Team (SWIFT) combs through Craigslist, Facebook, Yelp, local newspaper ads and business listings to obtain bids from unlicensed contracts while posing as homeowners. SWIFT agents have also gone on to cite unlicensed contractors for having the correct Worker’s’ Compensation insurance (Labor Code §3700.5), which puts workers at risk of not being covered if they are hurt on the job, exposing the homeowner to liability for on-site injuries.
Long story short, it’s just not worth it to operate without a proper contractor’s license. By doing so, you are putting yourself, your crew, and your clients in a very precarious legal situation. The truth is you might be able to score some quick, small jobs but in the end, state agencies and their legal agents will eventually catch up with you. In a time where names, licenses, and references are available online with a simple search, it doesn’t make any sense to fly under the radar without proper licensure and documentation – the penalties far outweigh any upsides. Consumers can and will check your license information, work history and insurance coverage which directly affects your ability to secure bids and make money.
Get your license now – with our help!
Become a licensed contractor today – it has never been easier with our assortment of self study, online, and in-person courses. It doesn’t matter if you’re fresh out of school or haven’t been in a scholastic mindset for years. Here at CSLS we emphasize learning at your own pace and guarantee that if you properly complete our course, you will pass your state license exam, or your money back!
Don’t get caught on a jobsite without your contractor’s license – it could spell disaster!
About CSLS:
CSLS is the largest contractor licensing school in California with over 25 locations throughout the state. We have the highest success rate of any school – 99% of our students pass their exam on the first try, and that’s guaranteed or your money back.
Our teaching process prepares you in a step by step manner for everything you need to know to pass the law, business and trade portion of your exam. Our programs are designed for convenience. We have online programs, home study, crash-course and in-school options, making it easy and affordable for you to become a licensed contractor.
About the CSLB:
Operating under the Department of Consumer Affairs, CSLB licenses and regulates almost 290,000 contractors in California, and is regarded as one of the leading consumer protection agencies in the United States. In fiscal year 2015-16, CSLB helped recover about $41 million in ordered restitution for consumers.
