What is Taking the CSLB Exam Like?
The California State Board of Licensing exam can be difficult. It’s not impossible, but it can be an intimidating process that takes a lot of your time and energy to prepare for it.
The good news is that with the right preparation, you can succeed and get your license! In this blog post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about taking the CSLB exam.
What’s on the test?
The test consists of two parts
- The business and law examination
- The trade examination.
The business and law examination is the same for every applicant. It covers questions related to business management and construction law.
The trade examination is totally different and focuses only on the area of construction that you’re applying for – so if you’re applying for your carpentry license, get ready for a lot of questions about the trade of carpentry.
The test is multiple choice and you’ll have a total of 150 questions to answer in 2.5 hours. The test itself is in English. If that is an issue, you can bring a translator with you on the day of the examination.
The cost for taking this test is about $150. If you pass, you get to be a licensed contractor!
Where is the test?
You can take the CSLB exam at the CSLB testing centers in these cities: Berkeley, Fresno, Norwalk, Oxnard, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, and San Jose.
If you are taking a practical exam, you must also contact your local CSLB board office to find out if they have any space available in their testing center that day.
It’s also possible to take your exam from home or at your workplace, but you must contact the CSLB board office in advance and get their approval. If you plan to take an exam from home or work, there are two ways that this can happen:
- You can schedule an appointment with a proctor (which includes scheduling for both exams). The CSLB requires that all exams be proctored by either an employer or a state-approved organization like ProctorU—you can take advantage of this if you’d prefer not to travel at all.
- You can request permission from your local board office to take your exam from home or work (this only applies if they offer it).
How much does the test cost?
The CSLB charges $150 to take the exam.
You can take the test as many times as you want, but it costs $100 every time you want to re-take the exam.
What if I fail?
The CSLB has a computerized system that automatically tracks your test results. If you fail a portion of the exam, it will provide you with an option to retake that section only.
You must wait at least 30 days before retaking the test and improving your score on that section, and if you fail again, then you must wait another 30 days before attempting to retake it again.
If you fail not just one portion of the test, but all parts of it, and wish to continue taking it without delay (so as not to miss out on valuable construction experience), then there is an additional charge of $25 per attempt after the first two attempts have been made within a year’s time frame.
What if I pass?
If you pass the exam, you will receive your license!
What do I need to pass the CSLB exam?
The number of correct questions you need to pass the CSLB exams changes. In fact, you will be told on the day of the exam the percentage of correct answers you need to pass the exam.
If you’re worried about passing the CSLB exam, the best way to succeed is to be prepared. CSLS’s exam prep courses give you everything you need to pass the CSLB exams the first time – so you can get your license faster.
