This application for original contractor's license is for new applicants when experience and/or an examination is required. Click here to see a sample Application for Original Contractor's License.

This form is to be used to report and confirm the journeyman level work experience requirement. Include this form when submitting an Application for Original Contractor's License, Application for Additional Classification or Application for Replacing the Qualifying Individual. Click here to see a sample of an Application for Original Contractor's License.

This form is to be used when submitting an Application for Original Contractor's License, Application for Additional Classification or Application for Replacing the Qualifying Individual, if the experience you claim is from owner builder work. This form is used in addition to the Certification of Work Experience submitted with the application. One form is required for each completed construction project.

This application for original contractor's license is to be used for 7065 waiver only applicants (e.g. sole owner applying for a corporate license). Section 7065 of the Contractors License Law states in part "No examination shall be required of a qualifying individual if, within the five-year period immediately preceding the application for licensure, the qualifying individual has either personally passed the written examination for the same classification being applied for, or has served as the qualifying individual for a licensee whose license was in good standing at any time during the five-year period immediately preceding the application for licensure and in the same classification being applied for." Click here to see a sample of an Application for Original Contractor's License.

At any time WITHIN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, has the applicant/qualifying individual:

been listed on Board records as the qualifier for a license which was in good standing in the same class being applied for, OR

personally passed both the law and trade portions of the written exam in the same class being applied for.

If yes, this application is appropriate.

If no, please order an Application for Original Contractors License.

This form is to be completed and submitted along with the Application for Contractor's License when there are additional personnel to report on behalf of the applicant.

This form is required to re-issue a sole ownership license to a corporation, and MUST be submitted with an Application for Contractor's License.

The application for additional classification is to be used only for adding classifications to an existing license. You can add any classification to an existing license for which you have qualifying experience and for which you pass the applicable examination.

Qualifiers are limited in the number of additional licenses which they may qualify. Factors such as common ownership between or among the entities being qualified are considered. Starting in 1992, persons granted qualifier status were restricted to qualifying no more than three firms in any one-year period.

A responsible managing employee must inactivate his or her sole proprietor license to qualify for another license, and meet certain employment requirements. On a sole proprietor license, the RME may be replaced by the owner or by another RME. On a partnership license the RME may be replaced by a general partner or by another RME. Note, however, an additional general partner may not be added to an existing partnership license. On a corporate license, the RME may be replaced by a responsible managing officer or employee. Click here to see a sample of an Application for Original Contractor's License.

The application for replacing the qualifying individual is to be used only for replacing the qualifying person on a license. You can replace qualifying individuals on a sole proprietorship with the owner or another qualified responsible managing employee; on a partnership with another qualified responsible managing employee; and on a corporation with another qualified responsible managing employee or another qualified responsible managing officer.

Replacement of the qualifier must be made within 90 days of disassociation to avoid a suspension of the license. Notification can be made by the owner, partner or officer, or the qualifier who is leaving. Notification may be by letter or by using the Notice of Disassociation. Replacement of the qualifier may be made by submitting the Application for Replacing the Qualifying Individual, and appropriate fees.

Qualifiers are limited in the number of additional licenses which they may qualify. Factors such as common ownership between or among the entities being qualified are considered. Starting in 1992, persons granted qualifier status were restricted to qualifying no more than three firms in any one-year period.

A responsible managing employee must inactivate his or her sole proprietor license to qualify for another license, and meet certain employment requirements. On a sole proprietor license, the RME may be replaced by the owner or by another RME. On a partnership license the RME may be replaced by a general partner or by another RME. Note, however, an additional general partner may not be added to an existing partnership license. On a corporate license, the RME may be replaced by a responsible managing officer or employee.

Failure to replace the disassociated RME or RMO within 90 days from the date of his or her disassociation will result in the automatic suspension of a license which is on active status. If the license has more than one classification, and the qualifier for the other class or classes remains on the license, the licensee may continue to operate in the remaining class or classes. The class qualified by the person who disassociated will be removed at the end of the 90 days unless replacement is made within that time. Click here to see a sample of an Application for Original Contractor's License.

The application for changing business name and/or address is for use by licensees or applicants to report changes in their mailing addresses or to make allowable changes to their business names. Business name style changes generally may be made to those names which do not indicate that a licensee is operating in a classification not on the license, or to names indicating a different licensed entity; for example, a sole proprietorship license cannot add the word "Corporation" to the business name.

Certified copies of the wall certificate and/or renewal pocket certificate may be ordered by the license holder only. Use the appropriate section of the name and address form. There is a $11 fee for each certified copy requested.

The application to change officers of corporations should be completed to report officers who are to be removed from the Board's records for existing corporate licenses and to report all current officers. It cannot be used to change or disassociate a responsible managing officer or employee.

This form is to be used to cancel an individual, partnership, corporate or joint venture license. Do not use this form to cancel a HIS Registration (see Home Improvement Salesperson Registration Cancellation Request Form). The request must be received at the Board’s Headquarter’s office within 90 days of the effective date of cancellation.

TO CANCEL AN INDIVIDUAL LICENSE: The signature of the owner is required. TO CANCEL A PARTNERSHIP LICENSE: The signature of a partner is required. TO CANCEL A CORPORATE LICENSE: Your cancellation request must EITHER BE: (a) signed by the president and another officer listed on our records; (b) signed by two officers listed on our records; or (c) accompanied by a copy of the company’s final dissolution documents filed with the California Secretary of State. TO CANCEL A JOINT VENTURE LICENSE: The signature of an individual listed on one of the entities is required.

The application to renew a contractors license is sent to current licensees by the Board about 60 days before expiration date. However, if, by 4 weeks before the expiration date, you have not received your renewal, request a duplicate renewal. This often happens if you move without providing the Board with a current mailing address for the license or if the Post Office is not forwarding your mail. If you order another renewal, please be sure you indicate a current address where it should be sent. A license can be renewed as a delinquent renewal for up to 5 years after it expires, as long as there is no change of ownership of the license--that is, the same owner, or same partners, or same corporation as was previously licensed will be renewing. When ordering a renewal, you will be asked for the business name of the license, the license number and license expiration date, so please have this information ready.

If the license you wish to renew expires in a couple of months the renewal will be mailed to the address of record. Please do not order a duplicate renewal unless you have not received the renewal by 3 to 4 weeks before your license expiration date.

A license which is currently renewed but is on inactive status may be restored to active status by filing the Application to Reactivate Inactive State Contractor's License. Some restrictions apply--these are explained on the application. If you consider your license to be "inactive" but it has actually expired and the expiration date is within 5 years, order a renewal application. If your license expired more than 5 years ago, you must file an original application to reassign the license number.

To inactivate a license, order an application to inactivate state contractor's license. There is no fee for inactivation. You must turn in your active pocket license with the request for inactivation.

A joint venture license may be issued to any combination of two or more licenses issued to sole proprietors, partnerships, corporations or other joint licenses which are currently in effect and in good standing. The joint venture license may be issued in any classification held by at least one of the entities.

If the responsible managing officer or responsible managing employee disassociates from the licensed entity, the licensee or qualifier may use the notice of disassociation to make a signed statement of the exact date the RMO or RME left. Note that notice must be given, and the qualifier replaced, within 90 days from the date of disassociation to avoid suspension of the license. Use the application for additional classification or replacing the qualifying individual to replace the RMO or RME. Use the Home Improvement Salesperson Registration Cancellation Request Form to cancel a HIS Registration.

You may obtain a bond form from either the bonding company or the Contractors State License Board. Certificates of deposit or assignments from banks, savings and loan firms or credit unions may be submitted as cash alternatives to meet the bonding requirements. There are several special requirements for the deposits, as well as special assignment forms which are usually available at the issuing banks or savings institutions. Please note that all cash alternatives to bonds must be retained by the Contractors Board for 3 years after the end of the last license period they cover, or for 3 years following the completion of the requirement. You must obtain an exemption certification to establish an exemption to the bond of qualifying individual for a responsible managing officer on a corporation license. To qualify for an exemption from this bonding requirement, the qualifying officer must own 10% or more of the voting stock or equity of the corporation.

A Bond of Qualifying Individual (BQI) is required, in addition to the Contractor's Bond, if the qualifier on the license is listed as a Responsible Managing Employee (RME) or as a Responsible Managing Officer (RMO) with less than 10 percent ownership of the voting stock or equity of the corporation for which he/she is qualifying. You may obtain a Bond of Qualifying Indiviual form from either the bonding company or the Contractors State License Board. Certificates of deposit or assignments from banks, savings and loan firms or credit unions may be submitted as cash alternatives to meet the bonding requirements for the qualifier. There are several special requirements for certificates of deposits, as well as special assignment forms. These should be obtained from the issuing bank or savings institution.

Instead of filing a license bond with the CSLB, a contractor may use one of the following approved alternatives for filing a security deposit: certificate of deposit; bank savings account, savings and loan investment certificate, or share account; credit union certificate for fund or share account or cash. Please note that all cash alternatives to bonds must be retained by the Contractor's Board for 3 years after the end of the last license period they cover, or for 3 years following the completion of the requirement.

A Bond Status Letter provides information on current surety bonds on a license plus some current status information about the license. A fee of $8 must accompany the request. Persons who intend to make a claim against a contractor's bond or cash deposit should request a Bond Status Letter. Allow about 4 weeks for a response.

All licenses on active status, and all applicants for issuance of the license, must file evidence of workers' compensation or exemption from the requirements. The Certificate of Workers' Compensation Insurance is provided by the workers' compensation insurer. A certificate of consent to self-insure is secured from the Director of Industrial Relations. If the license is on inactive status with the board, the certificate does not have to be filed. Contractors who do not hire employees and who are exempt from this requirement should file the "Exemption from Workers' Compensation".

The Contractors State License Board can provide the public with the nature of complaints which have been investigated and referred for legal action, and any legal action which has been taken by the Board against a license.

The fact that a complaint against a contractor has been referred for legal action does not mean that the contractor has necessarily committed a violation of the contractors license law; no conclusion or judgments as to the validity of the charges should be assumed until the legal action has been completed.

After you have checked the license information for a particular contractor and if the status information indicated a past or pending legal action, you can call the Board's legal action disclosure number nearest your construction location for further details.

Northern Case Management   (916) 255-4041
Southern Case Management   (562) 345-7656

The application for asbestos certification is to be used by currently licensed contractors who bid for or do asbestos-related contracting. When a licensee has qualified for this certification, it will be added to the license much like an additional classification. In order to obtain the asbestos certification, a contractor must be registered with the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA).

Please note that this application is not for the asbestos open-book examination which is required for asbestos awareness purposes by all applicants for license. That booklet is furnished to applicants with their notices to comply with issuance requirements.

Contractors who perform hazardous substance removal work at specific sites and/or who bid for the installation or removal of, or install or remove, underground storage tanks, must complete the application for hazardous substances certification to add the certification to their existing licenses. Eligibility for this certification is basically limited to licenses having the class A, general engineering, or class C-12, earthwork and paving, or, in some instances, the class B, general building license. The certification may also be applied for by licensees holding the class C-36, plumbing, or the class C-61, limited specialty category for service station equipment and maintenance.

A Verified Certificate is a certified license history covering a specific time period. The Verified Certificate is used mainly for court actions involving contractors. It is admissible in court as prima facie evidence of the facts stated on the certificate. The document covers the last 3 years of the license status unless otherwise requested. The Verified Certificate contains the contractors business name and address, trade classifications held, license issue date, the license personnel, bonding information if requested, any legal actions taken against the license, and the standing of the license at all times during the period covered by the certificate.

Recent California legislation requires any contractor who brings a court action for the collection of compensation, to provide a Verified Certificate as proof of valid licensure during the time of the contract or work. Upon request, the Board also prepares statements of the absence of a license during a given time period, that is, a "no record verified certificate". To identify the non-licensed subject, you will need to provide the person's full name, business name if applicable, address or location where the work is being done, type of work being performed, and the time period of the contract or work.

NOTICE OF FEE INCREASE:
EFFECTIVE 12-17-04, THE FEE FOR CERTIFIED LICENSE HISTORIES AND CERTIFICATE OF NON-LICENSE HAS BEEN INCREASED TO $67 EACH.

The fee must accompany your request. A large number of requests are backlogged. It may take 3 months to receive your certificate. If you have a court date coming up sooner, please provide proof of your court date with your request.

The Request for Verification of License form is for contractor's who have been licensed in a state which has a reciprocal license agreement with California. Currently, California has "reciprocity" with Arizona, Nevada and Utah. If a contractor has held a valid license in one of these states for the past five (5) years and is applying for a similar license in California, he/she may be eligible for a waiver of the trade exam. The bottom portion of the Request for Verification of License form must be completed by the licensing agency in the state where the contractor was previously licensed.