General engineering contractor on a highway and bridge construction site

Become a Licensed A General Engineering Contractor

The A General Engineering license is California's broadest infrastructure classification, the license behind highways, bridges, pipelines, levees, and the civil works that keep the state running.

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Requirements

Minimum age: 18+ is CSLB's normal applicant path. A minor may qualify only after a court appoints a guardian (BPC §7065.5)
Experience required: 4 full-time-equivalent years of journey-level experience within the past 10 years; CSLB prorates part-time work
Contractor bond: $25,000

About the Exam

Exam format: 2 parts (Law & Business + Trade)
Law & Business exam: 115 questions
School-observed scores: 65% Law / 66% Trade; not published as fixed by CSLB
Application fee: $450

License renews every 2 years. Governing code: BPC §7056

About this classification

What does a A General Engineering contractor do?

Under California Business and Professions Code §7056, an A General Engineering Contractor performs work whose principal business is in connection with "fixed works requiring specialized engineering knowledge and skill", including the construction, alteration, and repair of civil infrastructure such as highways, bridges, pipelines, sewers, and flood-control works.

The A is the broadest of California's infrastructure classifications. It authorizes large-scale civil and engineering projects, earthwork, grading, paving, water and sewer systems, transmission pipelines, and the associated structures that support them, rather than buildings built for human shelter.

Because the A covers "fixed works requiring specialized engineering knowledge," an A contractor may self-perform a wide range of associated trades when they are an integral part of the engineered project, including earthwork/excavation, which under the associated C-12 classification can extend to using explosives where required (CCR §832.12).

Official source: CSLB A classification · CSLB fee schedule Last reviewed: March 2026

Scope of work

Highways, roads, overpasses, and interchanges
Bridges and grade-separation structures
Airport runways, taxiways, and grading
Sewers, storm drains, and sewage-disposal plants
Municipal water mains and distribution systems
Transmission pipelines (petroleum, gas, water)
Flood-control levees, dams, and channels
Harbors, docks, and waterfront structures
Railroads and transit fixed works
Tunnels, mining, and metallurgical works
Mass earthwork, grading, and excavation
Powerhouses, refineries, and chemical plants

High-demand specialties

Public Works, State and municipal infrastructure contracts, often the largest projects in California
Water & Wastewater, Treatment plants, mains, and conveyance systems driven by drought and aging infrastructure
Pipelines, Petroleum, gas, and water transmission lines across the state
Transportation, Caltrans highway, bridge, and grading work backed by state and federal funding

Important notes

The A covers civil fixed works (infrastructure), not buildings built for the shelter of people or property, which fall under the B (General Building) license.
An A contractor can self-perform associated trades (earthwork, paving, concrete, pipe) when they are an integral part of the engineered project; the explosives-for-excavation authority specifically comes from the associated C-12 classification (CCR §832.12), not from the A's own defining statute (BPC §7056).
An A contractor cannot take a building project as prime unless the building work is incidental to the engineered work, full building projects need the B classification.
Projects over $1,000 (labor and materials combined) require a license. Workers' compensation coverage is required once you have employees; sole owners with no employees may file a no-employee exemption (BPC §7125(b)).
Engineering work often requires a $25,000 contractor bond plus separate bonding on bid public-works contracts.

The CSLB exam

What's on the A General Engineering exam?

California requires you to pass a two-part CSLB exam: the Law & Business exam (the same for every classification) and the A General Engineering trade exam. CSLS has observed scores of 65% for Law & Business and 66% for the A trade exam. CSLB does not publish fixed passing scores and may vary them by exam version.

Law & Business

Same for all classifications

115 questions, multiple choice, computer-based
3.5 hours allotted
Topics: California contractor law, business management, safety, estimating, project management

A Trade Exam

General Engineering-specific

about 100 questions, multiple choice, computer-based
3.5 hours allotted
Topics: site grading and excavation, drainage, paving, pipelines, concrete and steel structures, surveying and layout, public-works contracting, blueprint reading

How to Get Your A General Engineering License

Step 1

Qualify

18+ is CSLB's normal applicant path. A minor may qualify only after a court appoints a guardian (BPC §7065.5). You also need a valid SSN/ITIN and 4 full-time-equivalent years of journey-level general engineering and civil construction experience within the past 10 years; CSLB prorates part-time work. Up to 3 years may be substituted with approved education or apprenticeship.

Step 2

Apply to CSLB

Submit your application, get fingerprinted, and pay the $450 application fee. Processing times vary; check the CSLB's current processing times.

Step 3

Study & Prepare

Prepare for both exam parts, on your own or with a CSLS exam prep program. 99% of CSLS students pass on their first try, backed by our 100% Money-Back Guarantee.

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Step 4

Pass the Exam

Two parts: Law & Business (115q, 3.5 hrs) + A Trade. Multiple choice, computer-based. CSLS has observed scores of 65% Law & Business / 66% A Trade; CSLB does not publish fixed passing scores and may vary them by exam version.

Step 5

Get Licensed

Post your $25,000 contractor bond, pay the $200 license fee, and receive your A license. You're officially in business.

Step 1

Qualify

Step 2

Apply to CSLB

Submit your application, get fingerprinted, and pay the $450 application fee. Processing times vary; check the CSLB's current processing times.

Step 3

Study & Prepare

Prepare for both exam parts, on your own or with a CSLS exam prep program. 99% of CSLS students pass on their first try, backed by our 100% Money-Back Guarantee.

Compare programs

Step 4

Pass the Exam

Step 5

Get Licensed

Post your $25,000 contractor bond, pay the $200 license fee, and receive your A license. You're officially in business.

Career outlook

Why get your A General Engineering license?

99%

First-Time Pass Rate (CSLS)

4 yrs

Journey-Level Experience

$1,000+

License Threshold

The largest contracts in the state

A General Engineering contractors bid the biggest public and private projects in California, highways, bridges, water systems, and pipelines funded by state, federal, and municipal budgets. The license is the gateway to Caltrans and public-works work that smaller specialty contractors cannot prime.

A vs. B: know the boundary

The A covers civil fixed works, infrastructure requiring specialized engineering. The B covers buildings built for the shelter of people, animals, or property. If your work is roads, pipelines, and earthwork, you want the A; if it's ground-up buildings, you want the B. Many large firms hold both.

Steady infrastructure demand

Aging roads, drought-driven water projects, and major state and federal infrastructure funding keep engineering work in high demand across California. The A classification positions a contractor to take on that pipeline as the prime, rather than subcontracting to one.

Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OES) and California EDD.

Exam Prep Programs

Compare A General Engineering Exam Prep Programs

Every program prepares you for the required CSLB exam for A General Engineering. Our 99% first-time pass rate is backed by the 100% Money-Back Guarantee on eligible programs.

Feature-by-feature comparison of all four CSLS exam prep programs
Features	Most Popular All-Inclusive A General Engineering $1,195.00 Value: $2,500	Live Online A General Engineering $695.00 Value: $995	Crash Course A General Engineering $495.00 Value: $695	Home Study A General Engineering $295.00 Value: $395
Best For	Comprehensive prep with maximum support	Remote learners wanting live instruction	Experienced pros with an exam date soon	Self-directed independent learners
Law & Business Classes	4 Classes + Full-Day Review	4 Live Online + Review	Full-Day Review Only	Not included
Trade Math Training	30-Day Interactive + Review	Online Video Review	14-Day Crash Course	Not included
Test-Taking Skills Seminar	1-Day In-Person	1-Day Online	Not included	Not included
Law & Business Materials	Online; binder add-on available	Online; binder add-on available	Online; binder add-on available	Online; binder add-on available
Trade-Specific Materials	Online; binder add-on available	Online; binder add-on available	Online; binder add-on available	Online; binder add-on available
Study Materials	Full Online Suite	Online Materials + Audio/Video	Online + Audio/Video	Online + Audio
Online Videos	Full Suite: L&B, Trade, H&S, Math	Audio + H&S + Math Videos	Audio + H&S + Math Videos	L&B Audio + H&S Video
Law & Business Practice Exams	6 Months	2 Months	30 Days	30 Days
Trade Practice Exams	6 Months	2 Months	30 Days	30 Days
School Location Access	25+ Locations	25+ Locations	25+ Locations	Self-Study Only
Application Assistance	Preparation & Review	Review Only	Review Only	Not included
Money-Back Guarantee	Included	Included	Included	Not included
Bond Fee Discount	50% off first-year bond, up to $120	Not included	Not included	Not included
Retail Value	$2,500	$995	$695	$395
Choose a program	Get All-Inclusive	Get Live Online	Get Crash Course	Get Home Study

Not sure which fits? Call 800-809-6463. Prices and inclusions are subject to change.

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Common Questions

A General Engineering license FAQ

The A (General Engineering) license covers civil "fixed works", highways, bridges, pipelines, sewers, levees, and earthwork that require specialized engineering knowledge. The B (General Building) license covers structures built for the shelter of people, animals, or property, like homes and commercial buildings. If your principal business is infrastructure, you need the A; if it's buildings, you need the B. Large firms often hold both.

An A contractor can prime roads and highways, bridges, airport grading, sewer and storm-drain systems, water mains, transmission pipelines, flood-control levees, dams, harbors, tunnels, and mass earthwork. The license also lets the contractor self-perform associated trades, grading, paving, concrete, and pipe, when they are an integral part of the engineered project.

Only when the building work is incidental to the engineered project. An A General Engineering contractor cannot take a full building project as the prime contractor, that requires the B (General Building) classification. A pump-house attached to a water system is fine; a ground-up commercial building is not.

4 full-time-equivalent years of journey-level general engineering and civil construction experience within the past 10 years; CSLB prorates part-time work. Qualifying work may be as a journeyperson, foreperson, supervising employee, contractor, or owner-builder. Up to three years can be satisfied with approved technical training, apprenticeship, or education. CSLB requires you to document this experience and have it verified.

From application to license-in-hand, the path usually runs 2–4 months, CSLB application processing (typically 2–4 weeks), exam scheduling, passing both the Law & Business and trade exams, and posting your $25,000 bond. With CSLS exam prep, most students are exam-ready in 4–6 weeks.

Plan for roughly $885 in CSLB and state costs before exam prep: a $450 application fee (covers both exams), $200 initial license issuance, about $150 for your first-year $25,000 bond premium, and about $85 for fingerprinting. Public-works contracts may require additional bid and performance bonds.

The A trade exam covers grading and excavation, drainage, paving, pipelines, concrete and steel structures, surveying, and public-works contracting. You need the current version-specific CSLB passing score to pass. With CSLS exam prep, 99% of students pass on their first attempt, backed by our 100% Money-Back Guarantee.

CSLB evaluates reciprocity case-by-case (BPC §7065.4) and may waive the trade exam if your out-of-state license has been in good standing for the past five years; CSLB names no fixed list of reciprocal states. The Law & Business exam is still required for everyone. Even with reciprocity, you must document qualifying experience and meet all other CSLB requirements.

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Become a Licensed A General Engineering Contractor

What does a A General Engineering contractor do?

Scope of work

High-demand specialties

Important notes

What's on the A General Engineering exam?

Law & Business

A Trade Exam

How to Get Your A General Engineering License

Qualify

Apply to CSLB

Study & Prepare

Pass the Exam

Get Licensed

Qualify

Apply to CSLB

Study & Prepare

Pass the Exam

Get Licensed

Why get your A General Engineering license?

The largest contracts in the state

A vs. B: know the boundary

Steady infrastructure demand

Compare A General Engineering Exam Prep Programs

Labor Day Promo 2026

What our General Engineering students say

Try a free A General Engineering practice exam

A General Engineering license FAQ

Ready to get your A General Engineering license?

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