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General Contractors

(A) General Engineering (B) General Building (B-2) Residential Remodeling

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CSLB Quick Facts

License required for jobs over
$1,000
Minimum contractor bond
$25,000
Journey-level experience
4 years
Current exam passing scores
School-observed: 65% for Law & Business and 63% to 71% for trade exams; CSLB does not publish fixed passing scores

The CSLB oversees 46 contractor classifications in California.

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Become a Licensed B General Building Contractor

The B General Building license is California's most common contractor classification, the license behind homes, commercial buildings, additions, and renovations that pull together multiple trades.

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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 / 67% Trade; not published as fixed by CSLB
Application fee
$450

License renews every 2 years. Governing code: BPC §7057

About this classification

What does a B General Building contractor do?

Under California Business and Professions Code §7057, a B General Building Contractor works on "any structure built, being built, or to be built…for the support, shelter and enclosure of persons, animals, chattels, or movable property of any kind", provided the project requires at least two unrelated building trades or crafts.

The B is California's most common classification and the standard license for ground-up buildings and multi-trade renovations. A B contractor manages and supervises the whole project, hiring and coordinating the specialty trades that build it.

The defining rule is the two-trade requirement: a B contractor may take a project as prime only when it involves at least two unrelated trades or crafts. The one exception is framing and carpentry, which a B may self-perform as prime without the two-trade test, but framing and carpentry cannot be counted toward the two-trade minimum.

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

Scope of work

  • Ground-up single-family and multi-family homes
  • Commercial shell and core construction
  • Tenant improvements (multi-trade build-outs)
  • Room additions and second-story additions
  • Whole-home and commercial renovations
  • Structural framing and rough carpentry
  • School and institutional renovations
  • Fire- and disaster-damage structural repair
  • Project management and trade coordination
  • Permitting and inspection coordination

High-demand specialties

  • Residential New Construction, Single-family and multi-family homes amid California's housing shortage
  • ADUs, Accessory dwelling units, one of the fastest-growing segments in the state
  • Commercial TI, Tenant improvements and build-outs for retail, office, and medical space
  • Renovation & Restoration, Multi-trade remodels and disaster repair

Important notes

  • A B contractor can prime any project involving two or more unrelated trades, and can self-perform framing and carpentry as the only trade, but framing and carpentry cannot count toward the two-trade minimum.
  • A B contractor cannot take a single-trade prime project (other than framing/carpentry) without the matching C license, for example, a plumbing-only or electrical-only job.
  • A B contractor cannot self-perform C-16 (Fire Protection) or C-57 (Well Drilling), these must be subcontracted to or held separately by a licensed specialist.
  • B vs. B-2: the B covers new construction and structural work on buildings (two-trade minimum); the B-2 (Residential Remodeling) is limited to existing residential wood-frame homes, no structural-frame new construction, and a three-trade minimum.
  • 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)).

The CSLB exam

What's on the B General Building exam?

California requires you to pass a two-part CSLB exam: the Law & Business exam (the same for every classification) and the B General Building trade exam. CSLS has observed scores of 65% for Law & Business and 67% for the B trade exam. CSLB does not publish fixed passing scores and may vary them by exam version.

1

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
2

B Trade Exam

General Building-specific

  • about 115 questions, multiple choice, computer-based
  • 3.5 hours allotted
  • Topics: planning and estimating, foundations and framing, building systems coordination, project management, building codes, blueprint reading, trade scope and supervision

How to Get Your B General Building 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 building construction and general contracting 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) + B Trade. Multiple choice, computer-based. CSLS has observed scores of 65% Law & Business / 67% B 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 B license. You're officially in business.

Career outlook

Why get your B General Building license?

~$148K

Median GC Owner Income

$200K+

Top Earners

99%

First-Time Pass Rate (CSLS)

The markup model

General building contractors earn on the spread between project cost and contract price, not an hourly wage. In California, where housing demand is intense, established B contractors report a median owner income around $148,000, with top earners clearing $200,000 once they run multiple projects and trades.

No license, no payment

Under Business and Professions Code §7031, an unlicensed contractor cannot sue to collect payment for work requiring a license, and may be forced to refund what they were already paid. The B license is not just legal cover; it is what lets you enforce your contracts and bid larger jobs.

Demand driven by the housing shortage

California's housing shortage and ADU boom keep B contractors busy across residential new construction, additions, and renovations. The B is the most common classification in the state precisely because it touches the widest range of profitable building work.

B vs. B-2: pick the right one

The B covers new construction and structural work and requires two unrelated trades. The B-2 (Residential Remodeling) is limited to existing residential wood-frame homes with no structural-frame new construction and requires three unrelated trades. If you build new homes or do structural work, the B is the license to get.

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

Exam Prep Programs

Compare B General Building Exam Prep Programs

Every program prepares you for the required CSLB exam for B General Building. 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 B General Building $1,195.00 Value: $2,500 Live Online B General Building $695.00 Value: $995 Crash Course B General Building $495.00 Value: $695 Home Study B General Building $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

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Common Questions

B General Building license FAQ

The B (General Building) license covers ground-up construction and structural work on buildings and requires a project to involve at least two unrelated trades. The B-2 (Residential Remodeling) license is limited to home-improvement and remodeling on existing residential wood-frame structures, allows no structural-frame new construction, and requires at least three unrelated trades. If you build new homes or do structural work, you need the B.
A B General Building contractor can take a project as the prime contractor only when it involves at least two unrelated building trades or crafts, for example, framing plus electrical, or drywall plus HVAC. The one exception is framing and carpentry, which a B may self-perform as the sole trade. But framing and carpentry cannot be counted toward the two-trade minimum.
A B contractor can have plumbing and electrical performed as part of a larger multi-trade project they prime. But a B cannot take a plumbing-only or electrical-only job as the prime contractor, that requires the matching C-36 or C-10 license. The B also cannot self-perform C-16 (Fire Protection) or C-57 (Well Drilling) under any circumstances; those must be subcontracted or separately licensed.
A B contractor cannot prime a single-trade project (other than framing and carpentry) without the matching C license, and cannot self-perform C-16 Fire Protection or C-57 Well Drilling. Those two specialties must always be subcontracted to or held by a separately licensed contractor, even on a project the B is managing.
4 full-time-equivalent years of journey-level building construction and general contracting 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 and verify this experience.
Most students are exam-ready in 4–6 weeks of CSLS prep. Adding CSLB application processing (typically 2–4 weeks), exam scheduling, and posting your $25,000 bond, the full path usually runs 2–4 months from start to license-in-hand.
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. Workers' compensation coverage is also required once you have employees (sole owners with no employees may file an exemption, BPC §7125(b)).
The B trade exam covers planning and estimating, foundations and framing, building systems, project management, and building codes. 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.
Because general contractors earn on the markup between cost and contract price rather than an hourly wage, income varies widely. In California, established B contractors report a median owner income around $148,000, with top earners clearing $200,000. The housing shortage and ADU demand keep the work steady.

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