Free practice questions for the California contractors exam.

Answer: B. 60 days

A recorded Notice of Completion shortens the lien-recording window from the standard 90 days. The direct contractor then has 60 days from the recording (b), while subcontractors have 30 days. (a) 30 days is the subcontractor's period, not the direct contractor's. (c) 90 days is the period only when no notice is recorded. (d) 120 days is not a lien deadline. Why it matters: a direct contractor who waits past 60 days after a recorded Notice of Completion loses the lien.

Answer: C. $1,000

The down payment on a home improvement contract is capped at $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. On a $12,000 job, 10 percent is $1,200, but the $1,000 ceiling is lower, so $1,000 is the most the contractor may take. '$1,200' is wrong because it applies the 10 percent figure and ignores the $1,000 cap. '$2,400' is wrong because it doubles the percentage and far exceeds both limits. '$6,000' is wrong because half the price is never an allowable down payment. This matters because an over-limit down payment is a clear violation that can lead to discipline even when the customer agrees to pay it.

Answer: B. 5 hours

California requires a 30-minute meal period once a work period runs more than 5 hours (B); the day can be waived only if the whole shift is 6 hours or less. The 4-hour figure (A) is the rest-break interval, not the meal trigger. Six hours (C) is the waiver ceiling, not the trigger. Eight hours (D) is the daily overtime threshold. A missed required meal period costs the employer one extra hour of pay at the regular rate for that day.

Answer: B. 4 Inches

Guards along open sides of walking surfaces (decks, balconies, landings) must have openings that do not allow a 4-inch-diameter sphere to pass through. The 4-inch limit is set to prevent small children from passing their head through and becoming trapped or falling. This translates to a maximum baluster spacing of 4 inches between adjacent vertical members. The 3-inch answer is more restrictive than required; 5- and 6-inch spacings fail the sphere test.

Answer: C. The upper one-third and the lower one-third of the tank

California Plumbing Code requires residential water heaters to be strapped at two heights to resist seismic forces: at the upper one-third and at the lower one-third of the tank. The strap pattern handles both rocking and sliding modes during an earthquake. The lower strap must be at least 4 inches above the burner controls to avoid interfering with combustion air. Single-strap installations (top only, bottom only, or centerline) are insufficient and do not meet code.