License types · Every CSLB classification
What types of contractor licenses does California offer?
Checked 19 October 2026 against CSLB’s classification list and definitions, its Get Licensed to Build guide and the Business and Professions Code · Written by the License Ladder team · Reviewed by AJ Sokol, Co-Founder
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California’s Contractors State License Board (CSLB) says it licenses contractors in 45 classifications. Its online list names 46: Class A General Engineering, Class B General Building, B-2 Residential Remodeling and 43 Class C specialty classes, from C-2 to C-61 Limited Specialty. Every class uses the same Law and Business exam, and every class except C-61 also has its own trade exam. Checked 19 October 2026.
How many contractor license classifications does California have?
CSLB says it licenses contractors in 45 classifications, on its home page (checked 19 October 2026), but it does not say how it counts them. Counted one by one, CSLB’s online list names 46: Class A, Class B, B-2 and 43 Class C specialty classes, from C-2 to C-61 Limited Specialty. CSLB’s Description of Classifications says 42 C classifications and lists C-61 in its own section.
| Count | What it counts | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | CSLB’s own count. CSLB does not say which classifications it includes. | CSLB’s home page and consumer guide |
| 42 | The C classifications in CSLB’s Description of Classifications. The PDF describes C-2 to C-60 and puts C-61 in its own section; it does not say whether the 42 includes C-61. | CSLB, Description of Classifications |
| 46 | Class A, Class B, B-2 and the 43 Class C specialty classes from C-2 to C-61, counting C-61 Limited Specialty | CSLB, Licensing Classifications (our count, not counting its general C Specialty heading) |
| D-1 to D-65 | C-61’s D subcategories. CSLB lists them for administrative tracking, many now point to other classes, and they are in neither count. | CSLB, C-61 Limited Specialty |
| ASB and HAZ | Asbestos and hazardous substance removal certifications, which CSLB lists apart from its classifications | CSLB, Licensing Classifications |
| Classification | Licenses, December 2025 |
|---|---|
| B General Building | 131,137 |
| C-10 Electrical | 34,149 |
| C-36 Plumbing | 20,593 |
| A General Engineering | 19,026 |
| C-33 Painting and Decorating | 18,014 |
| C-20 Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning | 14,948 |
| C-27 Landscaping | 14,300 |
| C-15 Flooring and Floor Covering | 7,925 |
| C-54 Ceramic and Mosaic Tile | 7,194 |
| C-8 Concrete | 7,089 |
Sources: CSLB home page; CSLB, What Kind of Contractor Do You Need?; CSLB, Description of Classifications; CSLB, Licensing Classifications; CSLB, C-61 Limited Specialty; CSLB, 2025 Accomplishments and Activities Report. Checked 19 October 2026.
What is the difference between Class A, Class B, B-2 and Class C?
They differ by the work they cover. Class A is for fixed works that need special engineering skill, like roads and bridges. Class B is for buildings that need two or more unrelated trades. B-2 is for remodeling existing wood-frame homes. Class C is for one specialty trade. Section 7055 of the Business and Professions Code sets up these branches.
Class A · General Engineering
Fixed works that need specialized engineering knowledge and skill. Section 7056 lists highways, streets and roads, bridges, pipelines, dams, sewers, airports and railroads, plus the excavating, grading, trenching and paving that go with them.
Class B · General Building
Any structure for the shelter of people, animals or property that needs at least two unrelated building trades (section 7057). A B can take a framing or carpentry job by itself. Any other prime contract needs two unrelated trades besides framing and carpentry, the right specialty license, or a licensed subcontractor.
B-2 · Residential Remodeling
Improvements to an existing residential wood-frame structure, with three or more unrelated trades on every contract (section 7057.5, in effect since January 1, 2021). A B-2 cannot contract for structural changes to load-bearing walls, footings or roof structures. B vs B-2, in the law’s own words.
Class C · Specialty
Construction work that needs special skill in a specialized trade (section 7058). CSLB’s list has 43 C classes, from C-2 Insulation and Acoustical to C-61 Limited Specialty, which covers specialty work that fits no other class.
Sources: Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code sections 7055 to 7058, in CSLB’s Law Book and on CSLB’s classification pages; CSLB, Fast Facts: What Jobs B General Building Can/Cannot Perform (updated April 2025). Checked 19 October 2026.
What does each CSLB classification cover, and which have a Spanish exam?
The table lists every classification on CSLB’s list, 46 counted one by one, with a one-line summary of the work each one covers. Nine trade exams have a Spanish version: B, C-8, C-9, C-15, C-27, C-33, C-36, C-39 and C-54. With Law and Business, that makes the 10 CSLB exams offered in Spanish.
| Code | Classification | What it covers | Trade exam in Spanish? |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | General Engineering | Fixed works that need specialized engineering: highways, streets and roads, bridges, pipelines, dams, sewers and airports, plus the grading, trenching and paving that go with them. | No |
| B | General Building | Buildings and other structures that need at least two unrelated building trades; a framing or carpentry job can be taken alone. | Yes |
| B-2 | Residential Remodeling | Improvements to existing residential wood-frame structures, with at least three unrelated trades on every contract and no structural changes to load-bearing parts. | No |
| C-2 | Insulation and Acoustical | Insulation and acoustical materials that control temperature or sound. | No |
| C-4 | Boiler, Hot Water Heating and Steam Fitting | Boilers, hot-water heating systems and steam fitting, with their piping, pumps, radiators and flues. | No |
| C-5 | Framing and Rough Carpentry | Form work, framing and rough carpentry, such as subfloors, siding, exterior stairs, roof decking, trusses and sheathing. | No |
| C-6 | Cabinet, Millwork and Finish Carpentry | Making and installing cabinets, millwork, doors, trim and other finish carpentry. | No |
| C-7 | Low Voltage Systems | Communication and low voltage systems up to 91 volts, such as phone, sound, cable TV and closed-circuit video; low voltage fire alarms are excluded. | No |
| C-8 | Concrete | Forming, pouring, placing and finishing concrete, including pavement and flatwork; placing reinforcing steel alone is not C-8 work. | Yes |
| C-9 | Drywall | Gypsum wallboard with nonstructural metal framing, plus taping and texturing. | Yes |
| C-10 | Electrical | Electrical wiring, fixtures, appliances, conduit and solar photovoltaic cells, for any use of electrical energy. | No |
| C-11 | Elevator | Building, installing and repairing elevators, with their doors, controls and equipment. | No |
| C-12 | Earthwork and Paving | Digging, moving and placing earth for cuts, fills, grades and trenches, plus mixing and placing paving. | No |
| C-13 | Fencing | Fences, gates, railings, guard rails, sports court enclosures and playground equipment, but not masonry walls. | No |
| C-15 | Flooring and Floor Covering | Carpet, resilient flooring and wood floors, including surface prep and finishing; ceramic tile is excluded. | Yes |
| C-16 | Fire Protection | All types of fire protection systems and their equipment, except electrical alarm systems. | No |
| C-17 | Glazing | Glass, mirrors and glass substitutes, and the frames, panels, sashes and doors they go in. | No |
| C-20 | Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning | Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, with their ducts, registers, controls and filters. | No |
| C-21 | Building Moving/Demolition | Raising, moving and demolishing structures and their foundations, but not rebuilding the parts that stay. | No |
| C-22 | Asbestos Abatement | Containing, encapsulating, removing and disposing of asbestos building materials; requires DOSH registration. | No |
| C-23 | Ornamental Metal | Decorative metalwork for buildings in brass, bronze, iron, steel and other metals; sheet metal work is excluded. | No |
| C-27 | Landscaping | Building, maintaining and repairing gardens and landscaped grounds, including grading the land for them. | Yes |
| C-28 | Lock and Security Equipment | Doors, gates, locks, safes and vaults, plus electronic access control; fire alarms are excluded. | No |
| C-29 | Masonry | Brick, block, stone and other masonry units, including load-bearing and non-load-bearing masonry walls and fences. | No |
| C-31 | Construction Zone Traffic Control | Lane closures, flagging and traffic diversions on roads, using cones, barricades and signs. | No |
| C-32 | Parking and Highway Improvement | Striping, markers, protective coatings, vehicle stops and guard rails on parking lots, courts and roads, but not repaving. | No |
| C-33 | Painting and Decorating | Preparing surfaces and applying paint, wallpaper, stains, varnishes and other coatings to structures. | Yes |
| C-34 | Pipeline | Pipelines for water, gas, petroleum and other fluids, including the trenching, boring and backfilling they need. | No |
| C-35 | Lathing and Plastering | Lath, metal studs and plaster coatings, including coatings for soundproofing and fireproofing. | No |
| C-36 | Plumbing | Water supply, waste disposal, gas piping and gas appliances, and equipment that heats water, including solar water heating. | Yes |
| C-38 | Refrigeration | Refrigerators, refrigerated rooms and the equipment that keeps air, liquids or gas below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. | No |
| C-39 | Roofing | Installing and repairing roofing that seals, waterproofs and weatherproofs a structure: shingles, roof tile, metal roofing, membranes and more. | Yes |
| C-42 | Sanitation System | Septic tanks, cesspools, storm drains and other sewage disposal and drain structures. | No |
| C-43 | Sheet Metal | Sheet metal such as flashing, gutters, duct work, metal flues and metal roofing. | No |
| C-45 | Sign | Electrical and non-electrical signs, including their wiring. | No |
| C-46 | Solar | Thermal and photovoltaic solar energy systems, plus only the other building work needed to install them. | No |
| C-47 | General Manufactured Housing | Installing, altering, repairing and preparing to move manufactured and mobile homes, with their foundations and accessory structures. | No |
| C-49 | Tree and Palm | Planting, pruning, maintaining and removing trees and palms, including stump grinding; a gardener's incidental pruning needs no license. | No |
| C-50 | Reinforcing Steel | Fabricating, placing and tying rebar and steel mesh that reinforce concrete. | No |
| C-51 | Structural Steel | Fabricating and erecting structural steel for buildings and structures, including the welding and rigging. | No |
| C-53 | Swimming Pool | Building swimming pools, spas and hot tubs, including their solar heating. | No |
| C-54 | Ceramic and Mosaic Tile | Ceramic, mosaic, quarry, glass and stone tile, and stone slabs for tubs, showers and other indoor horizontal surfaces like counters. | Yes |
| C-55 | Water Conditioning | Water conditioning equipment, with only the pipe and fittings needed to connect it. | No |
| C-57 | Well Drilling | Drilling, installing and repairing water wells and their pumps. | No |
| C-60 | Welding | Joining and fabricating metal by welding with gas or electric heat. | No |
| C-61 | Limited Specialty | Specialty work that fits no other C classification, limited to the scope CSLB accepts and writes on the license; tracked in D subcategories. | No trade exam |
Sources: CSLB, Licensing Classifications and each classification’s CSLB page (Title 16, sections 832.02 to 832.61, and Business and Professions Code sections 7056 to 7058); CSLB, Examinations FAQ for the Spanish exams. Checked 19 October 2026.
If you do this work, which license do you need?
Match the license to the job: a one-trade job calls for that trade’s C license, and a building job with two or more unrelated trades calls for a Class B. The table matches common jobs to CSLB’s definitions. Any job of $1,000 or more in labor and materials needs a license, and a smaller one does too if it needs a building permit, if you hire help, or if you advertise as a contractor.
| If you do this work | You need | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Build a new house or other building | B General Building | Class B covers any structure that needs two or more unrelated building trades. |
| Remodel a kitchen or bathroom with several trades | B General Building, or B-2 Residential Remodeling | B-2 only for an existing wood-frame home, with three or more unrelated trades and no load-bearing changes; plumbing, electrical and mechanical system work beyond fixtures needs that license or a licensed subcontractor. B vs B-2. |
| Framing and rough carpentry | C-5 Framing and Rough Carpentry, or B General Building | A B can take a framing or carpentry job by itself. |
| Electrical wiring, fixtures and conduit | C-10 Electrical | The C-10 exam is given in English; CSLB may approve a translator. |
| Phone, sound, cable TV or closed-circuit video systems | C-7 Low Voltage Systems | Up to 91 volts. Low voltage fire alarms are not included. C-10 Electrical covers this work too. |
| Plumbing, gas piping and water heaters | C-36 Plumbing | Spanish exam available. |
| Heating, ventilation and air conditioning | C-20 Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning | Refrigeration below 50 degrees Fahrenheit is C-38 Refrigeration. |
| Roofing | C-39 Roofing | Spanish exam available. A B needs its own C-39 or a C-39 subcontractor for a roofing-only job. |
| House painting and wallpaper | C-33 Painting and Decorating | Spanish exam available. |
| Drywall hanging, taping and texture | C-9 Drywall | Spanish exam available. |
| Concrete forming, pouring and finishing | C-8 Concrete | Spanish exam available. Placing rebar alone is C-50 Reinforcing Steel work. |
| Tile, and stone slabs for tubs, showers and indoor counters | C-54 Ceramic and Mosaic Tile | Spanish exam available. |
| Carpet, resilient flooring and wood floors | C-15 Flooring and Floor Covering | Spanish exam available. Ceramic tile is C-54. |
| Cabinets, millwork and finish carpentry | C-6 Cabinet, Millwork and Finish Carpentry | Covers making cabinets, doors and trim, not only installing them. |
| Windows, glass, mirrors and glass doors | C-17 Glazing | Covers the frames, sashes and doors the glass goes in. |
| Doors, gates, garage doors and door openers | C-61/D-28 Doors, Gates and Activating Devices | No trade exam. C-28 Lock and Security Equipment also covers doors, gates and locks. |
| Fences | C-13 Fencing | Masonry walls are not included; those are C-29 Masonry. |
| Brick, block and stone work | C-29 Masonry | Includes masonry walls and fences. |
| Landscaping | C-27 Landscaping | Spanish exam available. |
| Tree trimming, removal and stump grinding | C-49 Tree and Palm | In effect since January 1, 2024. CSLB stopped issuing D-49 Tree Service then, and it says C-27 Landscaping contractors can also do tree work. |
| Building pools and spas | C-53 Swimming Pool | Includes solar pool heating. |
| Repairing pool pumps, filters and heaters | C-61/D-35 Pool and Spa Maintenance | No trade exam. |
| Solar energy systems | C-46 Solar | A, B, C-4, C-10, C-36 and C-53 contractors may also do solar work within their own scope. |
| Epoxy coatings, synthetic counters and tub refinishing | C-61/D-12 Synthetic Products | No trade exam. |
| Sand or water blasting surfaces | C-61/D-38 Sand and Water Blasting | No trade exam. |
| Welding | C-60 Welding | Erecting structural steel is C-51 Structural Steel. |
| Asbestos removal | C-22 Asbestos Abatement, or the ASB certification for work within classes you hold | Both need DOSH registration to do the work. |
| Small jobs under $1,000 in total | No license needed | Only if the job needs no building permit, you hire no help and you don't advertise as a contractor. |
Sources: CSLB’s classification pages (Title 16, section 832 and the C-61 D subcategories); CSLB, What Kind of Contractor Do You Need?; CSLB, Fast Facts on the B license; CSLB, Description of Classifications (solar); Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code section 7048. Checked 19 October 2026.
Which exams does each license type take?
Every license type uses CSLB’s Law and Business exam. Every class except C-61 Limited Specialty also has its own trade exam. A waiver can excuse an exam in some cases. In all, CSLB gives 58 exams through PSI (CSLB Board packet, September 2026): 48 exam programs plus 10 Spanish versions, per CSLB’s latest Accomplishments and Activities Report.
Law and Business: every license type
The same exam for A, B, B-2 and every C classification, offered in English and in Spanish. What Law and Business covers, section by section. Try the free Law and Business practice test. To prepare, use License Ladder, $99 for Law & Business, as directed: study the printed cards and digital study guides, and work the app’s practice questions and timed mock exams until your readiness score turns green.
Trade exam: one per classification
Every classification except C-61 has its own trade exam. If you need to test, you apply for one classification at a time.
Spanish versions: 10 exams
Law and Business, B, C-8, C-9, C-15, C-27, C-33, C-36, C-39 and C-54. CSLB says it translated them in 2023, choosing the exams with the most requests for a Spanish translator. Other trade exams are given in English, and CSLB may approve a translator.
Certifications: separate exams
The ASB asbestos and HAZ hazardous substance removal certifications each need their own application and CSLB exam. They are added to a license; they are not classifications.
Sources: CSLB, Get Licensed to Build (2025 edition); CSLB, Examinations FAQ; CSLB, Examination Study Guides; CSLB, 2025 Accomplishments and Activities Report; CSLB Board Meeting Packet, September 2026. Checked 19 October 2026.
Can one contractor license have more than one classification?
Yes. A California license can carry more than one classification. If you must test, you apply for one classification first and add others after CSLB issues the license, each with its own Application for Additional Classification and a $230 fee (CSLB fee list). Each new class needs a qualifier with four years of experience in it who has passed its exams, unless CSLB waives them.
- Pick the class your experience fits. CSLB counts four years of experience in the classification you apply for, within the last ten years, and the $450 application fee is not refunded if the application is not approved.
- Stay inside your classes. Contracting in a classification you don’t hold is cause for discipline (section 7117.6). A specialty (C) contractor may do another trade’s work only when it is incidental and supplemental, meaning essential to finish the work of its own classification (Title 16, sections 830 and 831).
- Waivers are possible, not automatic. CSLB may waive the exams if the qualifier passed both exams for the same class, or qualified a license in good standing in it, within the last five years. CSLB says the Registrar has complete discretion.
- C-61 goes on one form. All the C-61 subcategories you want can go on one application.
- Ask before you sign. CSLB’s fact sheet on the B license sends scope questions to its Classifications Deputy at classifications@cslb.ca.gov.
Sources: CSLB, Adding a Classification: Before Adding a Classification, Requirements and Qualifying for a Waiver; CSLB, List of All CSLB Fees; CSLB, Application for Original Contractor License (13A-1); CSLB, Qualifying Experience; CSLB, Get Licensed to Build (2025 edition); Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code sections 7059 and 7117.6 and Title 16, sections 830 and 831, in CSLB’s Law Book. Checked 19 October 2026.
Which licenses and registrations are not CSLB classifications?
Some credentials sound like contractor licenses, but they are not CSLB classifications. CSLB’s asbestos (ASB) and hazardous substance removal (HAZ) certifications are add-ons to a license you hold. Home improvement salespersons register with CSLB to sell for a licensed contractor. The Labor Commissioner, not CSLB, licenses farm labor contractors. A city business license does not replace a CSLB license.
| Credential | Who issues it | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| ASB Asbestos Certification | CSLB | Lets a licensed contractor do asbestos abatement only within the classifications it already holds; the C-22 Asbestos Abatement classification has no such limit. Application fee: $125. |
| HAZ Hazardous Substance Removal Certification | CSLB | Only for A, B, C-12, C-21, C-36, C-57 or C-61/D-40 licensees, with a separate application and a CSLB exam. Application fee: $125. |
| Asbestos Open Book Examination | CSLB | Every new applicant completes it before the license is issued. It does not authorize asbestos work. |
| Home improvement salesperson (HIS) registration | CSLB | Required to sell, negotiate or sign home improvement contracts for a licensed contractor. Application fee: $200. |
| Farm labor contractor license | Labor Commissioner’s Office (DIR) | For anyone in the business of farm labor contracting. |
| City business license | Your city | A city that requires one must have contractors file a statement that they hold a CSLB license, or prove they are exempt (section 7033). |
Sources: CSLB, Licensing Classifications (certifications); CSLB, Get Licensed to Build (2025 edition); CSLB, List of All CSLB Fees; CSLB, Public Information FAQ; Labor Commissioner’s Office, Farm Labor Contractors License; Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code sections 7033 and 7058.5, in CSLB’s Law Book. Checked 19 October 2026.
Questions people ask about California contractor license types
The exam every license type shares
Every trade also takes Law & Business, and License Ladder covers it for $99: the 142-card printed deck, digital study guides and one year of the app. One payment, no subscription. You can add the General Building (B) deck for $50 more ($149 total), and B-2, C-10 and C-36 decks are coming soon.
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Where every fact on this page comes from
We fetched and read each source below on 19 October 2026. CSLB revises its pages and forms; if anything here differs from CSLB’s own wording when you read it, CSLB’s governs.
CSLB classification pages: Licensing Classifications (each classification’s page is linked in the table) · C-61 Limited Specialty and its D subcategories · Description of Classifications (PDF) · What Kind of Contractor Do You Need? · Fast Facts: What Jobs B General Building Can/Cannot Perform (PDF) · CSLB home page
CSLB guides, reports and FAQs: Get Licensed to Build, 2025 edition (PDF) · Examinations FAQ · Examination Study Guides · 2025 Accomplishments and Activities Report (PDF) · Board Meeting Packet, September 2026 (PDF) · Public Information FAQ · List of All CSLB Fees · Application for Original Contractor License, form 13A-1 (PDF) · Step 3: Qualifying Experience for the Examination · Before Adding a Classification · Requirements for Adding a Classification · Qualifying for a Waiver
Law: California Contractors License Law and Reference Book (CSLB, PDF): Bus. & Prof. Code sections 7033, 7055 to 7059 and 7117.6; Title 16, sections 830 to 832 · Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code section 7048 (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov)
Other California agencies: Labor Commissioner’s Office, Farm Labor Contractors License
We looked for a CSLB count of current C-61 D subcategories and found none, so this page gives no such count.
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