How To Get Your C-32 Contractors License

Truth is, the best way to make money in construction is to own your own business. In order to run your own construction business you must get your business licensed by the state. If you don’t, you can only do work for $500 less — and that includes labor and materials.

Back to the first point: the best way to make money is to run your own business — and you need your license to do that and to take all the jobs you want, not matter how big.

The other truth is this, running a business is not easy.

Nothing worth doing is easy.

You might be considering getting your license and starting your own business — and you might be scared to take the leap.

That’s okay.

What’s not okay is staying still. What’s not okay is NOT taking the leap.

Because you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.

Dana White was a bellhop in Boston when one day he decided — I’m meant for more than this. He quit that day, went out and gave it his best shot. Ended up starting the UFC.

If you’re afraid to take this next step in your career, remember this: if you try and fail, that’s better than not trying at all.

In this article we’re going to explain the basics on how to get your C32 license as well as the basics of starting your construction business.

Requirments To Get Your C-32

1. Four years of journey-level experience doing Parking and Highway Improvement

2. You must be at least 18 years old.

3. You must have a valid social security or ITIN number.

4. Have a valid driver’s license or picture identification.

AND THEN, TWO MORE BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

1 – California State Tests

In order to receive your license you must pass two tests with the state of CA — through CSLB. CSLB is the Contractors State License Board — the government agency in charge of issuing you your license.

One test covers Construction Law and Business and one test covers your trade, which, in your case, is Parking and Highway Improvement.

Typically contractors struggle with the ‘Law and Business’ test more than with the trade test. This is because you already have at least four years of experience in your trade, but you probably don’t have years of experience in Construction Law.

It’s our job, as a Contractor License School, to prepare you in every way to pass the two tests.

We provide you with all the classes, study material and practice tests you’ll need to pass the tests.

And we’ll give you a family of ducklings. Yes, actual ducks. Small ones. Just kidding. That would be weird. We’re trying to be funny. Keep reading.

2 – Choosing Your Business Structure

When it comes to choosing your business structure, you have several options.  It’s kind of like choosing a spouse but completely different.

Many contractors, especially when starting out, operate as Sole Proprietors. Which is fine. Except that when you operate as a Sole Prop your personal assets are on the line. There is no liablity protection.

Which is why it’s much better to Incorporate your business. S-Corporations are the best option for contractors. We offer Incorporation services as apart of our consulting function.

If you’re not sure what you want right now, that’s okay.

We delve deeper into the topic of incorporation through our classes, because you must know a few things about them in order to pass your Law and Business test.

Cool?

Cool.

Final Step: Signature

You must have someone sign off on your application to verify that you have 4 years of experience.

What application? You might ask.

Simple: the one you have to fill out and send in to CSLB in order to take your tests.

Don’t worry, as apart of our services, we help you fill out your application to make sure it gets done right.

However, it will be your assignment to get the signature.

Sound good?

I think so.

How Long Does It Take?

This depends on how tall your are.

Just kidding.

Your height is mostly irrelevant to the situation.

It actually depends on how long you want it to take.

Once you fill out and send your application to CSLB, they usually take one to two months to set your test date. You’ll have all of that time to study. You can get it done, therefore, within two months.

That being said, there are a few items you will have to take of.

Namely: getting a livescan and getting a contractors bond.

These things are easy to get and relatively inexpensive.

Again, we’ll walk you through the details through our classes.

Now, take a deep breath.

You’ve just read a lot.

It’s time to pull the trigger, take the action. Give us a call or enroll online.

We’re located in the greater southern California area — and we serve northern California through online classes (over Zoom, of course).

Description Of The C-32 License (from Contractors State Licensing Board).

Here’s the legal description of the parking and highway improvement classification, taken from CSLB’s website:

California Code of Regulations
Title 16, Division 8, Article 3. Classifications

A parking and highway improvement contractor applies and installs protective coatings, vehicle stops, guard rails and mechanical devices, directional lines, buttons, markers, signs and arrows on the horizontal surface of any game court, parking facility, airport, highway or roadway constructed of concrete, asphalt or similar material. This classification includes the surface preparatory work necessary for the application of protective coatings but does not include the re-paving of these surfaces.

Authority cited: Sections 7008 and 7059, Reference: Sections 7058 and 7059 (Business and Professions Code)