Moving to California as a residential contractor: every state's rule

1. 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($450). Non-refundable $450 application processing fee, mailed with the Application for Original Contractor's License and the Certification of Work Experience forms. Do not send the bond or license fee with the application. If you do not pass both exams within 18 months of acceptance, the application is void and you must reapply with new fees..
2. 2Law / code exam. Pass a law, rules, or code exam. CSLB Law and Business examination (PSI): multiple choice, closed book, 3.5 hours, covering business organization and licensing, business finances, employment requirements, insurance and liens, contracts, public works and safety. It can also be taken at PSI centers in 18 other states..
3. 3Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. B-2 Residential Remodeling trade examination (PSI): multiple choice, closed book, 3.5 hours, taken at a PSI center in California or in Wilsonville, Oregon..
4. 4Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($51.43). PSI fee for the Law and Business examination, $51.43 per attempt, paid to PSI when you schedule. Not refundable; forfeited if you cancel less than two days ahead or miss the appointment..
5. 5Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($51.43). PSI fee for the B-2 trade examination, $51.43 per attempt, paid to PSI when you schedule..
6. 6License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($200). Initial license fee of $200 for a sole owner, or $350 for any other business type, paid only after you pass the examinations, when CSLB sends its bond and fee letter. It covers the first two years. With the $450 application fee, CSLB's own total for one classification is $650 for a sole owner and $800 for a non-sole owner, before PSI and fingerprinting fees..
7. 7Background check. Complete a background check. Criminal background check by Live Scan fingerprinting, done after CSLB accepts the application. Paid to the Live Scan operator: $32 to the California Department of Justice and $17 to the FBI, plus a rolling fee that each site sets..
8. 8Other. CSLB's asbestos open-book examination, completed free on CSLB's website and returned before the license can be issued (Business and Professions Code section 7058.5). It is an awareness exam and does not certify you to do asbestos work..
9. 9Surety bond. Post a surety bond ($25,000). $25,000 contractor's bond, or a $25,000 cashier's check, filed after you pass the examinations and before the license is issued as active. Buy the bond from a surety licensed by the California Department of Insurance..
10. 10Surety bond. Post a surety bond ($25,000) (if applicable). $25,000 bond of qualifying individual, required when you qualify the license as a responsible managing employee, or as a responsible managing officer who owns less than 10 percent of the company's voting stock or equity..
11. 11Surety bond. Post a surety bond ($100,000) (if applicable). $100,000 employee/worker bond, in addition to the contractor's bond, required only when the license is held by a limited liability company..
12. 12Insurance. Carry the required insurance ($1,000,000) (if applicable). Liability insurance of at least $1,000,000, rising by $100,000 for each person of record above five up to $5,000,000, required only when the license is held by a limited liability company..
13. 13Insurance. Carry the required insurance. Workers' compensation insurance, or a Department of Industrial Relations certificate of self-insurance, if the business has employees; a business with no employees files an exemption instead. An exemption is not accepted when the license is qualified by a responsible managing employee, because an RME is an employee..
14. 14Business license. Obtain a business license. CSLB issues the license to the business: a sole owner, partnership, corporation, limited liability company or joint venture. Corporations and LLCs must be registered with the California Secretary of State first, and every officer, member or partner is listed on the application..

Published fees on this path total $752.86, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.