California contractor exam prep

CSLB Law and Business practice test

50 original questions across all seven topic areas of the California CSLB Law and Business exam. Choose study mode for instant explanations or exam mode to simulate the real 3.5-hour test, then get a breakdown of exactly which topics to study next.

First, which state are you licensing in?

California has its own dedicated test below, built from the CSLB blueprint. Every other state gets its licensing approach and agency, plus a route to the free national diagnostic where it applies.

What the CSLB Law and Business exam covers

Every California contractor applicant takes the Law and Business exam, whatever the trade. CSLB builds it from the California Business and Professions Code and its published exam outline, which divides the test into seven topic areas. The weightings below come from the official CSLB Law and Business Examination Study Guide. CSLB does not publish the exact question count or passing score, so treat the commonly cited "115 questions, 73 percent" figures as reported, not official. It is also the half where strong tradespeople most often stumble, as our honest difficulty breakdown explains.

The seven CSLB Law and Business topic areas
Topic area Exam weight Questions here What it covers
Business Organization and Licensing 13% 6 Entity types that can hold a license, licensing classifications, RME/RMO duties, and bond basics.
Business Finances 15% 8 Estimating, cash flow, financial statements, business math, and tax registration.
Employment Requirements 20% 10 Payroll taxes, workers' compensation, wage-and-hour rules, and hiring paperwork.
Insurance and Liens 12% 6 Liability and workers' comp coverage, mechanics liens, and preliminary notice timing.
Contract Requirements and Execution 21% 11 Home-improvement contract rules, down-payment limits, the three-day right to cancel, and change orders.
Public Works 5% 2 Prevailing wage, certified payroll, and public-project registration.
Safety 14% 7 Cal/OSHA duties, injury and illness prevention programs, and job-site hazard rules.

How our practice test works

Two ways to practice

Study mode gives instant right or wrong plus the full explanation and source after every question. Exam mode withholds feedback until you submit, mirrors the real closed-book format, and adds an optional 210-minute timer for the 3.5-hour CSLB pace, so nothing about test day itself catches you off guard.

Never lose your place

A question navigator shows what you have answered, skipped, or flagged. Jump to any question, flag the ones you want to revisit, and watch a live per-topic progress meter as you go.

A real weak-spot report

At the end you get your overall score, a bar for each of the seven topics, and a weakest-first study order. Retake just your weakest topic in one click, or review every answer with its explanation and source.

Spaced repetition built in

Questions you miss are scheduled to come back on a spaced-repetition curve stored on your device. When something is due, a review-due chip resurfaces it so the facts actually stick before test day.

Sample questions

A preview of the kind of questions in the bank. Each is written from the public exam outline and the underlying California code. Open the answer to see the explanation and source.

  1. Business Organization and Licensing

    Which of the following business structures can hold a California contractor license?

    • A Sole ownership only
    • B Corporation or limited liability company only
    • C Sole ownership, partnership, corporation, or limited liability company
    • D Partnership only
    Show answer and explanation

    Correct answer: C. Sole ownership, partnership, corporation, or limited liability company

    CSLB issues licenses to sole owners, partnerships, corporations, and limited liability companies. Bond and fee obligations vary by structure, so the applicant must choose an entity type before applying.

    Source: CSLB Law and Business exam outline, Business Organization and Licensing (public blueprint); California Business and Professions Code Division 3, Chapter 9 (public statute)

  2. Contract Requirements and Execution

    Under California home improvement contract rules, what is the maximum down payment a contractor may require from a homeowner?

    • A $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less
    • B $5,000 flat
    • C 25 percent of the contract price
    • D There is no limit
    Show answer and explanation

    Correct answer: A. $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less

    For a home improvement contract, the down payment may not exceed $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less, excluding finance charges. This protects homeowners from large up-front payments.

    Source: California Business and Professions Code section 7159 (public statute)

  3. Safety

    Cal/OSHA requires every California employer to establish, implement, and maintain which written safety program?

    • A A Business Continuity Plan
    • B An Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP)
    • C A Quality Assurance Plan
    • D An Employee Handbook
    Show answer and explanation

    Correct answer: B. An Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP)

    California employers must maintain a written Injury and Illness Prevention Program that identifies hazards, assigns responsibility, and provides training and correction procedures. It is a foundational Cal/OSHA requirement for nearly all employers.

    Source: California Code of Regulations Title 8 section 3203 (public regulation)

Practice test FAQ

Is this contractor practice test really free?

Yes. All 50 questions, every explanation, and your full topic breakdown are free with no signup, no email, and no credit card.

What score do I need to pass the CSLB Law and Business exam?

CSLB does not publish an official passing score for its exams. Reported figures put it near 73 percent, but CSLB does not confirm that. Aim for 70 percent or better across every topic area, not just overall, so a weak domain cannot sink you.

How does exam mode differ from study mode?

Study mode shows the right answer and explanation the moment you answer, with a running score. Exam mode withholds feedback until you submit, lets you flag and revisit questions, and offers an optional 210-minute timer that matches the real 3.5-hour CSLB pace.

Does the practice test match the real exam format?

The questions are original, written from the public CSLB Law and Business exam outline and the underlying California codes. They mirror the seven topic areas and their weightings so your weak-spot breakdown reflects where you actually stand on the blueprint.

Is my progress saved?

Yes, on this device. Your answers and a spaced-repetition schedule are stored in your browser's local storage, so the review-due chip can resurface the questions you missed. That record stays on the device; when you finish a run we receive only anonymous aggregate statistics, such as a banded score and which topics were weak, with no account and no identifier. See our privacy policy.