- No license needed only if the job needs no building permit, uses no employees, and the total of labor and materials on one or more contracts is under $1,000.
- Four full years of journey-level, foreman, supervisor or contractor experience in the classification within the last ten years. Up to three years can be credited for training, apprenticeship or education.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
- A $25,000 contractor bond. A separate $25,000 Bond of Qualifying Individual may be needed for an RME or RMO.
- Every two years when active.
Do you need a state license in California?
California licenses plumbing work at the state level through the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB). Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
No license needed only if the job needs no building permit, uses no employees, and the total of labor and materials on one or more contracts is under $1,000.
The California license for this work
There is one license to aim for here.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| C-36 Plumbing | Water supply, waste disposal, gas piping and appliances, water heaters and related safety devices |
Steps to get licensed in California
- Get four years of journey-level or higher experience in the C-36 plumbing trade within the last ten years.
- Submit the exam application to CSLB with the $450 application fee.
- Pass the Law and Business exam and the C-36 plumbing trade exam.
- Complete the asbestos open-book exam.
- File the $25,000 contractor bond and workers' compensation proof or exemption, and pay the initial license fee.
- Renew every two years.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Four full years of journey-level, foreman, supervisor or contractor experience in the classification within the last ten years. Up to three years can be credited for training, apprenticeship or education.
The license to apply for. C-36 Plumbing Contractor.
California plumbing exams
Trade exam. Yes. The C-36 Plumbing trade exam, plus the Law and Business exam.
Business and law exam. Yes. The Law and Business exam.
What it costs in California
The board lists 3 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Original application (one classification) | $450 |
| Initial license fee, sole owner (covers two years) | $200 |
| Initial license fee, non-sole owner | $350 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Workers' compensation insurance, or an exemption form if you have no employees.
Bond. A $25,000 contractor bond. A separate $25,000 Bond of Qualifying Individual may be needed for an RME or RMO.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every two years when active.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in California
- C-36 contractors are eligible for CSLB Hazardous Substance Removal certification.
- Licensed contractors must keep the bond and workers' compensation coverage in place while the license is active.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for a plumber near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how plumbing companies run on Koira.