The CSLB application scrutiny continues to be a hot topic with many people I’ve heard from recently.
This week alone, I’ve heard from five people whose applications are being hit hard by the licensing and enforcement units. These applicants have submitted 100’s of documents to prove their experience only to receive a withdrawal request letter in their mailbox. One applicant received a letter asking for the additional documents AND the withdrawal request letter, thing is, he HAD submitted his additional documents with his application. So much for streamlining the process.
I sat in the experience seminar last month hoping that what they were telling us was true. That they truly want to work with the applicants and those of us that help the applicants through the process. But it seems as though they weren’t exactly being truthful. Or, they didn’t tell everyone who deals with applications they are willing to work with all of us. I was just hoping that the seminar wasn’t an attempt by licensing to give us a pacifier or blow smoke up our collective backsides. If they truly wanted to work with the applicants, they wouldn’t send an initial boilerplate contact letter WITH a withdrawal request letter.
I have firsthand experience with CSLB employee’s telling me/you/us one thing and turning around and doing/saying something completely different. That reason, along with a couple others, is why I left the CSLB and started my business.
Here’s an interesting fact that most aren’t aware of, some States have their applicants take the exams FIRST! Only after they pass the exams can they apply for a license. Imagine that, you take and pass a State sanctioned test, prove you know your trade, and then you apply for the license. Fail the test… no license. What a simple concept.
But, of course, here in California they have to do it backwards. Make you prove your experience with tax returns (that say nothing about what you do or what experience you’ve obtained), material receipts (as if the purchase of lumber and nails at the local home store proves you know your trade), or permits (that only prove you [or the home owner] went to the city/county and paid a fee with the description of the work to be performed).
It seems I got off track a bit regarding the CSLB application scrutiny. Sorry about that. lol
Next post… how I would create a licensing system for California!
