CSLB

As I’ve discussed before, the Contractors State License Board CSLB has begun a very progressive approach to verifying trade experience.

It’s come to my attention that the licensing exam unit at the CSLB has been instructed to begin calling employers and certifiers to verify experience. The exam unit was told this last Friday, 4/5/13.

What does this mean? You better have your ducks in a row and have back up verification of your experience.

Per the CSLB rules: They do not visit worksites, they won’t accept photos of your work, the burden of proof is on you, the applicant… and here’s my favorite part…The CSLB states that the exam tells them if you know your trade.

cslb

So, if they call you or your employer or your certifier, you have to be able to provide verifiable evidence of your experience. Here’s the fun part…the CSLB states: “All experience claims must be verified by a qualified and responsible person, such as a homeowner, an employer, fellow employee, other journeymen, contractor, union representative, building inspector, architect, or engineer. The person verifying your claim must have firsthand knowledge of your experience during the time period covered—that is, he or she must have observed the work that you have completed and must complete the Certification of Work Experience form included with the application.​

Even if you provide a Certification of Work Experience form, be prepared to furnish documentation of any experience you claim on the form when such documentation is requested. Failure to provide this documentation will result in rejection of your application or denial of the license.”

What they are not telling you is that, even if you follow the certifier instructions, and even though that certifier is signing under the penalty of perjury, they (the cslb) are still going to call your employer or certifier to verify your experience. My question is… why bother having someone certify your experience in the first place? If daddy is going to check up on you anyway, what’s the point? And if the exam tells them whether or not you know your trade, why have certifiers and why call them?

What is the down side for some of you? You may be applying without your employer knowing that you are applying. Why, because your employer may not appreciate the fact that you are trying to obtain your own license. And when the CSLB comes calling, the employer is going to find out about your application and your job could be in jeopardy. Thanks CSLB.

Does the CSLB care about this little fact? Of course not. Their concern is not your livelihood, your well being, or your ability to earn a living and to feed your family. It never has been. Their “prime directive” if you will, is to ensure that licenses are issued to qualified persons.

Do I agree with their unpublished, unannounced ruling to begin calling employers and certifiers? No! Their own rule states that the exam tells them if you know the trade. So what they are doing basically cutting off the hand that feeds them. If they allow you to take the test and issue you a license, the CSLB will be earning renewal fees for years. By finding ways to keep you from getting your license, they are limiting their ability to generate funds.

Typical CSLB, they make up stupid rules without thinking about the consequences.

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LicenseGuru

I am a Navy vet and former laborer for a B-Gen Bldg contractor, I built mobile homes for many years, I worked at the Contractors State License Board for 5 yrs, and have been operating a contractors license service company since 2005.

10 thoughts on “CSLB”

  1. Thank you for the quick response and that good to know that we more then not may be in the clear. its a bit stressful but hopefully all goes well. again thank you

  2. Application Status
    Application is pending

    06/08/2018 – APPLICATION RECEIVED
    06/18/2018 – PRINTED ACKNLDGMNT LTTR TO APPLCNT
    06/29/2018 – APPLICATION RETURNED FOR –
    06/29/2018 – WORK EXPERIENCE PROBLEM – DUTY
    07/03/2018 – CORRECTIONS RECEIVED BY EMAIL
    07/09/2018 – APP SENT TO SUPERVISOR FOR REVIEW
    Exam Date None
    Exam Place None
    Law Exam Time
    Trade Exam Time
    My question is after the app post, sense it is already being reviewed by a supervisor will it go into aiu? the tech working on my app said it should be enough to post app. we also sent in w2 as well to be on the safe side.

    1. So did you ever get your license? What came after “APP SENT TO SUPERVISOR FOR REVIEW”? My application is in the same status.

  3. commercial and residential. and he has a universal. he also has a 609 but dont know if that has anything to do with c20.

    1. Excellent! He shouldn’t have a problem obtaining the license. He can show up to 10 years of experience (2008-2018) as self employed or as an employee of a company that has a C-20 license.

      I offer complete app preparation or review services. Let me know if I can assist you further.

  4. good morning. i have a question, my dad has been a diesel mechanic for 30 years doing hvac and also works on his bosses rental houses doing hvac for 30 years. will he qualify for a c20 contractor license?

    1. Possibly. Is his experience in residential, commercial, or industrial HVAC? He would need to have/submit a CFC Universal or Type II card with the application.

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