California CSLB classification
The structure everything else attaches to. Classes, paperwork, bonding and business setup handled by one team, in English or Spanish.
✓ Licensed in as little as 90 days. Payment plans available. Se habla español.
What the license covers
The C-5 classification covers forming, erecting and installing structural and non-structural wood and metal framing members, sheathing, subflooring, trusses, and the rough carpentry that supports a building's structure.
General contractors, developers, homeowners doing additions, and seismic retrofit programs.
Framing crews that get licensed can hold their own contracts with builders instead of working as labor-only subs. Soft-story retrofit ordinances in Los Angeles, San Francisco and other cities have also created steady structural work.
CSLB requirements
Four years of journeyman-level experience in framing and rough carpentry work, verified by someone who can attest to it. Apprenticeship, technical training and certain degrees can substitute for up to three of those years.
You'll also need a valid Social Security number or ITIN to file the application.
The CSLB Law & Business exam, plus the C-5 trade exam. Both are taken at a CSLB testing center.
Live Scan is required for every applicant and qualifier. Prior convictions don't automatically disqualify you, but they must be disclosed.
Filed with the CSLB before your license is issued. You pay an annual premium to a surety, not the full bond amount.
As of 2026 nearly all licensees must carry workers' comp coverage, including many contractors who previously qualified for the no-employee exemption.
Course options
Every course covers the Law & Business exam and your C-5 trade exam, updated for 2026 code.
8-week online
$895
For contractors who already know the trade and want to test fast.
Most students pick this
4-month online
$1,195
The balance of time and coaching that gets the most people licensed.
7-month online
$1,495
For anyone working full time who needs room to study around the job.
Payment plans available on every course. Not sure which fits? Call and we'll tell you straight.
Related classifications
Most contractors end up holding more than one. These are the classifications that most often sit alongside a C-5.
See all 44 CSLB classifications →
Straight answers
Yes. Framing and carpentry are within the B scope, which is why they do not count toward the two-unrelated-trades requirement.
Deck structure falls within the C-5 scope. Railings, finishes and any electrical or plumbing on the deck are separate trades.
Structural framing work for a retrofit is within scope. Engineering and permitting requirements vary by jurisdiction.
Most students are licensed in about three months. The timeline depends on how quickly you finish the course, when you schedule your exams, and current CSLB processing times.
Yes. We complete and file everything — the application, experience verification, bond and insurance documentation. Incomplete applications are the number one cause of delay, so we check every line before it's submitted.
Sí. Todo nuestro equipo es bilingüe. Las clases, la ayuda con la aplicación y todas las actualizaciones están disponibles en español.
Ready when you are
A C-5 lets you pull permits, take jobs over $1,000, and bid the framing and rough carpentry work you're already good enough to do. Thirty thousand contractors have done it with us.
