California Contractors License
Home Study Exam Preparation Kits
Paperback Study Guide
Your study guide will cover information and relevant diagrams to help you prepare for your examination. This information is what you can expect to see on your exam and is written in simple terms for anyone to understand. Having a physical study guide makes it easy to make your own notes in the margins, a helpful way to study for hands-on learners.
Online Practice Tests
Taking practice tests is one of the best ways to gauge your knowledge and preparedness and become comfortable with the testing process before exam day arrives. Following the format of the license exam you’ll take, our online practice tests are multiple choice and focus on the information commonly featured on license exams.
Paperback Study Guide
Your study guide will cover information and relevant diagrams to help you prepare for your examination. This information is what you can expect to see on your exam and is written in simple terms for anyone to understand. Having a physical study guide makes it easy to make your own notes in the margins, a helpful way to study for hands-on learners.
Online Practice Tests
Taking practice tests is one of the best ways to gauge your knowledge and preparedness and become comfortable with the testing process before exam day arrives. Following the format of the license exam you’ll take, our online practice tests are multiple choice and focus on the information commonly featured on license exams.
Audio Online Streaming
For those who are auditory learners, listening to audio of instructor-led lectures can be helpful for information retention. Audio streaming is also beneficial for those who are on the go and spend a lot of time commuting. Keep a notepad nearby to jot down notes and time-stamp sections you want to revisit.
Video Online Streaming
Watch pre-recorded lectures on trade-specific instruction. For visual learners, seeing information and 3D illustrations can be helpful to grasp the subjects. Watch as many times as you need, and take notes as you go. Take lectures with you and watch on-the-go via your mobile device anywhere you have internet.
Paperback Study Guide
Your study guide will cover information and relevant diagrams to help you prepare for your examination. This information is what you can expect to see on your exam and is written in simple terms for anyone to understand. Having a physical study guide makes it easy to make your own notes in the margins, a helpful way to study for hands-on learners.
Online Practice Tests
Taking practice tests is one of the best ways to gauge your knowledge and preparedness and become comfortable with the testing process before exam day arrives. Following the format of the license exam you’ll take, our online practice tests are multiple choice and focus on the information commonly featured on license exams.
Audio Online Streaming
For those who are auditory learners, listening to audio of instructor-led lectures can be helpful for information retention. Audio streaming is also beneficial for those who are on the go and spend a lot of time commuting. Keep a notepad nearby to jot down notes and time-stamp sections you want to revisit.
Video Online Streaming
Watch pre-recorded lectures on trade-specific instruction. For visual learners, seeing information and 3D illustrations can be helpful to grasp the subjects. Watch as many times as you need, and take notes as you go. Take lectures with you and watch on-the-go via your mobile device anywhere you have internet.
Goldenrod Paper Tests
In addition to online practice tests, you also have the option of taking a paper practice test. Your official exam will be administered via computer, but if practicing on paper is helpful, this method is available as well for more hands-on learning styles and those who may not have consistent access to computers or mobile devices when preparing. Please note, the practice test questions found in the goldenrod paper tests are the same as those found in the online practice tests.
The B-2 Residential Remodeling & Home Improvement Manual briefly covers major topics of the state exam including Concrete, Carpentry, Masonry, Electrical, Plumbing, and HVAC.
The manual also contains summaries from the California Building Code, California Electrical Code, California Plumbing Code, and the California Mechanical Code. The last section of the B-2 Manual covers the Health and Safety Orders.
The Math Review Lecture explains the math formulas in the first part of the General Building Manual. The Health and Safety Lecture covers the Health and Safety Orders at the end of the manual.
Please be sure that you study all of the practice exams. It is important to read and understand each question and read every word of the explanation. It is necessary to learn the principles behind the question because the State’s questions may be worded differently.
The B-2 Online Practice Exams are available by subscription. You are issued a key-code which you register on examcenter.com. There are three different methods of studying for the online practice exams: Non-graded quizzes, flashcards, and exam simulations. Once activated, subscriptions are good for up to 365 days. Extensions may be purchased.
Residential remodeling contractors perform projects that make improvements to, on, or in an existing residential wood-frame structure when these projects use at least three unrelated building trades or crafts for a single contract. A residential remodeling contractor may take a prime contract for trades or crafts that may include:
- Drywall
- Finish carpentry
- Flooring
- Insulation
- Painting
- Plastering
- Roof repair
- Siding
- Tiling
- Installing, repairing, or replacing electrical fixtures, such as dimmers, fans, lights, outlets, and switches.
- Installing, repairing, or replacing plumbing fixtures, such as faucets, sinks, toilets, and tubs.
- Installing, repairing, or replacing mechanical fixtures, such as air filters, air delivery and return grills, and preassembled exhaust fans.
A residential remodeling contractor shall not take a contract unless the contract includes three or more unrelated trades or crafts. A residential remodeling contractor shall not contract for a project that includes the following trades or crafts unless the contractor holds the appropriate license classification or subcontracts with an appropriately licensed contractor:
- C-16 Fire Protection
- C-22 Asbestos Abatement
- C-57 Well Drilling
A residential remodeling contractor shall not contract to make structural changes to load-bearing portions of an existing structure, including but not limited to, footings, foundations, load-bearing walls, partitions, and roof structures.
The residential remodeling contractor shall not contract to install, replace, substantially alter, or extend electrical, mechanical, or plumbing systems or their component parts, or the mechanisms or devices that are part of those systems, unless the residential remodeling contractor holds the appropriate license classification or subcontracts with an appropriately licensed contractor.
The residential remodeling contractor may contract to make minor alterations to existing electrical, mechanical, or plumbing systems to effectuate the purpose of installing, repairing, or replacing electrical, mechanical, and plumbing fixtures, provided that the contract requires the use of at least three unrelated building trades or crafts.
A residential remodeling contractor may self-perform its contract or may subcontract any of the trades or crafts to appropriately licensed subcontractors.
The following is the recommended sequence for the
B-2 trade course:
Listen to or watch the lecture entitled Math Review. Follow along with the trade manual (pages 3 to 8).
Listen to or watch the lecture on Health and Safety. Follow along in the trade manual (pages HS-1 to HS-46).
Read the B-2 Residential Remodeling and Home Improvement manual □ Take the following practice tests online or on paper until you get a score of at least 90%. Don’t be discouraged by your score the first time you take a test: You’ll improve. Allow enough time to study these tests at least three times. Make sure you read and understand each question and any explanations, especially calculations, that accompany the answer. Don’t just memorize the answers, because these are not the actual State Exam questions.
B-2 Test 1
B-2 Test 2
B-2 Test 3
B-2 Test 4
B-2 Test 5
B -2 Update - Important. Please review before taking the State exam.
Health and Safety Test 1
Health and Safety Test 2
Health and Safety Update