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 HSR Manual briefly covers the major topics of the state exam including Hazardous Waste, Sampling, Personal Protective Equipment, Atmospheric Hazard Guidelines, Site Control, Underground Storage Tanks, Subsurface Barriers, Excavation Equipment, and Transporting Hazardous Materials. The manual also includes a Glossary and a section covering the Health and Safety Orders. The last section of the HSR manual is the HSR Review Questions.
The Math Review Lecture covers the math formulas in the first part of the HSR Manual specific to the HSR Certificate exam. The Health and Safety Lecture covers the Health and Safety Orders at the end of the HSR Manual. The HSR Review Questions Lecture covers the HSR Review Questions in the back 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 HSR 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.
No contractor shall engage in a removal or remedial action unless the qualifier for the license has passed an approved hazardous substance certification examination.
The Contractors State License Board, the Division of Occupational Safety and Health of the Department of Industrial Relations, and the Department of Toxic Substances Control jointly select an advisory committee, which shall be composed of two representatives of hazardous substance removal workers in California, two general engineering contractors in California, and two representatives of insurance companies in California who are selected by the Insurance Commissioner.
The CSLB will develop a written test for the certification of contractors engaged in hazardous substance removal or remedial action in consultation with the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, the State Water Resources Control Board, the Department of Toxic Substances Control, and the advisory committee.
The CSLB may require additional updated approved hazardous substance certification examinations of licensees currently certified based on new public or occupational health and safety information. The CSLB in consultation with the Department of Toxic Substances Control and the State Water Resources Control Board will approve other initial and updated hazardous substance certification examinations and determine whether to require an updated certification examination of all current certificate holders.
(d) For purposes of this section "removal or remedial action" has the same meaning as found in Chapter 6.8 (commencing with Section 25300) of Division 20 of the Health and Safety Code, if the action requires the contractor to dig into the surface of the earth and remove the dug material and the action is at a site listed pursuant to Section 25356 of the Health and Safety Code or any other site listed as a hazardous waste site by the Department of Toxic Substances Control or a site listed on the National Priorities List compiled pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 9601 et seq.). "Removal or remedial action" does not include asbestos-related work, as defined in Section 6501.8 of the Labor Code, or work related to a hazardous substance spill on a highway.(e)
(1) A contractor shall not install or remove an underground storage tank unless the contractor has passed the hazardous substance certification examination developed pursuant to this section.
(2) A contractor who is not certified may bid on or contract for the installation or removal of an underground tank, as long as the work is performed by a contractor who is certified pursuant to this section.
(3) For purposes of this subdivision, "underground storage tank" has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (x) of Section 25281 of the Health and Safety Code.
The following is the recommended sequence for the HSR Certificate 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 HSR General Knowledge. Follow along with the trade manual (pages 9 to 99).
Listen to or watch the lecture on Health and Safety. Follow along in the trade manual (pages HS-1 to HS-46).
Listen to or watch the lecture on Review Questions. Follow along in the trade manual (pages Q-1 to Q-8).
Read the HSR 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.
HSR Test 1
HSR Test 2
HSR Test 3
HSR Update - Important. Please review before taking the State exam.
Health and Safety Test 1
Health and Safety Test 2
Health and Safety Update