(B) General Building Contractor Exam Prep Course

Pass the B-General Building Trade Exam: Easy as 1-2-3!

Step 1: Commit to passing your California (B) General Contractor exam. Prepare for your exam at home, on your own schedule. Utilize our multimedia resources to “Read, Watch, Listen, Learn, and PASS!”


Step 2: CSLB Application Assistance: We’re here to help you complete your (B) contractor application. Call us at 866-685-8564 for personalized guidance and ensure a smooth application process.


Step 3: Study and Succeed – Proven Results: Our clients typically pass their trade exam on the first attempt. Your success is our goal. Follow the Plan and Pass Your Exam!”


All qualifying individuals must also pass the California Contractor Law & Business Exam (sold separately below)

$249.00

* Shipping fees apply for the options not fully online.

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🎯Pass Your B-General Building Exam (Trade Exam)

  • Aim to Pass: Aim to pass the B-General Building Contractor exam on your very first try.
  • Unbeatable Course: Experience California’s most effective and affordable B-General contractors’ license course.
  • Proven Track Record: Our clients consistently pass their Gen-B contractor trade exams, making us a trusted choice for exam preparation.

Pass Your B-General Building Contractor Exam: 


Online Flexible Study Plan:

  • Comprehensive Manual: Dive into our industry-leading B-General Building exam preparation manual.
  • Master Multiple-Choice: Learn strategies to dominate multiple-choice exams.
  • Multimedia Learning: Engage with audio and video content featuring industry experts on General Trade Knowledge, Math Review, and Title 8 Health & Safety Rules.
  • Question Bank: Access hundreds of researched exam questions and answers.
  • Interactive Tools: Use virtual flashcards and non-graded quizzes to reinforce key concepts.
  • Online Practice Exams: Test your knowledge with online timed practice exams.
  • First-Time Success: Aim to pass your General Building Contractor exam on your first attempt.

🌟The Most Effective Course in California at any price!

  • Online Advantage: Our multimedia course allows you to study at your pace and is the most affordable method for passing the General-B Contractor License Exam.

Hassle-Free Application Process

  • Paperwork Assistance: We’ll guide you through the CSLB application process.
  • Expert Help: Email us for personalized assistance and a free line-by-line review of your application before submission to the state. TLC is here to help to make your CSLB Application easier than ever!

Exam Success

  • Pass Rate: Our students have a high success rate if they take our course to its entirety. If you have failed in the past, we are here to help increase that score with the latest updated information specific to your trade.
  • Exam Scheduling: Once your application is approved and you are ready, schedule your exam through PSI. (Refer to the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin for more details. – PSI – (B) General Building Candidate Information Bulletin

IT’S A FACT! When you read somethingwatch somethinghear somethingand then put that information to use – ONLINE PRACTICE QUESTIONS  & ONLINE EXAMS, your ability to retain our study materials increases exponentially!

📚 Course Details: B-General Building (Trade Exam)

  • Online Study: Skip the commute and study comfortably from your home or office.
  • Convenience: Our courses are designed to fit into your busy schedule, allowing you to prepare at your own pace.
  • Proven and Affordable: Rely on our proven methods to pass the B-General Building Contractor exam without breaking the bank.

California B-General Building Contractor (Trade Exam)


📝 Select Your Course Format:

Please choose the format that best suits your learning style and needs, and take advantage of our comprehensive study materials to prepare effectively for your (B) General Building Contractor trade exam:

  • eCourse: Online Manual: (Read Only) + A/V & Testing:

    • The Course is 100% Online
    • Online Manual (not printable)
    • Online A/V (Audio/Video)
    • Online Practice Testing
  • or Printed Manual + Online A/V & Testing:

    • Printed Manual
    • Online A/V (Audio/Video)
    • Online Practice Testing
  • or Printed Manual + CDs, DVDs, & Online Testing:

    • Printed Manual
    • CDs & DVDs
    • Online Practice Testing

Included In Each Course Format:

Each of our B-General Building Contractor License Trade Exam Courses includes the following:

  • Trade-Specific Manuals or eManuals: Comprehensive guides covering all relevant topics.
  • Audio Lectures: Listen to expert insights and explanations.
  • Video Lectures: Visualize key concepts through video content.
  • Flash Card Mode: Test your knowledge with Virtual Flashcards.
  • Online Practice Exams: Take multiple-timed practice exams.

📖 California B-General Building Contractor Exam Trade Manual

The California B General Building exam manual briefly covers essential topics of the California Gen-B exam’s trade section.

  • Broad Coverage: This manual provides a concise overview of essential topics for the California B-General Building exam’s trade section, including concrete, carpentry, roofing, masonry, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC.
  • Code Summaries: Gain insights from summarized sections of the California Building Code, the California Electrical Code, the California Plumbing Code, the California Mechanical Code, and Title 8 Health & Safety Orders.

Inside The Study Guide:

  • Math Review: Get a solid foundation with an introduction to construction math, covering estimating formulas, measurement units, elementary geometry, and the architect’s scale.
  • General Trade Knowledge: This section provides the basic trade information needed to pass the General (B) trade exam.
  • Health and Safety: Become familiar with Title 8 and other essential safety regulations and practices.
  • B-General Exam Review Questions: Read and understand each question and read every word of the explanation. The principle behind the question is your key to success.

🎧 Audio/Video Lectures

  • Flexible Formats: Choose between streaming online audio & video files or opt for CDs & DVDs.
  • Expert Instruction: Learn from instructors with decades of experience, covering key General B exam concepts in depth. Lectures include Math Formulas, Plans & Specifications, General Building Knowledge & Review Questions, and Title 8 Health & Safety Orders.

Latest Online B-General Building Study Questions and Online Practice Exams

Virtual Flashcards:

  • Randomized Questions: Keep your study sessions fresh and engaging via online flashcards.
  • Progress Tracking: Know where you stand and what you’ve mastered.
  • Exclude Mastered Questions: Focus only on what you need to learn.

Trade Practice Exams and Updated Questions:

  • Eight-Timed General Exams: Each practice exam consists of 100 questions, allowing you to practice under timed conditions. *Includes an updated exam with the most current questions.
  • Two Title 8 Health & Safety Tests: Each specialized test is to ensure you’re prepared for all aspects of the General B exam.
  • Inclusive Trade Practice Questions: Each course includes practice questions complete with questions, answers, and in-depth explanations to deepen your understanding of trade concepts.
  • Updated Questions: Stay current with the latest General Building, Health and safety, and trade-specific updates.
  • Test & Expand Knowledge: Our questions are designed not just to test your existing knowledge but to expand upon it through detailed explanations.

📞 Contractor Exam Application Assistance

  • Free Form Review: Request a free review of your completed contractor exam application to ensure it’s error-free before you submit it to the state.
  • Direct Assistance: All students enrolled in our B-General Building course can call us at (866) 685-8564 or email support@thompsonlearningco.com for personalized assistance in completing the application.

One-Year Unlimited Access

  • All-Inclusive Resources: Gain unrestricted access to all online eManuals, audio/video materials, and practice exams.
  • 365 Days of Access: Unlike other schools that limit you to 30, 90, or 180 days, we offer a full year of access to all online course materials, ensuring you have ample time to prepare.

🔍CSLB (B) Trade Exam Content & Source Material

  • In-Depth Overview: Gain a comprehensive understanding of what the B General Building Contractor trade exam entails.
  • Reference Compilation: Access a complete compilation of all reference materials used for the exam, ensuring you have all the resources you need.
  • Scope Outline: Understand the full scope of work covered under the B General contractor classification so you know exactly what to expect.

The B-General Building Exam: Five Major Sections


Section 1. Planning and Estimation (17%)

  • The scope of work and code compliance
  • Design and construction error identification
  • Shop drawings, plans, and specifications
  • Field inspection performance
  • Coordination of project
  • Cost estimation for materials, equipment, and labor

Section 2. Framing and Structural Components (22%)

  • Subfloor and wall framing
  • Roof framing
  • Seismic and load requirements
  • Siding and stucco
  • Decks

Section 3. Core Trades (30%)

  • Plumbing
  • Electrical
  • HVAC
  • Concrete
  • Earthwork and surveying
  • Insulation, acoustic, and weatherproofing
  • Roofing

Section 4. Finish Trades (19%)

  • Painting, staining, coating, and interior wall covering
  • Tile and stone
  • Floor covering
  • Cabinetry and millwork
  • Plaster, drywall, and ceilings
  • Windows, skylights, and doors
  • Landscaping

Section 5. Safety (12%)

  • Personnel safety
  • Transportation and traffic control
  • Environmental safety

*Percentages are approximate


📚B-General Engineering Exam Source Material:

The CSLB utilizes the following publications to create the General (B) Building exam. California codebooks are online at https://www.dgs.ca.gov/bsc or purchased directly from the publishers.

2022 California Building Code. Title 24. International Code Council.
Phone: (800) 786-4452.
Free Access: https://www.dgs.ca.gov/BSC/Codes
Purchase: http://www.iccsafe.org

2022 California Electrical Code. California Code of Regulations, Title 24. BNI Publications, Inc.
Phone: (888) 264-2665
Free Access: https://www.dgs.ca.gov/BSC/Codes
Purchase: http://www.bnibooks.com

2022 California Energy Code. California Code of Regulations, Title 24. International Code Council
Phone: (800) 786-4452
Free Access: https://www.dgs.ca.gov/BSC/Codes
Purchase: http://www.iccsafe.org

2022 California Fire Code. California Code of Regulations, Title 24. International Code Council.
Phone: (800) 786-4452
Free Access: https://www.dgs.ca.gov/BSC/Codes
Purchase: http://www.iccsafe.org

2022 California Green Building Standards Code. California Code of Regulations, Title 24. International Code Council.
Phone: (800) 786-4452
Free Access: https://www.dgs.ca.gov/BSC/Codes
Purchase: http://www.iccsafe.org

2022 California Mechanical Code. Title 24. International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO).
PHONE: (909) 472-4100
Free Access: https://www.dgs.ca.gov/BSC/Codes
Purchase: http://www.iapmo.org

2022 California Plumbing Code. Title 24. International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO).
Phone: (909) 472-4100
Free Access: https://www.dgs.ca.gov/BSC/Codes
Purchase: www.iapmo.org

2022 California Residential Code. California Code of Regulations, Title 24. International Code Council.
Phone: (800) 786-4452
Free Access: https://www.dgs.ca.gov/BSC/Codes
Purchase: http://www.iccsafe.org

Architectural Woodwork Standards. Woodwork Institute, Architectural Woodwork Institute, and Architectural Woodwork Manufacturers Association of Canada.
PHONE: (916) 372-9943
INTERNET: www.woodworkinstitute.com

California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways: Revision 4. The State of California, Department of Transportation, Caltrans.
Phone: (916) 654-2852
Free Access: https://dot.ca.gov/manuals

California Vehicle Code. State of California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Free Access: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes.xhtml

Fundamentals of Building Construction Materials and Methods; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.}
Phone: (877) 762-2974.
Purchase: http://www.wiley.com

Modern Carpentry. Goodheart-Willcox.
Phone: (800) 323-0440
Purchase: http://www.g-w.com

Olin’s Construction Principles, Materials, and Methods; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Phone: (877) 762-2974.
Purchase: http://www.wiley.com

State of California General Industry & Electrical Safety Orders (Cal/OSHA) and State of California Construction & Electrical Safety Orders (Cal/OSHA). 2023. California Code of Regulations, Title 8. Mancomm.
Phone: (877) 626-2666
Free Access: https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/LawsAndRegulations.htm 
Purchase: http://www.mancomm.com

*Publisher information is current as of 1/23


🔍CSLB Scope for the B-General Building Contractor Classification

Business & Professions Code
Division 3, Chapter 9. Contractors, Article 4. Classifications

7057. (a) Except as provided in this section, a general building contractor is a contractor whose principal contracting business is in connection with any structure built, being built, or to be built for the support, shelter, and enclosure of persons, animals, chattels, or movable property of any kind, requiring in its construction the use of at least two unrelated building trades or crafts, or to do or superintend the whole or any part thereof.

This does not include anyone who merely furnishes materials or supplies under Section 7045 without fabricating them into, or consuming them in the performance of the work of the general building contractor.

(b) A general building contractor may take a prime contract or a subcontract for a framing or carpentry project. However, a general building contractor shall not take a prime contract for any project involving trades other than framing or carpentry unless the prime contract requires at least two unrelated building trades or crafts other than framing or carpentry or unless the general building contractor holds the appropriate license classification or subcontracts with an appropriately licensed specialty contractor to perform the work. A general building contractor shall not take a subcontract involving trades other than framing or carpentry unless the subcontract requires at least two unrelated trades or crafts other than framing or carpentry or unless the general building contractor holds the appropriate license classification. The general building contractor may not count framing or carpentry in calculating the two unrelated trades necessary in order for the general building contractor to be able to take a prime contract or subcontract for a project involving other trades.

(c) No general building contractor shall contract for any project that includes the “C-16” Fire Protection classification as provided for in Section 7026.12 or the “C-57” Well Drilling classification as provided for in Section 13750.5 of the Water Code unless the general building contractor holds the specialty license, or subcontracts with the appropriately licensed specialty contractor.

(Amended by Stats. 1997, Chapter 812 (SB 857).)

Add the California Law & Business Course

Required For Your Original Contractors License

We offer our California contractor exam study materials as two separate courses. (Each course is sold separately).

  1. (B) GENERAL TRADE EXAM.
  2. LAW AND BUSINESS EXAM.

Pass the Law & Business Exam

Pass the Law & Business Exam for Your Original Contractor’s License

  • Law & Business Exam Focus: This exam concentrates on California Contractor Law and best business practices.
  • Path to Success: To qualify for your first contractor’s license, you must pass both the TRADE and LAW exams. Utilize our resources to “Read, Watch, Listen, Learn, and PASS!”

Prepare for both exams to ensure you meet all the requirements for your original contractor’s license. With the right resources and study habits, you’re on your way to becoming a licensed contractor.

$199.50

* Shipping fees apply for the options not fully online.

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Free B-General Building Practice Quiz! 

  • Try a free practice quiz to see what types of questions you’ll get on the B-General Building exam.
  • Similar to Actual Test Questions: These free practice questions are designed to be similar to those on the real exam.

Use this free test to get a preview of the types of questions found on the exam.

Welcome to your free B-General Building Quiz

REQUIRED - Enter your email address to receive your quiz results
1. 
What is the minimum grade lumber you may use when framing a house?

2. 
What are purple pipes used for in irrigation?

3. 
Where are 20-minute fire doors required?

4. 
What is the proper procedure for installing a sink in a countertop?

5. 
According to the Residential Code, what is the MINIMUM allowable width of a residential hallway?

6. 
What can a contractor do if the inspector will not sign off on the permit?

7. 
What do you need to do when you are working on a street and must temporarily close the road?

8. 
What is the type of anchor shown in the drawing used for?

9. 
After applying wire fabric to a wall, how many stucco coats are needed to cover?

10. 
What is the name of a stucco finish?

11. 
What sort of PPE (personal protective equipment) is recommended when using cleaning solvent?

12. 
What should be done with lifelines, safety harnesses, and shock-absorbing lanyards that have been subjected to impact loading?

13. 
What is the longest standard length of a scaffold plank?

14. 
On a 120V circuit, what color is the (protective) ground wire?

15. 
What is the minimum distance apart that acetylene and oxygen cylinders must be stored?

16. 
Which of the following is a correct method for storing acetylene cylinders?

17. 
Which of the following is the best choice for hoisting a full gas cylinder?

18. 
Cylinders containing ______ shall not be taken into confined spaces.

19. 
A dry chemical or carbon dioxide fire extinguisher rated at least ______ must be kept near operations where bottled fuel gases are being used.

20. 
No more than ______ of paints, solvents, and chemicals may be stored in a room unless an approved safety storage cabinet is present.