California licensing boards
What California's own boards ask for before you can work in a licensed job: the requirement, the exam, the fee where the board publishes it, and renewal. National exams are written by national bodies, but the license comes from the state.
Professional licenses
Each card links the national license page on this site (education, national exams and other states).
LPN / LVN
Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians
12th grade or equivalent, DOJ and FBI fingerprints, and the NCLEX-PN (a passing RN exam does not count). Besides an approved school, the board accepts 51 months of paid bedside nursing experience plus a 54-hour pharmacology course, or 12 months of military medical-corps bedside care.
Source: California BVNPT
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Social Work
Board of Behavioral Sciences
Two exams for the LCSW: the LCSW California Law and Ethics Exam, then the ASWB Clinical exam, which must be taken within one year of approval.
Source: California BBS
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Counseling
Board of Behavioral Sciences
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC): pass the LPCC California Law and Ethics Exam, then the NCMHCE.
Source: California BBS
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Real Estate
Department of Real Estate (DRE)
Three college-level courses before the salesperson exam: Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice (with implicit bias and fair housing since 2024) and one course from a list such as finance, appraisal or legal aspects. Each approved course is at least 45 hours. Pass the exam first, then apply for the license; 18 or older to be issued one. Without a responsible broker a salesperson may not do licensed acts.
Source: California DRE
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Insurance Agent
California Department of Insurance (CDI)
From 1 January 2026 the 20-hour prelicensing course is no longer required for property, casualty, personal and commercial lines, limited line automobile, life, and accident and health licenses. The 12 hours of ethics and California Insurance Code is still required before the license is issued (not before the exam). Fingerprints come after the exam, before the application.
Source: California CDI
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Mortgage Loan Originator
Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI)
20 hours, with 2 of the 12 elective hours on California DFPI law. Continuing education: 8 hours a year including 1 hour of California law.
Source: NMLS
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Real Estate Appraiser
Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers (BREA)
Trainee: 75 hours, no experience. Residential (AL): 150 hours and 1,000 hours over at least 6 months. Certified residential (AR): college-level education, 200 hours and 1,500 hours over 12 months. Certified general (AG): bachelor's degree, 300 hours and 3,000 hours over 18 months with 1,500 non-residential. Licensed residential applicants also take a 1-hour cultural competency and a 4-hour California laws course.
Source: BREA
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Teaching
Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC)
Multiple Subject (elementary) preliminary credential, valid up to 5 years: a bachelor's degree; subject matter competence by exam, an approved subject matter program, coursework or a liberal studies major; a U.S. Constitution course or exam; an approved preparation program with reading instruction, CPR training and a Teaching Performance Assessment; and the program's recommendation. The clear credential comes through an induction program.
Source: CTC
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Architecture
California Architects Board (CAB)
At least 18 (or a high school graduate); all ARE divisions; the California Supplemental Examination (CSE); the AXP (or Canada's IAP); and 8 years of architectural training and education combined (education credit or extra AXP hours), under Business and Professions Code s. 5552.
Source: CAB
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Veterinary
Veterinary Medical Board (VMB)
Three exams: the NAVLE, the California State Board Examination and the Veterinary Law Examination (open book, 32 questions, within 40 days of applying; not needed for UC Davis or Western University graduates). Fees: $350 application, $100 VLE, $500 license.
Source: VMB
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Cosmetology & barber
Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (BBC)
Cosmetologist or barber: at least 17, 10th grade completed, and a 1,000-hour course at a board-approved school (barbers may instead finish a board-approved apprenticeship). Written exam only (cosmetologist 100 scored questions, barber 85, 120 minutes each).
Source: BBC
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Trade licenses
Each card links the trade's page on this site (training route, apprenticeship and pay).
Electrician
Department of Industrial Relations, Electrician Certification Unit
Anyone working as an electrician for a C-10 licensed contractor must be state-certified; registered apprentices in a state-approved program may work while training. The General Electrician exam needs 8,000 hours of work for an electrical contractor, in two or more areas of work.
Source: CA DIR
View sourceCA DIR
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Plumber
Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
No state journeyman plumber license: CSLB says a journey-level worker does not have a license and cannot contract jobs that need a permit or exceed $1,000. To get the C-36 Plumbing contractor license you must show 4 full years of journey-level plumbing; a plumbing apprenticeship is normally 5 years.
Source: CSLB
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HVAC technician
Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
The state licenses HVAC contractors as C-20 (warm-air heating, ventilating and air-conditioning). A contractor license needs 4 years of journey-level experience; training or an apprenticeship can replace up to 3 of them.
Source: CSLB
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Automotive service technician
Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR)
A BAR license is not required to work as a general automotive repair mechanic. Smog Check inspectors, Smog Check repair technicians and vehicle safety systems technicians do need an individual BAR license, with a separate exam for each.
Source: CA BAR
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Carpenter
Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
Carpentry contractors hold a C-5 Framing and Rough Carpentry or C-6 Cabinet, Millwork and Finish Carpentry license. A journey-level worker has no license and cannot contract jobs that need a permit or exceed $1,000; a contractor license needs 4 full years of journey-level experience.
Source: CSLB
View sourceCSLB
View sourceCSLB
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Elevator and escalator installer
Department of Industrial Relations, Cal/OSHA Elevator Unit
Anyone employed by a C-11 licensed elevator company who works without direct supervision must be a Certified Competent Conveyance Mechanic (CCCM). Continuing education must come from a Division-approved provider within 12 months before renewal.
Source: Cal/OSHA
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State and city government jobs
Government jobs are filled through each government's own hiring system; some need a civil service exam.
CalCareers
California Department of Human Resources (CalHR)
- Search: browse career fields or search by keyword, title or department.
- Assessment: the job bulletin shows the qualifications and the assessment, which can be an exam or an interview, depending on the job. Pass it to become eligible to apply.
- Apply: one CalCareer application can be used for many jobs; a department with a vacancy calls you for an interview.
Exam: Yes, an assessment comes before applying for most jobs; its form (exam, interview) depends on the job.
Source: CalCareers
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Los Angeles
City of Los Angeles Personnel Department
Publishes the full calendar of civil service exams and eligible lists. Each exam shows its parts and weight, for example multiple-choice 100%, interview 100%, or a training and experience questionnaire. LA Personnel
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Licensed somewhere else?
Licenses do not move automatically between states. Each national license page shows interstate compacts (nursing, EMS and others) and what other states' boards publish.
Where these facts come from
Official and primary sources only, each checked on the date shown. Rules on testing, aid, licensing and immigration change, so confirm a detail with its source before you rely on it.
- Summary of requirements for licensure as a vocational nurse · California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT) checked 2026-10-20
- LCSW clinical examination (ASWB) · California Board of Behavioral Sciences checked 2026-10-20
- LPCC clinical examination (NCMHCE) · California Board of Behavioral Sciences checked 2026-10-20
- Requirements to Apply for a Real Estate Salesperson License · California Department of Real Estate (DRE) checked 2026-10-20
- 12 Hours of Ethics and California Insurance Code — Frequently Asked Questions (AB 943) · California Department of Insurance (CDI) checked 2026-10-20
- State-Specific Education Requirements: California — DFPI · Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS) checked 2026-10-20
- Real Estate Appraiser License Levels · California Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers (BREA) checked 2026-10-20
- Become a Licensed Residential Appraiser · California Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers (BREA) checked 2026-10-20
- Multiple Subject Teaching Credential Requirements for Teachers Prepared in California (CL-561C) · California Commission on Teacher Credentialing checked 2026-10-20
- Becoming a Licensed Architect · California Architects Board checked 2026-10-21
- Veterinary Law Examination (VLE) · California Veterinary Medical Board checked 2026-10-21
- Examination Schedule, Fees, and Deadlines · California Veterinary Medical Board checked 2026-10-21
- License Requirements (Business and Professions Code ss. 7321, 7321.5, 7362.5) · California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology checked 2026-10-21
- Applicants: About the License Examination · California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology checked 2026-10-21
- Who needs to be certified to work in California as an electrician · California Department of Industrial Relations (Electrician Certification Unit) checked 2026-10-20
- General electrician — exam application · California Department of Industrial Relations (Electrician Certification Unit) checked 2026-10-20
- Frequently Asked Questions About Journey-level Experience · California Contractors State License Board checked 2026-10-20
- C-20 Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning Contractor · California Contractors State License Board checked 2026-10-20
- Apply for a license · California Bureau of Automotive Repair checked 2026-10-20
- C-5 Framing and Rough Carpentry Contractor · California Contractors State License Board checked 2026-10-21
- C-6 Cabinet, Millwork and Finish Carpentry Contractor · California Contractors State License Board checked 2026-10-21
- Frequently Asked Questions about Certifications (Elevator Unit) · California Department of Industrial Relations, Cal/OSHA checked 2026-10-21
- 3 Steps To A State Job · California Department of Human Resources (CalHR), CalCareers checked 2026-10-21
- Exam Information: open and planned civil service exams and eligible lists · City of Los Angeles Personnel Department checked 2026-10-21