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CSLB trade exam · A – General Engineering
Pass the California General Engineering (A) contractor exam.
Original practice questions weighted like the official CSLB outline, each with a plain-language explanation and the code or source behind the answer. In English and Spanish.
25 questions. No sign-up. A score for each of the 8 exam sections.
A first A license takes two exams
The A exam tests your trade; Law & Business is the same exam for every classification. You have 18 months from the day CSLB accepts your application to pass both. Already licensed and adding A? You take only the A exam.
A – General Engineering
The trade exam for the A General Engineering license: planning and estimating, structural principles, earthwork and surveying, subsurface, surface and elevated piping work, foundation and concrete construction, buildings and related work, roadwork and paving, and safety.
Law & Business + General Engineering on one pass: $129 instead of $158.
See plans and pricesWhat the A exam covers
CSLB's study guide splits the General Engineering exam into 8 sections. We weight practice the same way, so each section gets the share of your time it has on the exam.
- Closed book: no reference materials in the room
- Multiple choice, four answers, one best answer
- 3½ hours to finish, as for every CSLB exam
- CSLB does not publish the number of questions
- CSLB gives this exam in English only; our practice is in English and Spanish
Planning and Estimating15%Reviewing plans and specifications; code compliance; evaluating job sites; coordinating projects with other trades; estimating costs for materials, equipment, and labor.
Structural Principles6%Constructing structures; seismic requirements; basic engineering.
Earthwork and Surveying15%Surveying job sites; preparing job sites; assessing soil conditions; assessing soil compaction and expansion.
Subsurface, Surface, and Elevated Piping Work21%Shoring and sloping excavations; preventing erosion; tunneling, drilling, and boring; installing pipelines; connecting and testing systems; connecting dry utilities.
Foundation and Concrete Construction11%Constructing forms and falsework; placing and finishing concrete; installing pilings and foundations.
Buildings, Structures, and Related Work9%Installing mechanical systems; installing plumbing pipes; installing electrical systems; demolition, disposal, and recycling.
Roadwork and Paving5%Base for highways, roads, and parking lots.
Safety18%Personnel and job site safety; personal protective equipment (PPE); hazardous material safety.
CSLB License Examination Study Guide, General Engineering (A), form 13E-A (03-2026), for examinations scheduled on or after February 1, 2025. CSLB notes that the percentages are approximate.
References CSLB lists for this exam
- 2025 California Building Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24)
- 2025 California Electrical Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 3)
- 2025 California Plumbing Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24)
- ACI CODE-318-19(22): Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (American Concrete Institute)
- California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, Part 6: Temporary Traffic Control (Caltrans)
- Excavation and Grading Handbook (Craftsman Book Company)
- Fundamentals of Building Construction: Methods and Materials (Edward Allen, Joseph Iano; Wiley)
- Moving the Earth: Excavation Equipment, Methods, Safety, and Cost (McGraw-Hill Professional)
- Standard Plans and Standard Specifications (Caltrans)
- Cal/OSHA General Industry, Construction and Electrical Safety Orders, 2025 (California Code of Regulations, Title 8)
Time and format: CSLB Examination FAQ.
How we get you ready for it
1,147 practice questions across the 8 official sections, plus 300 flashcards, in English and Spanish.
Practice one section at a time
All 8 sections, each with its share of the exam next to it. Put your hours where they change your score.
Every answer shows its source
A plain-language explanation and the code section or reference it comes from, so you learn the rule, not just the letter.
Every mistake comes back to you
Questions you got wrong collect in one place and wait to be fixed, and each round starts with what you have not seen yet.
Full-length practice exams and a readiness score
About 115 questions against the official 3½-hour clock, weighted like the outline, and a clear signal for when you are ready to book. CSLB does not publish the exact number of questions.
Study on your phone between jobs, in English or Spanish, and install it on your home screen. Everything a pass includes.
Pay once: General Engineering alone or with Law & Business
One payment, no subscription, no auto-renewal. Access opens the moment the payment clears.
Three months of full access: enough for most people to prepare and sit the exam.
Six months of access plus three study extras, listed on each card.
Best value
Law & Business + General Engineering
Both exams
Everything an A applicant has to pass
$129$169 one time
$158 separately · save $29$218 separately · save $49
- Both exam courses on one pass
- One payment, one sign-in
- Pass guarantee on each exam
180 days adds, for each exam
- Study plan built from your exam date
- Key numbers sheet: L&B deadlines and fees, General Engineering figures
- Search across the question bank
- 6 months of access, room for a retake
One exam
General Engineering
Passed Law & Business already, or adding A to your license
$79$109 one time
- 1,147 questions, each with its source
- All 8 official sections, weighted like the CSLB outline
- 300 flashcards and timed practice exams
180 days adds
- Study plan built from your exam date
- Key numbers sheet: the figures of the A exam, each with its source
- Search across the question bank
- 6 months of access, room for a retake
Only need Law & Business? It is $79 on its own. Refunds: full refund within 14 days if you have used no more than 50 questions and not started a timed mock exam. See our Refund Policy.
Pass guarantee on every exam: if you study with us and don't pass, we extend your access for free until your next attempt. The first 30 days take one click in your dashboard — no paperwork. How it works.
Questions about the A exam
Something else? Email support@cacontractorexam.com and we reply within 2 business days.
Do I also need the Law & Business exam?
For a first license, almost certainly. CSLB requires the Law and Business exam from almost every applicant in addition to the trade exam, and you have 18 months from the day your application is accepted to pass both. Already licensed and adding A to your license? Then you take only the trade exam. How the whole process works.
What does an A – General Engineering license let me do?
A general engineering contractor's principal contracting business is in connection with fixed works requiring specialized engineering knowledge and skill, such as irrigation, drainage, flood control, tunnels, highways, streets and roads, bridges, sewers, pipelines, land leveling and earthmoving, excavating, grading, trenching, paving and surfacing work, and cement and concrete works in connection with those fixed works. Source: Business and Professions Code §7056 (as printed in the CSLB Description of Classifications).
What is the format of the A exam?
A closed-book, computer-based, multiple-choice exam at a PSI test center, with four choices per question and one best answer. There is no penalty for guessing, so answer every question. CSLB gives 3½ hours for each exam and does not publish how many questions the A exam has.
Can I take the A exam in Spanish?
No. CSLB gives the A – General Engineering exam in English only; it is not one of the exams offered in Spanish. Our practice material is in English and Spanish, so you can learn the material in Spanish and practice the questions in the English you will see on exam day. Taking the exams in Spanish.
What if I fail?
You can retake it after 21 calendar days, as long as you are inside your 18 months. If you studied with us, our pass guarantee extends your access for free until your next attempt. What happens after a fail.
Are these the real exam questions?
No. CSLB does not release its questions, and anyone claiming to sell them should be avoided. Our questions are original, written from the official outline and the codes and references CSLB lists for the exam.
Guides for A
How ready are you for the A exam?
25 questions across the 8 sections, about 20 minutes, no sign-up.