Solar & Battery Regulation & Incentive Programs

Solar Contractor Licensing

Program Overview

Category:: Regulatory Policy
Program Type:: Solar/Wind Contractor Licensing
Implementing Sector:: State
State:: California
Eligible Storage Technologies:: Solar - Passive, Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Solar Thermal Electric, Solar Thermal Process Heat, Solar Photovoltaics, Solar Pool Heating
Website:: http://www.cslb.ca.gov/About_Us/Library/Licensing_Classifications/
Applicable Sectors:: Installers/Contractors
Last Updated:: 07/18/2020

Summary

The California Contractors State License Board administers contractor licenses. The C-46 Solar Contractor license covers active solar water and space heating systems, solar pool heating systems, and photovoltaic systems. C-46 requirements include four years of experience and passing the business and law exam and the trade exam. Independent license schools offer courses to prepare for license exams.

Other contractor licenses for solar include:

A. General Engineering
B. General Building
C-4. Boiler, Hot Water Heating and Steam Fitting (for solar thermal systems)
C-10. Electrical (for photovoltaics only)
C-20. Warm-Air, HVAC (HVAC systems that utilize solar energy)
C-36. Plumbing (solar thermal systems)
C-53. Swimming Pool (for solar pool heating)

Complete descriptions of the contractor classifications are available here.

The state publishes a guide to becoming a California contractor and a reference book for California license law.