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C-12 Earthwork and Paving Contractor License in California

C-12 is CSLB's Earthwork and Paving Contractors classification (16 CCR §832.12). Digs, moves and places earth for cuts, fills, grades and trenches (explosives included) and places paving and surfacing materials. Applicants take the Earthwork and Paving (C-12) Examination as well as the Law and Business exam. CSLB's Data Portal lists 2,426 active licenses in this class (read November 7, 2026). CSLB Earthwork and Paving (C-12) Trade Examination — Questions: Not published by CSLB · 210 minutes · Passing score: Not published by CSLB. PrepPass also publishes a complete study guide for this exam as a downloadable book (222 pages, 270 practice questions inside, $24.99).

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PrepPass Course: CSLB Law and Business

This license also needs the Law and Business exam (CSLB can waive an exam in some cases). 110 lessons, 732 practice questions.

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A printable colour cheat sheet for the exam: the format, the content areas and the figures it turns on, each checked against a named source and dated.

CSLB C-12 Earthwork and Paving cheat sheet PDF — $9.99 →

6 pages · US Letter · printable PDF · yours to keep

The C-12 license, from CSLB's own pages

What the C-12 license covers and what CSLB requires

Earthwork and Paving Contractors (16 CCR §832.12). Digs, moves and places earth for cuts, fills, grades and trenches (explosives included) and places paving and surfacing materials.

Trade exam
Yes. Applicants take CSLB's Earthwork and Paving (C-12) Examination as well as the Law and Business exam.
Exam topics and weights
  • Planning and Estimating20%
  • Earthwork and Grade Control29%
  • Paving30%
  • Safety21%
As published in CSLB's study guide, form 13E-12 (03-2026), for examinations scheduled on or after September 1, 2023.
Experience
At least 4 years journey-level/foreman/supervisor/contractor/owner-builder experience in the class within the last 10 years; up to 3 years credit for education/apprenticeship, at least 1 year must be practical. Source: 16 CCR §825 (2026 CSLB Law Book); CSLB Step 3 Qualifying Experience page.
Active licenses
2,426 active licenses (CSLB Data Portal, read November 7, 2026)

CSLB's official C-12 study guide (PDF)CSLB's C-12 classification page

Free C-12 practice questionsFree C-12 study guideC-12 study guide book, $24.99CSLB C-12 Earthwork and Paving cheat sheet PDFBundle: $30.99 for 4 itemsAll California license classes

Facts as of November 7, 2026; check CSLB for current rules. PrepPass is independent of CSLB.

01

Test what you know · free, all of it

Five ways to practise.

The same 250 questions, dealt five ways. Pick the one that fits the time you have.

Quick 10Start here
Ten questions, no feedback while you answer. Then one report: all 10 explained, each pointing at the chapter that teaches it.
10 questionsabout 5 minevery answer explained
By section
Pick Paving, Earthwork and Grade Control, Safety, Planning and Estimating. An explanation appears the moment you answer.
250 questionsuntimed
Timed mock
Sit it like the real thing, then get a score report by section.
100 questions210 minutes
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The whole bank with answers shown — for review, not testing.
all 250, by section
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02

Learn what the questions test

Practice finds the gaps. Reading closes them. The four chapters below are free to read online. The study guide book is a separate download, sold on its own page.

Practice · free
250
questions, each explained — finds what you don't know yet
Learn · the guide
222
pages in the study guide book, section by section

The four sections, as chapters

free to read online
  1. 1Planning and Estimating20% of the examRead free →
  2. 2Earthwork and Grade Control29%Read free →
  3. 3Paving30% — the largest sectionRead free →
  4. 4Safety21%Read free →
Cover: CSLB C-12 Earthwork and Paving Study Guide — 2026 Edition
Study guide · PDF + EPUB
CSLB C-12 Earthwork and Paving Study Guide — 2026 Edition
222 pages · 270 practice questions inside · updated 2026-11-08
$24.99 one-time · yours to keep
Get the book — $24.99Read a chapter free
  • 270 original CSLB earthwork and paving trade-exam practice questions, each with a worked explanation, in one PDF + EPUB you keep
03

Before you sit

Know the exam you're walking into.

Free study guideEvery section, onlineTopics by weightWhat to study firstHow hard is it?Honest answer, with numbersScores & retakesWhat the board publishesOne-page cheat sheetNight-before facts
04

See the questions first

Two from the bank, answered.

Real items, with the answer marked and the reason written out — the same format as all 250.

Paving

Type A hot mix asphalt with unmodified binder will be placed in a 0.20-foot lift. What are the minimum ambient air and surface temperatures?

  1. A65°F air and 80°F surface
  2. B45°F air and 50°F surfaceCorrect
  3. C35°F air and 35°F surface
  4. D55°F air and 60°F surface

Why: For lifts of 0.15 foot or more with unmodified binder the minimums are 45°F air and 50°F surface. The 55 and 60 degree values are for thinner lifts, 35 is below any minimum, and 65 and 80 degrees are chip seal conditions.Caltrans 2024 Standard Specifications §39-2.02C

Earthwork and Grade Control

A grade stake reads "C 0.8." What does it tell the operator?

  1. AThe compaction must reach 0.8 of maximum density
  2. BThe finish grade is 0.8 foot below the existing ground at the stakeCorrect
  3. CThe stake is offset 0.8 foot from the centerline
  4. DThe finish grade is 0.8 foot above the existing ground at the stake

Why: C stands for cut: the finish is below the existing ground, so 0.8 foot of material is removed. An F stake would show the finish above ground, offsets are written as separate distances, and compaction is not communicated on a grade stake.Surveying and grade-control practice

Read all 250 questions with answers →

06

The exam itself

CSLB C-12 Earthwork and Paving (Trade Exam), by the numbers.

QuestionsNot published by CSLBCSLB says only that “All trade examinations consist of multiple-choice questions.” No count appears in the study guide, the Examinations FAQ, or PSI's candidate bulletin.
Time210 minutesCSLB: “You will be given 3-1/2 hours to complete each examination.” It is per examination, not per sitting — a candidate taking Law and Business plus a trade exam gets 3-1/2 hours for each.
SectionsPlanning and Estimating · Earthwork and Grade Control · Paving · Safety
Passing scoreNot published by CSLBCSLB: “You will be informed at the test site about the percentage of correct answers needed to pass each examination,” and, in Get Licensed to Build Q14, that the percentage “varies for each exam”. Passing candidates are never shown their own score. PrepPass states no passing score for this exam.
Our bank250 questions · updated November 2026Written from California Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
LanguagesEnglish
SourceCalifornia Contractors State License Board (CSLB)Verified 2026-11-08

Full facts and sources →

08

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09

Questions

Asked before starting.

What is the C-12 license in California?

C-12 is CSLB's Earthwork and Paving Contractors classification (16 CCR §832.12). Digs, moves and places earth for cuts, fills, grades and trenches (explosives included) and places paving and surfacing materials.

Do I need a trade exam for the C-12 license?

Yes. CSLB requires the Earthwork and Paving (C-12) Examination in addition to the Law and Business exam.

How many years of experience does the C-12 license need?

As CSLB states it: At least 4 years journey-level/foreman/supervisor/contractor/owner-builder experience in the class within the last 10 years; up to 3 years credit for education/apprenticeship, at least 1 year must be practical. Source: 16 CCR §825 (2026 CSLB Law Book); CSLB Step 3 Qualifying Experience page.

Where is CSLB's official study guide for C-12?

CSLB publishes the C-12 study guide (form 13E-12 (03-2026)) as a free PDF at https://www.cslb.ca.gov/Resources/StudyGuides/C12StudyGuide.pdf. It lists the exam's content areas and their percentages.

Is the practice really free, or does it stop after a few questions?

All 250 questions, the timed mock and the report are free with no sign-up. A free account only adds saving your progress. The study guide book is sold separately, $24.99 one-time; nothing in the practice requires it.

Is your mock the same as the real CSLB C-12 Earthwork and Paving (Trade Exam)?

No. Ours is 100 questions in 210 minutes; the real exam is 210 minutes long. Use the mock for stamina and section timing, not as a score predictor.

What score do I need?

Not published by CSLB. CSLB: “You will be informed at the test site about the percentage of correct answers needed to pass each examination,” and, in Get Licensed to Build Q14, that the percentage “varies for each exam”. Passing candidates are never shown their own score. PrepPass states no passing score for this exam.

Is there a study guide for the CSLB C-12 Earthwork and Paving (Trade Exam)?

Yes. PrepPass sells CSLB C-12 Earthwork and Paving Study Guide — 2026 Edition, a PDF + EPUB download, $24.99 one-time; the practice on this page stays free without it. See the study guide →

Practice questions are AI-assisted study material written from California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) and reviewed by PrepPass — for practice only, not official exam questions. Bank updated November 2026. PrepPass is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by California Contractors State License Board (CSLB). Always confirm current exam details with California Contractors State License Board (CSLB).