Free practice + study guide

C-8 Concrete Contractor License in California

C-8 is CSLB's Concrete Contractor classification (16 CCR §832.08). Forms, places, finishes and installs concrete work such as flatwork, paving and mass concrete. Applicants take the Concrete (C-8) Examination as well as the Law and Business exam. CSLB's Data Portal lists 5,302 active licenses in this class (read November 7, 2026). CSLB Concrete (C-8) 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 (239 pages, 238 practice questions inside, $24.99).

Your other CSLB exam

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-8 Concrete cheat sheet PDF — $9.99 →

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

The C-8 license, from CSLB's own pages

What the C-8 license covers and what CSLB requires

Concrete Contractor (16 CCR §832.08). Forms, places, finishes and installs concrete work such as flatwork, paving and mass concrete.

Trade exam
Yes. Applicants take CSLB's Concrete (C-8) Examination as well as the Law and Business exam. CSLB offers this exam in Spanish.
Exam topics and weights
  • Planning and Estimating28%
  • Pre-placement Preparation27%
  • Placing and Finishing17%
  • Post-placement Tasks7%
  • Safety21%
As published in CSLB's study guide, form 13E-8 (01-2026), for examinations scheduled on or after March 1, 2026.
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
5,302 active licenses (CSLB Data Portal, read November 7, 2026)
Wages
The median annual wage of employees in the related occupation, Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers (SOC 47-2051), is $62,700 in California. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. This is an employee wage, not contractor or owner income.

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.

02

Learn what the questions test

Practice finds the gaps. Reading closes them. The five 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
239
pages in the study guide book, section by section

The five sections, as chapters

free to read online
  1. 1Planning and Estimating28% of the exam — the largest sectionRead free →
  2. 2Pre-placement Preparation27%Read free →
  3. 3Placing and Finishing17%Read free →
  4. 4Post-placement Tasks7%Read free →
  5. 5Safety21%Read free →
Cover: CSLB C-8 Concrete Trade Exam Study Guide (2026)
Study guide · PDF + EPUB
CSLB C-8 Concrete Trade Exam Study Guide (2026)
239 pages · 238 practice questions inside · updated 2026-10-23
$24.99 one-time · yours to keep
  • 238 original CSLB concrete 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.

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.

Planning and Estimating

A shed slab is 16 ft by 20 ft and 4 in thick. How much concrete does it contain?

  1. AAbout 3.5 cubic yards
  2. BAbout 4.0 cubic yardsCorrect
  3. CAbout 47.4 cubic yards
  4. DAbout 11.9 cubic yards

Why: 16 × 20 = 320 sq ft; 4 in = 0.333 ft; 320 × 0.333 = 106.7 cu ft; ÷ 27 = 4.0 cu yd. Dividing by 9 gives 11.9, and multiplying by 4 without converting inches gives 47.4.NIST Handbook 44 (2026), Appendix C

Pre-placement Preparation

Proof-rolling reveals a soft, rutting area in a slab subgrade. What should be done?

  1. AReplace it with compacted fill.Correct
  2. BPour thicker concrete over it.
  3. CLeave it; the slab will bridge it.
  4. DCover it with plastic sheeting.

Why: A uniform foundation matters more than a strong one, and there should be no hard or soft spots. A soft area left in place becomes a crack line; it is removed or reworked and recompacted.IMCP Manual for Concrete Pavement, 2nd ed. (FHWA/CP Tech Center, 2019)

Read all 250 questions with answers →

06

The exam itself

CSLB C-8 Concrete (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 · Pre-placement Preparation · Placing and Finishing · Post-placement Tasks · 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 September 2026Written from California Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
LanguagesEnglish
SourceCalifornia Contractors State License Board (CSLB)Verified 2026-09-24

Full facts and sources →

08

Contractor License Exams

On the same path.

09

Questions

Asked before starting.

What is the C-8 license in California?

C-8 is CSLB's Concrete Contractor classification (16 CCR §832.08). Forms, places, finishes and installs concrete work such as flatwork, paving and mass concrete.

Do I need a trade exam for the C-8 license?

Yes. CSLB requires the Concrete (C-8) Examination in addition to the Law and Business exam.

How many years of experience does the C-8 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.

Is the C-8 exam offered in Spanish?

Yes. CSLB's Examination FAQ lists the Concrete (C-8) Examination among the exams it offers in Spanish.

Where is CSLB's official study guide for C-8?

CSLB publishes the C-8 study guide (form 13E-8 (01-2026)) as a free PDF at https://www.cslb.ca.gov/Resources/StudyGuides/C08StudyGuide.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-8 Concrete (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-8 Concrete (Trade Exam)?

Yes. PrepPass sells CSLB C-8 Concrete Trade Exam Study Guide (2026), 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 September 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).