CSLB Plumbing (C-36) Trade Examination — exam facts

California

Every source below was read on 2026-09-03

CSLB Plumbing (C-36) Trade ExaminationExam facts
Administering bodyContractors State License Board (CSLB), California Department of Consumer Affairs — exam delivered by PSI Services LLC

CSLB's legal existence is set by Business and Professions Code § 7000.5. CSLB states it has contracted with PSI to administer its examinations.

Source: CSLB — Examinations Frequently Asked Questions (2026-09-03)

QuestionsNot published by CSLB

CSLB 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.

What we read and found nothing in: CSLB — Step 7: Studying for the Examination (2026-09-03) · CSLB — Examinations Frequently Asked Questions (2026-09-03) · CSLB — Plumbing (C-36) Examination Study Guide (PDF, 13E-36 rev. 03-2026) (2026-09-03) · PSI Services LLC — Contractors State License Board Licensing Examination Information Guide (fee table) (2026-09-03)

Time limit210 minutes

CSLB: “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.

Source: CSLB — Examinations Frequently Asked Questions (2026-09-03)

Passing scoreNot 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.

What we read and found nothing in: CSLB — Step 7: Studying for the Examination (2026-09-03) · CSLB — Get Licensed to Build (PDF), Q14 (2026-09-03) · CSLB — Examinations Frequently Asked Questions (2026-09-03)

Fees
  • $450 — Original application (exam or waiver, one classification) (CSLB, one-time)
  • $51.43 — Examination registration (each registration, first attempt or retake) (PSI Services LLC, per attempt) Source
  • $200 — Initial license fee (sole owner) (CSLB, one-time)
  • $350 — Initial license fee (non-sole owner: partnership, corporation, LLC, joint venture) (CSLB, one-time)

Two payees: application and license fees go to CSLB, the per-exam registration fee to PSI. CSLB's 2023 “Get Licensed to Build” PDF still names a $100 rescheduling fee; it appears neither on CSLB's current fee list nor in Business and Professions Code § 7137 as amended effective 1 January 2026, so it is not stated here. The application fee is charged once per original license application and covers both required exams.

Source: CSLB — List of All CSLB Fees (2026-09-03)

Languages offeredEnglish · Spanish

CSLB publishes Spanish versions of 10 exams and names this one among them. Candidates requesting a translator for those exams are required to take the Spanish version instead.

Source: CSLB — Examinations Frequently Asked Questions (2026-09-03)

Change log

  • 2026-09-03Fact sheet created. CSLB and PSI re-checked on this date: no question count and no passing percentage is published for the C-36 trade exam.
  • 2025-03-01CSLB's C-36 examination outline changed: five content areas (study guide 13E-36), referenced to the 2025 California Plumbing and Mechanical Codes, for examinations scheduled on or after this date.

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