Retaking the exam
You failed. Here's exactly what happens next.
Failing doesn't cost you your application or the experience you already proved. It costs you 21 days, another exam fee and a slice of your 18-month window. Here are the three dates that matter, and the one useful piece of data they gave you.
21 calendar days
The minimum wait between one attempt and the next.
18 months
From CSLB accepting your application to passing.
$51.43
PSI's fee per registration, repeats included.
The 18-month trap
The clock doesn't start on your exam date — it starts the day CSLB accepts (“posts”) your application. If you haven't passed within those 18 months, the statute voids the application and you start over with new fees.
And the warning almost nobody reads: CSLB says that if you took your exam within three weeks of your void date, that was your last opportunity on that application. The 21-day wait eats the rest of your window.
If something serious got in the way
The law allows the void date to be extended up to 90 days, or one exam to be rescheduled without a fee, on documented evidence of a medical emergency or other circumstance beyond your control (B&P §7074(b)). It isn't automatic — you have to ask CSLB and show the paperwork.
How to rebook
- Count 21 calendar days from your exam.PSI won't let you book sooner. Mark the date the same day you fail.
- Log into your PSI account and pay again.At test-takers.psiexams.com/cacon, or by phone at (877) 392-6422. The fee is $51.43 per registration.
- Pick the earliest date that still leaves study time.Not the latest: every week you wait eats your 18-month window.
- Cancel 48 hours ahead if something changes.You can cancel or reschedule without forfeiting the fee if you give two days' notice. No-show, late arrival or missing ID and you lose the fee and pay another.
If the problem was technical during your exam — the machine, the centre — email exams@cslb.ca.gov with your name, application number and what happened. CSLB investigates with PSI and replies in five to seven days.
Your section breakdown is the study plan
Your failing report shows your overall score and, section by section, how many you got right and wrong. It's the only thing CSLB will tell you about your mistakes, so use it: rank the seven sections worst to best and start at the top, weighting by how much each one counts.
Business Organization and Licensing
13%Business Finances
15%Employment Requirements
20%Insurance and Liens
12%Contract Requirements and Execution
21%If your breakdown was evenly low across the board, the problem was pacing or nerves, not a topic. Practice against the clock.
What to change in 21 days
- Stop reading and start answering. Failing is almost never about not having read enough — it's about not having practiced the format.
- Work your two worst sections first, but don't abandon the 20% and 21% ones: employment and contracts are nearly half the exam between them.
- Drill the look-alike numbers (7, 10, 20, 21, 30, 90 days) in writing, not by passive recall.
- Sit at least two full timed exams before you go back, and aim for 80% or better on both.
- Sit the exam in the language you studied in — and study in the language you'll sit in.
Not sure 80% is enough? Here’s why we use that bar. Taking it in Spanish? This is how to ask.
FAQ
How long do I have to wait to retake the exam?
21 calendar days after each attempt. Calendar days, not business days: weekends and holidays count. The clock starts on your exam date.
How many times can I take it?
As many as you need inside your 18-month eligibility period, as long as you respect the 21 days between attempts. Each attempt is paid for separately.
What does a retake cost?
PSI's examination fee is $51.43 per registration, whether it's your first time or a repeat, and it is neither refundable nor transferable. You pay PSI directly, not CSLB.
What happens if my 18 months run out?
Your application is void and you must file a new one with new fees — the $450 again. That's why you book attempt two as soon as the 21 days are up.
If I only failed one exam, do I retake both?
No. Law and Business and your trade exam are separate exams with separate fees. You only retake the one you failed.
Can I see which questions I got wrong?
No. Questions and answer keys aren't available. What you do get is a breakdown by section of how many you answered correctly and incorrectly — and that's enough to build a study plan.
Can I appeal the result?
Yes. Email your name and application number to exams@cslb.ca.gov and ask for the Examination Appeals Form. CSLB replies by mail in two to four weeks.
Start by finding out where you stand
20 free questions with results by section, so you can compare them against the breakdown on your PSI report.
Official sources: CSLB Examination FAQ · PSI Examination Information Guide · B&P Code §7074 · PSI scheduling