The exam in Spanish
Yes, you can take Law and Business in Spanish
CSLB publishes the Law and Business exam in Spanish — "Aspectos Legales del Negocio" — and it is the same exam, not a cut-down version. Here is what changes, what doesn't, and how to ask for it.
The rule that surprises almost everyone
CSLB puts it plainly: candidates requesting translators for those exams are required to take the Spanish versions. So if you ask for a translator for Law and Business, you will not sit the English exam with help — you will sit the Spanish exam.
The ten exams that exist in Spanish
CSLB licenses dozens of classifications, but only ten exams have a Spanish version. Law and Business is one of them — and it is the exam almost every applicant has to take.
- Law and Business · Aspectos Legales del Negocio
- B · General Building
- C-36 · Plumbing
- C-8 · Concrete
- C-9 · Drywall
- C-15 · Flooring and Floor Covering
- C-27 · Landscaping
- C-33 · Painting and Decorating
- C-39 · Roofing
- C-54 · Ceramic and Mosaic Tile
Every other trade exam is English-only. For those, CSLB may let you bring an approved translator.
How to request it
- Apply and wait for your application to be accepted.You can only schedule once CSLB accepts (“posts”) your application and mails you the Notice to Schedule for Examination.
- Ask CSLB for the Translator Form.Email your name, application number and phone number to exams@cslb.ca.gov and request the Translator Form, or call (800) 321-2752, option 4. Mail the completed form to CSLB, PO Box 26000, Sacramento CA 95826.
- Allow four to six weeks.CSLB reviews forms in the order received. Your application status will show notes such as “Screening Received” or “Screening Approved,” and you get a letter either way.
- Schedule with PSI.Once approved, PSI contacts you — or you can call (800) 367-1565 ext. 6750 or email EAalerts@psionline.com with your preferred location and dates.
A gap in what CSLB publishes
CSLB's published pages explain how to request a translator, and that the request routes you to the Spanish version. They do not explain how to ask for the Spanish exam without requesting a translator. If you only want the Spanish version, email exams@cslb.ca.gov before you pay PSI and ask them to confirm it in writing.
What does not change
The seven sections and their weights
13 / 15 / 20 / 12 / 21 / 5 / 14 — identical
Closed book
No reference materials allowed
Format
Multiple choice, four options, one BEST answer
Time
3 hours 30 minutes
Guessing
No penalty — answer every question
Calculator
Provided
Deadlines
21 calendar days between attempts; 18 months to pass
The weights come from CSLB's official Spanish study guide, which is a straight translation of the English one. See the full exam format
What does change: the words
The hard part of the Spanish exam is not the Spanish — it is the official terminology. These are the exact section names in CSLB's Spanish guide. If you studied in English, learn them in Spanish too: these are the words on the screen.
Organización del negocio y licencias
Business Organization and Licensing
Finanzas empresariales
Business Finances
Requisitos de empleo
Employment Requirements
Seguros y gravámenes
Insurance and Liens
Requisitos y ejecución del contrato
Contract Requirements and Execution
Obras públicas
Public Works
Seguridad
Safety
The same is true inside the sections: gravamen (lien), salarios prevalecientes (prevailing wages), requisitos de vinculación (bonding requirements), nómina de sueldos (payroll), licitación (bidding), costos generales y administrativos (general and administrative costs).
Every lesson and question we write uses these official terms, and you can switch languages at any time. See the bilingual glossary or start with Licensing requirements.
If your trade has no Spanish exam
You can bring a CSLB-approved translator. You find them yourself — a friend, a family member or someone you hire — but they cannot work in construction, real estate, finance, architecture, engineering or law. And the rules on exam day are strict.
- Your translator must show valid, non-expired government photo ID; without it you choose between sitting the exam alone or rescheduling.
- No dictionaries or translation tools, and the same prohibited-items list that applies to you applies to them.
- PSI monitors every conversation. If the translator prompts, explains or helps, your application is denied and you cannot take any CSLB exam for one year.
- A translated study guide is not a translated exam: CSLB publishes Spanish study guides for every classification.
FAQ
Can I take the Law and Business exam in Spanish?
Yes. CSLB offers a Spanish version of the Law and Business exam (Aspectos Legales del Negocio). In fact, if you request a translator for this exam, CSLB requires you to take the Spanish version instead of the English one.
How many CSLB exams are offered in Spanish?
Ten: Law and Business plus nine trade exams (B, C-8, C-9, C-15, C-27, C-33, C-36, C-39 and C-54). Every other trade exam is English-only, though you may request an approved translator.
Is the Spanish exam easier or shorter?
No. It is the same exam: the same seven sections with the same weights, closed book, four options with one BEST answer, and the same 3 hours 30 minutes.
How long does translator approval take?
CSLB reviews translator forms in the order received and says it can take four to six weeks. Request it before you schedule your exam.
Can my translator bring a dictionary?
No. Translators cannot bring any translation tools. If they get stuck on a word they may only say it in English — they cannot define or explain it.
Is there a Spanish study guide for my trade?
Yes. CSLB publishes a Spanish study guide for every classification, including ones whose exam is English-only. A translated study guide does not mean a translated exam.
Practice in the language you'll sit in
20 free questions spread like the real exam, with the official Spanish terms and every option explained.
Official sources: CSLB Examination FAQ · CSLB Spanish study guide (LAW) · CSLB study guide (LAW) · CSLB study guides · PSI Examination Information Guide