How can I get a contractor's lic. in less than four years?

[ForTheArborist]

I'm in CA, and the rules are so that you need 4 years of experience to get their CL #, so you can legally take jobs for more than $500. The book says you can get in the door with less than 4 years experience if you just take some educational courses.

Has anybody had any experience with this? Their clerical people can't tell me anything, and I assume if get some cert.s for climbing and other areas of the expertise, they'll knock a few months or years off of the 4 yr requirement. I'd like to get some specific examples of this in action though.

 

[StihlRockin']

I'm thinking you were on the right track asking the clerical people. This time call or go to the same department, but talk to someone in the know and ask them specific examples you need. Don't give up so easily. I think the answers you seek are there. Just get beyond those clericals. Persist!

Another thing, I know you're starting out, but you can learn and gain a lot of information just by using the phone. I can recall back in the day when I started out. By the time I got the ball rolling, I was an expert on the phone. LOL!

Best of luck on your ventures.

StihlRockin'

 

[ForTheArborist]

Thanks.

I'm going to get a piece of the cake here. I'm learning that patience is key to getting ahead. Also a lot of planning and confidence judging my competition.

 

[Hddnis]

You need to get a copy of the law and any agency rules. Then read them yourself again and again until you know them better than the agency. Almost all laws like that have a way to get it sooner. The state won't help you figure that out, you have to be smart enough on your own.



Mr. HE

 

[capetrees]

http://www.contractorschool.com/?sr...cense school&gclid=CLGOo4OygZ0CFeFM5Qod2keqaw

I took a similar class in MA a few years ago. We don't have the 4 year requirement but the class was a big help in understanding the book. Best $495 I spent that year.

I just looked at the requirements section of the website. It says you need 4 years experience to qualify and self employment counts. How can self employment count if you need a license to be IN the industry?? If that's the case, have a neighbor or cousin vouch for your years of experience with old "bills". Who's going to check?

 

[pdqdl]

Wow.

In Missouri, you don't need any sort of license, much less any qualifications.

You can sell tree work out of your backpack while riding a bicycle through a neighborhood. You should, however, be prepared to wave your handsaw as evidence that you are properly equipped to do the work.

 

[ozarktreeman]

Wow.

In Missouri, you don't need any sort of license, much less any qualifications.

You can sell tree work out of your backpack while riding a bicycle through a neighborhood. You should, however, be prepared to wave your handsaw as evidence that you are properly equipped to do the work.

That,s funny.Actually have a guy in town that does just that.
When he get,s the job shows up in a honda civic and modified boat trailer.
Oh well whatever it takes i guess.

 

[ForTheArborist]

Hell, I started out in my Kia Optima, and I hired out from the craig's list to have the debris hauled away. When my car was out of commision, I ended up hiking it to the jobs with a Navy duffle bag on my back on the bus/trolley system. Some times I had to take two trips to get all the gear there.

Got to have a lot of bearing to stake your claim this way. Lot of skeptics wouldn't understand that style of doing it.:Eye::Eye::Eye: Nobody ever said anything to me about it anyway, so I made it through those times just fine.

I was still heavily into my baseball team and college when I was starting out, so I didn't have the money to pick up a truck. The thing was that I was fascinated with the idea of climbing those suckers and cutin' 'em down, and then I was thrilled about the fact they were going to pay me for it.
:jawdrop:

Hell, I found out this was better than driving a bike cab in fking traffic in down town. Cash for the ability to handle bad ass, balls out work. Not only that, I get to choose who's on my team or if I even want a team or not in the tree show. Now I don't even have to lug people with my bike cab and play like I'm Mr. door mat to the customers for tips. This is the job the job that gave me the leg strength for this job. I can do multiple mile runs like it's nothin' because of that one.

 

[pdqdl]

It sounds like you have found your calling.

Your experience also documents what I have been telling people for years: tree climbers are generally high-risk takers that are willing to accept loss of life in exchange for money.

It is my opinion that this is why so many tree climbers are ne'er-do-wells with a criminal background. It would seem that they made poor choices in the type of excitement they were willing to exchange for money.

 

[ForTheArborist]

It sounds like you have found your calling.

Your experience also documents what I have been telling people for years: tree climbers are generally high-risk takers that are willing to accept loss of life in exchange for money.

It is my opinion that this is why so many tree climbers are ne'er-do-wells with a criminal background. It would seem that they made poor choices in the type of excitement they were willing to exchange for money.

:chainsawguy:WADJU CALL ME?



I just didn't think I was weak enough to climb. I had been bulk hard into baseball for several years by the time I opted for this field of work. I'd have climbed for free. I was made for it, and I still am.

The only crime I've got in my back ground was when a had a few to drink (I rarely drink especially hardly ever to get drunk), and I fell on my butt in a store. I think I fell on my butt while I was looking at items on the shelves. Anyway, the woman owner flipped her script, and had me leave. I couldn't understand that, and really couldn't grasp the fact I fell on my ass and stood right back up until the next day. I was hardly older than 20 and in college at the time.

Anyway, she would give me an answer, and finally she had her guy bounce me out. Well, I was still trying to correct my dignity when he gave me a shove towards the doors. I sawed his head off with all the bad words, sucker punched him, and grabbed his necklace(cheap, plastic P.O.S.). Things were kind of foggy as I recollect, and I stuck around for more with the sloth. Police arrive with the guy sitting on me to detain, and me holding the guy's necklace. Strong armed robbery. That's what I was charged.

Say all you want, but I wasn't going to get pushed around for free that day you know. Bulk headedness. That's all that was.

 

[M.D. Vaden]

Just ask the license board staff. You may be spinning your wheels on a forum. Even a right suggestion should be verified.

I was on the Oregon landscape contractors board, which was part of the contractors board until we separated. And even after 6 years of being a board member, I still call the office with questions. Just like last week asking about CEUs. A suggestion was offered to buy a business book and write a report if I wanted to spare paying for a class. If there are options, they should know about it.

For just a contractor license in Oregon for just tree work, I don't think there is an experience requirement, but there is a small test and some learning stuff involved. Don't know the specifics though. But one or two phone calls would get all the answers here.

 

[newsawtooth]

Interesting

It sounds like you have found your calling.

Your experience also documents what I have been telling people for years: tree climbers are generally high-risk takers that are willing to accept loss of life in exchange for money.

It is my opinion that this is why so many tree climbers are ne'er-do-wells with a criminal background. It would seem that they made poor choices in the type of excitement they were willing to exchange for money.

Compelling observation pdqdl, there does appear to be something about the business that attracts that personality. Is it causal or symptomatic? I don't know. The notion that the reward is not worth the worst of the consequences is very true. When talking about risk/ reward in dangerous occupations the serious injuries or fatalities are never worth the reward. We do those tasks anyway, as safely as we can, but rationally we shouldn't. What is it that we hope to accomplish other than making money? There is either another reward that is less tangible or a disconnect between what we recognize as risky behavior and the consequences. I digress.

 

[ASD]

I'm in CA, and the rules are so that you need 4 years of experience to get their CL #, so you can legally take jobs for more than $500. The book says you can get in the door with less than 4 years experience if you just take some educational courses.

Has anybody had any experience with this? Their clerical people can't tell me anything, and I assume if get some cert.s for climbing and other areas of the expertise, they'll knock a few months or years off of the 4 yr requirement. I'd like to get some specific examples of this in action though.

Hire some one with a lic. and they can be the MRE for your co. have them add you to their lic. and in for years you can let them go and the CSLB will give you a lic. based on the fact that you have run a co. for over 4 years

 

[pdqdl]

Compelling observation pdqdl, there does appear to be something about the business that attracts that personality. Is it causal or symptomatic? I don't know. The notion that the reward is not worth the worst of the consequences is very true. When talking about risk/ reward in dangerous occupations the serious injuries or fatalities are never worth the reward. We do those tasks anyway, as safely as we can, but rationally we shouldn't. What is it that we hope to accomplish other than making money? There is either another reward that is less tangible or a disconnect between what we recognize as risky behavior and the consequences. I digress.

It's not that complicated.

Look at all the people that gamble with their lives all the time just for the recreation. I think that everyone needs a little excitement in their life, it's just a matter of how much each individual needs. People who are adrenaline junkies for a living have a much bigger problem with unnecessary risk acceptance than your average office worker.

I have refined my opinion a little bit more than most folks about risktakers. [Keep in mind this opinion is not true for everyone!]: those adrenaline junkies that are more inclined towards higher education or perhaps are seeking public respect (in addition to the regular adrenaline fix) tend to pursue more traditional jobs like fireman, policeman, ambulance driver. Those individuals who might perhaps not fall into that social sphere of highly respected occupations tend towards jobs like tree climbers, roofers, steeple jacks, or other dangerous jobs that pay well.

 

[ForTheArborist]

A couple of years in the trees is a great job on resume if you are looking for character whether in the office or otherwise.

Heck, if fellas can handle a few years up there without messing up, they have some mental tenacity. They're going to be quick to the creative stick. Steady and bold to the gold medal, etc.

If I had to too choose between a climber with adequate college experience and a non-climber with college experience and some experience in the office work which I'd be hiring for, I would pick the climber. Buy the biggest heads.

Climbing in trees like this will make a mind much more realistic than otherwise. Those are the ones that are going to do what ever better.

This goes without mentioning the fuc* of*s that exist in every occupation though. :blob5: