By Shauna Krause, President, Capitol Services
In with the new, out with the old, maybe? A new calendar year ahead often means changes both easy and challenging, so let me help sort some out for you!…
Q: I have put off getting my Nevada license until after the New Year because I have heard horror stories about the difficulty of obtaining a General over there. Is there any advice you can give me about the process and what I may want to consider before diving in to this?
A: What you’ve heard may or may not be true, however, it’s not easy to obtain a NV license! First, you will need to make sure that you are prepared to provide documentation regarding your work experience. General licenses are the most difficult to qualify for. Second, you will need to make sure you have financial information in order. If you plan to do projects over $250k, you will be required to provide a reviewed or audited financial statement with full disclosures dated within the last year. That can be difficult at this time since most companies’ year end is December 31st. Good luck and I’m here if you need any assistance with the process!
Q: I am a licensed contractor in California and I’m interested in obtaining the equivalent AZ license. The problem is I’m extremely busy and I don’t have the time to travel to accomplish this. How many trips do you anticipate I need to plan for?
A: Actually, I have good news! You will not need to make any trips to Arizona to obtain your license. Based on your California license, you will qualify for a Waiver of the Trade exam. You will be required to take the Statutes and Rules training course/exam, however it’s a web course so no need to travel anywhere. Most paperwork can also be signed online. You’ve started off on the right foot, by checking with an expert to dispel the mistaken information.
Q: I had a contractor’s license for my corporation which expired a couple of years ago. I filed for personal bankruptcy. I would like to get my license back, but have it just as a personal/Sole Owner license. Will the bankruptcy affect my ability to get licensed again?
A: There are some challenges, however a bankruptcy, in and of itself, does not prevent you from being able to get licensed in CA. There is a question on the new license application asking whether you have failed to resolve any outstanding final liabilities, which includes taxes, penalties, interest, and any fees assessed by the CSLB, the DIR, EDD, FTB, and BOE. If you have to answer ‘yes’ to this question, the CSLB requires that you provide an explanation and indicate a payment plan or whatever the case may be, but as long as you can answer ‘no’, you should be fine with moving forward.
While knowledge is power, knowing where to go for the answers is half the battle. Get expert assistance immediately when you call 866-443-0657, email info@cutredtape.com, or write us at Capitol Services, Inc., 3609 Bradshaw Rd, Ste H, #343, Sacramento, CA 95827. Search past columns at www.cutredtape.com