Should You Take Both Exams the Same Day?
Every contractor asks us this question: "Should I take the Law & Business exam and my trade exam on the same day?"
The quick answer from most people? "Sure, get it over with!"
Our answer? It depends—and most people get this decision wrong.
Let's Talk About What You're Actually Considering
Taking both exams the same day means:
- 7 hours of testing. Each exam is 3.5 hours. That's nearly a full workday of intense focus.
- 2 different types of material. Law & Business tests legal/regulatory knowledge. Your trade exam tests technical expertise.
- Mental exhaustion by exam two. Even if you're sharp during the first exam, you'll be drained by the second.
- Double the risk. Fail one, and you've wasted half your day—and $50+ in exam fees.
The Conventional Wisdom (And Why It's Often Wrong)
Most people—including other licensing schools—tell you to take both exams together because:
- "You're already in test-taking mode"
- "You only have to drive to the testing center once"
- "Get it all done in one day"
Here's what they don't tell you:
That advice assumes you're equally prepared for both exams. It assumes you're great at standardized tests. It assumes 7 hours of testing won't affect your performance.
For most contractors, those assumptions are wrong.
🔥 Our Controversial Take
Unless you meet specific criteria (which we'll cover below), you should NOT take both exams the same day.
Split them up. Take Law & Business first. Pass it. Then schedule your trade exam 2-3 weeks later.
Yes, this means two trips to the testing center. Yes, it takes longer. But your pass rate on both exams goes up significantly.
The Math Nobody Talks About
Let's look at the actual numbers:
Scenario 1: Taking Both Exams Same Day (Underprepared)
- Pass rate on Law & Business: 60%
- Pass rate on Trade exam: 70% (but reduced to ~55% due to fatigue)
- Chance of passing both: ~33%
- Most likely outcome: Pass one, fail one, or fail both
Scenario 2: Taking Exams Separately (Well-Prepared for Each)
- Pass rate on Law & Business: 75% (focused study)
- Pass rate on Trade exam: 80% (fresh, focused, targeted study)
- Chance of passing both: ~60%
- Most likely outcome: Pass both
Reality Check: When you fail an exam, you wait 3 weeks to retake it. You pay another $51.43. And you lose momentum.
Taking an extra 2-3 weeks to split the exams costs you time. Failing an exam costs you more time AND money.
The Case FOR Taking Both Exams Same Day
✓ Take Both If...
- You've studied 60+ hours for BOTH exams
- You consistently score 85%+ on practice tests for both
- You're naturally good at standardized tests
- You have strong test-taking stamina
- You've taken multiple 3+ hour exams before
- Your trade exam is considered "easier" (like C-61/D-49 which has no separate trade exam)
- You absolutely cannot afford two trips to the testing center
✗ Split Them If...
- You've studied less than 40 hours total
- You're scoring below 80% on practice tests
- You struggle with test anxiety
- You haven't taken a long exam in years
- You're weak on Law & Business material
- Your trade is technical and complex
- You need to pass on first attempt for business reasons
- You have any doubt about your preparation
What Actually Happens During 7 Hours of Testing
Let's walk through the reality of taking both exams the same day:
Hour 1-2 (Law & Business): You're fresh. You're sharp. You're doing well.
Hour 3 (Law & Business finish): Mental fatigue is setting in. Some questions are harder than expected. You're second-guessing yourself on the last 20 questions.
Break: You get maybe 10-15 minutes. Not enough to actually reset your brain. Just enough to worry about whether you passed the first exam.
Hour 4-5 (Trade exam start): You're tired. The questions are swimming. You're thinking about the Law & Business exam instead of focusing on the material in front of you.
Hour 6-7 (Trade exam finish): You're exhausted. You're making careless mistakes. Questions you would normally answer correctly, you're missing because your brain is fried.
The Result? You pass one exam and fail the other. Or worse—you fail both.
Not Sure If You're Ready?
Take our free readiness assessment. We'll tell you honestly whether you should take both exams together or split them up.
Get Free Assessment Our Exam Prep ProgramThe Decision Tree: Should YOU Take Both?
Use This Framework to Decide
Question 1: Have you studied at least 60 hours total (30+ per exam)?
If NO → Split the exams
If YES → Continue
Question 2: Are you scoring 85%+ on practice tests for BOTH exams?
If NO → Split the exams
If YES → Continue
Question 3: Have you taken a 3+ hour exam in the last 5 years?
If NO → Seriously consider splitting
If YES → Continue
Question 4: Do you have test anxiety or stamina issues?
If YES → Split the exams
If NO → Continue
Question 5: Is there any business reason you MUST pass both on first try?
If YES → Split the exams to maximize pass probability
If NO → You can reasonably take both
✓ If you made it through all 5 questions and answered favorably, you're a good candidate for taking both exams the same day.
✗ If you answered unfavorably to ANY question, split the exams. It's not worth the risk.
Real-World Scenarios
Who Should Take Both Same Day
55-year-old electrician. Has been studying 2 hours daily for 8 weeks. Scoring 90%+ on all practice tests. Took the PE exam 10 years ago. Comfortable with long tests. Verdict: Take both.
32-year-old general contractor. Just finished college 5 years ago. Aced SAT/GRE. Studies efficiently. Confident. Good stamina. Verdict: Take both.
Applying for C-61/D-49 (limited specialty with no separate trade exam). Only needs to pass Law & Business plus a basic exam. Lower difficulty. Verdict: Take both.
Who Should Split the Exams
48-year-old plumber with 25 years experience. Excellent at the trade but hasn't studied much. Hasn't taken a test since high school. Cramming the week before. Verdict: Split them—take Law & Business first.
38-year-old HVAC contractor. Gets nervous during tests. Tends to overthink. Already worried about passing. Verdict: Split them to reduce pressure.
Running a business full-time. Only studied 20 hours total. Hoping experience carries them through. Not confident about Law & Business. Verdict: Definitely split. Study more first.
Has a major project lined up that requires a license. Must pass first try or lose the contract. Can't risk failing. Verdict: Split exams and maximize preparation for each.
Our Recommendation Strategy
Here's what we tell our clients:
Default Position: Split the Exams
Take Law & Business first. Here's why:
- It's required for ALL contractors, regardless of classification
- It's typically the harder exam for most people
- It covers material you're less familiar with
- Getting it out of the way removes the biggest hurdle
Once you pass Law & Business:
- You've proven to yourself you can pass a CSLB exam
- You've experienced the testing format
- You can now focus 100% of your study time on your trade exam
- You go into your trade exam confident, rested, and focused
The Exception: Take Both if You're Truly Prepared
If you've studied extensively, score high on practice tests, and have good test-taking stamina, then taking both makes sense. You'll save time and knock it out in one day.
But this is the minority of applicants. Most people THINK they're prepared but actually aren't.
The Bottom Line
There's no participation trophy for taking both exams the same day. There's no bonus for suffering through 7 hours of testing. There's no prize for doing it the "fast" way.
The only thing that matters is passing both exams.
If splitting them up increases your probability of passing both—and it does for most people—then split them up.
Save the hero effort. Get licensed instead.
Final Thought: In 20 years of doing this, we've never had a client say "I wish I'd taken both exams the same day." We've had dozens say "I'm so glad I split them up." Learn from their experience.
Make the smart decision. Not the fast decision.