About this C-45 — Sign Installation prep
This prep is built specifically for the C-45 — Sign Installation examination and includes a 18,000+-word study guide written for this exam, 4 full-length practice exams and 400 practice questions, each with a written explanation.
The C-45 Sign trade examination is administered by CSLB / PSI. Closed book. 100 Q / 210 min. Pass % not published. Mix on/after 6/1/2024: Planning 22, Design-Fab 20, Installation 26, Testing-Maintenance 16, Safety 16. C45StudyGuide.pdf. Not Law 115/73.. This prep is written to that board’s current scope, not to a generic national syllabus.
The real C-45 — Sign Installation exam contains 100 questions. Our practice exams mirror that structure so the format is familiar before you sit it.
Topics covered
- 1.5 Materials and Combustibility
- 3.2 Key UL 48 Requirements for Sign Contractors
- 4 California Electrical Code -- California Amendments
- 5 Codes & Standards -- Summary of Key Numbers
- 4 Quick Reference -- Code Section Index
- 5 Glossary of Key Terms
- 1.4 Disciplinary Grounds
- 5.2 Preliminary Notice (20-Day Notice)
- 4.1 Home Improvement Contracts
- 5.1 Who Can File a Mechanics Lien
- 1.2 License Requirements
- 1.3 License Renewal and Continuing Education
- 4.2 Commercial Contracts
- 4.3 Prohibited Contract Provisions
- 5 Mechanics Liens
- 5.5 Stop Payment Notice
- 6 Advertising Regulations
- 7 Unlicensed Activity
- 8 Employees vs. Independent Contractors
- 9 Permits and Inspections -- Legal Requirements
How access works
You are paying for access length (30, 60, or 90 days). The study guide and four timed exams are the same on every term. Access starts when you enrol and works on any device for that term.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by any state licensing board or exam vendor. For exam-preparation purposes only.
What is actually on the C-45 exam
CSLB divides the Sign (C-45) examination into five sections. These weightings are the Board’s own, taken from the study guide it publishes for this classification — they are not our estimate:
| Section | Share of exam |
|---|---|
| Planning and Estimating | 22% |
| Sign Design and Fabrication | 20% |
| Sign Installation | 26% |
| Testing, Maintenance, and Troubleshooting | 16% |
| Safety | 16% |
The C-45 examination is closed book — no reference materials may be used during the test. Questions are multiple choice with four options, and there is no penalty for guessing, so leave nothing blank.
This is only half of what you sit. Every applicant also passes the separate Law and Business examination, which is not part of the C-45 paper and is weighted on its own outline. Budget preparation time for both.
Source: CSLB Sign (C-45) examination study guide. Contractor Pathway is an independent exam-preparation provider and is not affiliated with or endorsed by CSLB.