What "Susp - No Qualifier" means on a California contractor license
Updated November 1, 2026 · Primary status
CSLB's license page wording: "License is under suspension for Lack of Qualifier."
Suspended because the qualifying individual left and was not replaced within the 90 days the law allows.
- 217licenses statewide
- 0.1%of all licenses in the file
- 185with a California address
Every contractor license rests on a qualifying individual: the person whose qualifications the license was issued on. For a company, that is often not the owner. When the qualifier leaves, the business has a limited window to name someone new.
That window is 90 days under B&P Code §7068.2. If no replacement is in place by the end, the license is "automatically suspended or the classification removed." CSLB's page for this status reads: "License is under suspension for Lack of Qualifier."
Before the deadline passes, the record usually shows qualifier replacement pending instead. Once it reads as a suspension, the license is not valid for contracting until a new qualifier is approved and the record is updated.
What to do if a contractor you're considering shows this status
- Don't hire under this license while the suspension stands.
- Ask the company who its new qualifier will be and when CSLB expects to approve the change.
- Look the license up again before signing to confirm a qualifier is listed and the status is clear.
Always confirm the current status on CSLB's Instant License Check; it can change between our weekly refreshes.
Legal basis
Counties with the highest rate
| County | Licenses with this status | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara County | 20 | 0.2% |
| Sutter County | 1 | 0.2% |
| Tuolumne County | 1 | 0.2% |
| Los Angeles County | 57 | 0.1% |
| San Diego County | 24 | 0.1% |
| Orange County | 17 | 0.1% |
| Riverside County | 11 | 0.1% |
| Contra Costa County | 7 | 0.1% |
| Sacramento County | 6 | 0.1% |
| Alameda County | 5 | 0.1% |
Counties with at least 300 licenses. Rate = share of local licenses showing this status.
City and trade lists where it is most common
- Licensed roofers in Santa Rosa: 2 of 46 (4.3%)
- Licensed general engineering contractors in Stockton: 2 of 65 (3.1%)
- Licensed structural steel contractors in Bakersfield: 1 of 41 (2.4%)
- Licensed concrete contractors in Redding: 1 of 41 (2.4%)
- Licensed flooring contractors in Redding: 1 of 44 (2.3%)
- Licensed painters in Sylmar: 1 of 44 (2.3%)
- Licensed plumbers in Chatsworth: 1 of 46 (2.2%)
- Licensed general contractors in Lake Arrowhead: 1 of 46 (2.2%)
- Licensed general contractors in Thousand Palms: 1 of 46 (2.2%)
- Licensed electricians in Carmichael: 1 of 45 (2.2%)
We started tracking week-to-week changes with the November 1, 2026 file. Trend data will appear here as history builds up.
Source: CSLB public data · Updated November 1, 2026 Status can change at any time. Verify on CSLB's Instant License Check.