Bond of Qualifying Individual ($25,000)
Required, in addition to the contractor's bond, when a license is qualified by a Responsible Managing Employee, or by a Responsible Managing Officer who owns less than 10 percent of the voting stock.
This is the bond amount (penal sum), not your premium. The premium is a fraction of it, set by the surety and quoted before you buy.
Who needs it: Licenses qualified by an RME (always), or by an RMO who owns under 10% of the corporation's voting stock. An RMO at 10% or more files an exemption instead.
What CSLB requires
- A $25,000 Bond of Qualifying Individual is required when the license is qualified by a Responsible Managing Employee (RME).
- It is also required when the license is qualified by a Responsible Managing Officer (RMO) who does not own at least 10 percent of the corporation's voting stock.
- An RMO who owns 10 percent or more files a Bond of Qualifying Individual Exemption Certification instead of a bond. Federally recognized tribes are also exempt.
- The BQI is filed in addition to the $25,000 contractor's bond; it does not replace it. If a license has more than one qualifier, each qualifier must meet the bonding requirement.
- It is required when the license is issued, reactivated or renewed, and the same 90-day receipt and cancellation rules apply as for the contractor's bond (B&P §7071.9).
Source: CSLB bond requirements and bond suspension pages, reviewed October 23, 2026. Requirements can change; confirm at cslb.ca.gov.
Questions about this bond
My RMO just bought into the company. Can we drop the bond?
If the RMO now owns 10 percent or more of the voting stock, the corporation can file the exemption certification with CSLB and the bond can be cancelled once CSLB accepts it. Don't cancel the bond first; a gap suspends the license.
We're adding an RME to add the C-36 classification. What do we need?
An RME always requires a Bond of Qualifying Individual, on top of the contractor's bond already on file. Order it when you file the application so CSLB receives it within 90 days of the effective date.
Who is the principal on a BQI?
The qualifying individual, not the company. The bond guarantees that person's compliance with the license law while they qualify the license. It is still purchased and paid for through the business in practice.
Is the premium the same as the contractor's bond?
Usually similar, because it is the same amount, but it is underwritten on the qualifier's history. The surety quotes it before you buy.
Request your contractor bond
Online quoting and purchase through our surety partner is being activated. Until then, a licensed Pembroke producer handles each request personally, usually the same business day. No payment is collected on this page.
Surety bonds are underwritten and issued by surety companies licensed by the California Department of Insurance, placed through Pembroke Insurance Solutions, a licensed insurance agency. Plumbers Pro is a service of Pembroke and is not a surety company. The bond amount (penal sum) is the surety's maximum liability under the bond, not the premium you pay; the premium is set by the surety based on underwriting and is quoted before you buy. Approval is not guaranteed. Bond requirements are set by the Contractors State License Board and can change; verify current requirements at cslb.ca.gov.