There are two ways of learning the building trade industry. One way is you can go to contractor license school. The second is through field experience. It takes both of these to excel in your chosen trade.

In a school, you have to learn the contractor license course. The contractor license course can cover a wide range of subjects related to the construction industry. This means you have to select which one of the 43 classifications of contract license you would want to specialize in.

The contractor license course are classified into 3 major groups, Class A, Class B and Class C. Class A is for general engineering contractor, Class B is for general building contractor and Class C is for specialty Contractor. Class C follows these sub classifications:

* insulation and acoustical, lathing and plastering, boiler, hot water heating and steam fitting, plumbing, framing & rough carpentry, refrigeration, cabinet, mill work and finish carpentry, roofing, low voltage systems, sanitation system, concrete, sheet metal, drywall, electrical signs, earthwork and paving

* solar, electrical (general), general manufactured housing, fencing, steel, reinforcing, flooring and floor covering, steel, structural, fire protection, swimming pool, glazing, tile (ceramic and mosaic), warm-air heating, ventilating and air conditioning, water conditioning, building moving and demolition, water well-drilling

* ornamental metals, welding, landscaping, lock & security equipment, masonry, construction zone traffic control, parking and highway improvement,

* painting and decorating, pipeline and limited specialty

The contractor license course includes the Class C Limited Specialty Subclassifications, which include the following:

* awnings, central vacuum systems, concrete-related services, drilling, blasting & oil field work, elevated floors, synthetic products

* hardware locks & safes, machinery & pumps, metal products, paperhanging

* doors, gates & activating devices, pole installation & maintenance, pile driving/pressure foundation jacking, pool & spa maintenance

* prefabricated equipment, scaffolding, sand & water blasting, siding & decking, service station equipment & maintenance, tree service

* sign installation, window coverings, suspended ceilings, trenching, wood tanks, air & water balancing, hydroseed spraying, construction cleanup

* weatherization & energy conservation and non specialized

Having to deal with all these subjects can be a headache so you must be able to look ahead and plan out your contractor license course. Here are some tips to make your contractor license course work for you:

1. Choose which contractor license course best suits you. If your good at installing roof, then take that one. If masonry is your forte, the go for that type of contractor license course.

2. Manage your time properly. Allow for enough study time on your contractor license course.

3. Don't limit yourself to what they teach in the contractor license course. Go to the library or online for some research. Find other contractors and talk to them about their opinions on construction problems.

4. Make case studies to further improve your studies. These cases can greatly supplement your contractor license course.

Not everything on the contractor license course can be accurate. As a future contractor, you should be updated with the latest practice and newest materials used in your trade. Consumer reviews and the Contractors Stale License Board is a good resource on the state of the industry.

The consumer only wants the best from the contractors. And anticipating the needs of those consumers by improving and modifying our contractor license course will not only give us a lot of business in the future but we can also build a stronger, sturdier country with our construction work.