California's Oldest Contractor School

Our history

Year	Our History
1953	Phillip Weiner founded Peerless for contractor-licensing educational publications
1973	Peerless registered its first publication Electrical Contractor C-10 publication by Peerless Institute in San Francisco
1980	Roy Smith, Jan Smith, and Herbert Schoen purchase Peerless Institute from Phillip Weiner to expand Peerless Institute
1984	Peerless begins opening in-person contractor schools in the Bay Area and Southern California, working with thousands of plumbers, electricians, and general contractors over the next 20 years
2005	The partnership becomes Peerless Institute LLC and shifts to a focus on study guides, creating physical books found in contractor schools and libraries all over California.
Today	Peerless now provides annually updated digital practice exams and study books across all trades in California

Where to start

Frequently asked questions

How long has Peerless operated?

Since 1953 — over seventy years.

Is Peerless a school with classrooms?

Not today. Peerless operates as a self-paced study materials provider: printed study guides and online practice exams.

Does Peerless cover every classification?

It covers Class A, Class B and a wide range of Class C specialities, though not every one of CSLB's classifications. Check the listings for your specific trade.

Is Peerless affiliated with CSLB?

No. CSLB states that schools and application preparation organisations are not affiliated with or agents of CSLB.

Sources

Peerless Institute is an independent exam prep provider and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). Always verify current licensing requirements, fees, and exam procedures with CSLB.