what do you have to do to get contractors license

Working every bit a general contractor tin can be a rewarding career for those looking to be their ain boss, but it also comes with several risks, which is why many states crave you to meet certain criteria before working. This might include obtaining licenses and/or registering with the appropriate authorities every bit well as taking steps to protect your business organisation with the right contractor insurance.

In many cases, Workers' Compensation coverage is required if you take employees, or, if you have subcontractors who your state would classify equally employees. In some cases, even if you lot employ contained contractors you could notwithstanding be required to bear Workers' Comp coverage. Many states also require General Liability Insurance and/or a Surety Bond to protect both contractors and consumers.

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The stardom between licensing and registration requirements can exist confusing — but information technology's a lot like the license and registration requirements you demand to have for your car or your work truck.

The licensing process usually requires passing a test to ensure a minimum level of competency while the registration process is simply a listing in a state registry. Keep in heed, it's also mutual for states to require proof of relevant piece of work feel or financial records.

Information technology should become without saying that making sure you comply with your state's standards is critical to the future success of your business. Not doing so could state yous in hot h2o with the authorities. Keep in listen, if y'all work in multiple states you lot may need to come across different work requirements.

Keep reading to learn more about the state-by-state requirements to obtain a general contractor license.

Full general Contractor License requirements past state

Alabama

Land license: Yep ; Registration: Yes

It is a requirement for General Contractors in Alabama to obtain a state license for maintenance, repair, demolition, construction, or alteration projects that exceed $fifty,000 for commercial projects. For residential projects, you need a license if the costs exceed $10,000. In improver:

• Licensing candidates must pass concern, trade, and police force exams.
• Proof of industry experience and net worth upon application.
• Proof of General Liability insurance.

Alaska

State license: Yes ; Registration: Yeah

There are 3 kinds of licenses awarded past the state of Alaska:

• General Contractor with Residential Contractor Endorsement: The contractor manages new home structure or undertakes residential projects college than 25% of the value of the structure.
• Full general Contractor without Residential Contractor Endorsement: The general contractor may undertake piece of work worth less than 25% of what the structure is valued at both for commercial or residential piece of work. No exam needed to be passed for this license.
• General Contractor Handyman: The contractor should exist qualified to perform residential or commercial work that is assessed at less than $10,000.

Furthermore, license applicants need to take a 16-hour common cold climate course, laissez passer an test, and must obtain General Liability and Workers Compensation insurance.

Arizona

Country license: Yes ; Registration: Yes

All general contractors must take a general contractor license.Arizona awards several classifications of licenses, such as:

• General Commercial Contractors
• General Residential Contractors
• Full general Dual License Contracting: A combination of residential and commercial contracting

To get whatever of the licenses mentioned above, you need to pass trade, business concern, and management exams, provide proof of at least iv years of professional feel, and be covered with a Surety Bond.

Arkansas

Country license: Yep ; Registration: Yep

General Contractors working in the country of Arkansas are required to have a contractor license issued past the land if the projection exceeds $2,000. There are several classifications issued past the Contractors Licensing Lath:

• Commercial License: Projects which are worth more than $l,000
• Restricted Commercial License: Commercial projects up to $750,000
• Residential Builders License: Single-family residences worth more than than $2,500
• Residential Remodeler Limited License: Dwelling house improvement work worth less than $50,000 per project
• Residential Remodeler Unlimited License: No restrictions on size or cost

Furthermore, proof of relevant piece of work experience is needed:

• Commercial contractors: five years minimum
• Residential builders: iv years minimum
• Residential remodelers: 2 years minimum

Additionally, licensing applicants must provide financial statements, laissez passer trade, business and police force exams, and provide proof of Workers Bounty coverage and proof of Surety Bond.

California

State license: Yes ; Registration: Yes

General Contractors in the state of California are required to obtain a license for projects worth more than than $500 from the California Contractors Land License Board. Yous'll need:

• Proof of at least 4 years of professional feel completed within the by 10 years.
• Laissez passer merchandise, concern, and constabulary exams.
• Provide proof of Surety Bond and General Liability insurance

Colorado

State license: No ; Registration: Check with City and County Government

General contractors are not required to obtain a license to piece of work in Colorado, merely there may exist local registration or licensing requirements.

Connecticut

State license: No ; Registration: Check with Urban center and County Government

General Contractors exercise not need a license to work in the state. However, if you work on home improvement projects, you are considered as a home comeback contractor (HIC) and will need to register with the land's Department of Consumer Protection.

Delaware

State license: No ; Registration: Check with City and County Authorities

Full general contractors do not demand a license to piece of work in the state; however, you lot might need to register your business at a local level.

Florida

State license: Aye ; Registration: Yes

At that place are several classifications of licenses within Florida, including:

• General Contractor: At least ane year of experience in construction work on buildings less than 4 stories high
• Edifice Contractor: Limited to the construction, remodeling, repair, or improvement of residential or commercial buildings that do not exceed iii stories in height.
• Residential Contractor: Express to work on residences that do not exceed 2 stories in meridian.

To obtain any of these licenses, applicants also need:

• To pass trade, business organization, and police force exams.
• At least 4 years of proof of relevant piece of work feel. If the bidder does not take plenty feel, it is possible to testify a combination of experience and education.
• To provide a financial argument also as proof of General Liability and Workers Compensation insurance.

Georgia

Land license: Yeah ; Registration: Yes

To obtain a license in the country of Georgia:

• Must be at least 21 years old
• Have a 4-year degree in a relevant field, or, a combination of relevant piece of work experience and education.
• Must bear witness financial statements and proof of insurance
• Pass trade, business, and law exams.

Hawaii

Country license: Yes ; Registration: Yes

If you lot plan on doing residential, commercial, or public works projects amounting to $1,000 or more, or projects that require a edifice permit you demand to obtain a license. Hither are some requirements you lot need to:

• Show proof of insurance, including Workers Comp if you have employees
• Pass business, constabulary, and trade exams.

Idaho

State license: No ; Registration: Yes

There is no country licensing requirement in Idaho, but if you plan on doing work worth more $2,000, you must be registered in the state via the Idaho Contractors Board.

Illinois

Land license: No ; Registration: Cheque with City and County Authorities

A full general contractor can work in Illinois without the need for a country license. Nevertheless, at that place may exist licensing requirements present in the local or canton level, so be sure to cheque your local government earlier you start accepting contracts.

Indiana

State license: Cheque with City and County Authorities ; Registration: Check with Urban center and County Government

You're not required to carry a state license, however, in that location may be license and registration requirements at the local level.

Iowa

State license: No ; Registration: Check with City and County Government

General Contractors can work in Iowa without a license, however, any general contractor who earns at least $two,000 annually is required to register with the state's Partition of Labor.

Kansas

State license: Check with City and County Government ; Registration: Check with City and Canton Government

A state license is non required for general contractors, but local municipalities may have licensing requirements. Make sure yous bank check with authorities in your local jurisdiction before you start work.

Kentucky

State license: Check with City and County Government ; Registration: Check with Urban center and County Government

While no country license is required, you should bank check with the appropriate authorities at the local level.

Louisiana

Country license: Yep ; Registration: Aye

General Contractors are required to have a license to work in Louisiana. The land awards two different types to consider:

Residential License:

This license is meant for general contractors in construction and home remodeling projects that are worth more than than $75,000. In gild to obtain this license yous'll demand to:

• Provide financial statements
• Show proof of insurance, similar General Liability and Workers Compensation
• Laissez passer trade, business organisation and constabulary exams

Commercial License:

This license covers commercial projects costing more than $50,000. In society to obtain this license you demand to:

• Submit financial statements
• Laissez passer trade, business organisation and law exams

Maine

State license: Check with City and County Government ; Registration: Cheque with City and County Government

General Contractors don't need to have a license to work in the country of Maine, just if yous accept domicile improvement or home construction projects worth more than $3,000, yous need a written contract. There may be licensing requirements at the city or county level then make sure to check before y'all get-go working.

Maryland

State license: Yes ; Registration: Yes

In Maryland, license applications are approved past the Domicile Improvement Commission. You'll need to provide the following data:

• Proof of at least 2 years of feel in construction, domicile comeback, or related manufacture
• Fiscal statements
• Present proof of insurance, including General Liability and Workers Compensation
• Pass trade, business concern, and law exams.

Massachusetts

Land license: Yeah ; Registration: Yep

You lot'll demand a license from the country if you programme to work as a contractor in Massachusetts. Some requirements you need to encounter include:

• Proof of Abode Comeback Contractor (HIC) registration to perform basic general contractor tasks on existing properties.
• For bigger projects on pending properties, yous need to hold a Construction Supervisor License.
• Show at to the lowest degree three years of experience in construction and design
• Pass an examination.

Contractors who work exclusively on new homes or on commercial buildings are exempt from getting a license.

Michigan

State license: Yep ; Registration: Yes

General contractors in Michigan need to obtain a Residential Builders License or a Maintenance & Alterations Contractors License in guild to work on projects that include repair, structure, alterations, or upgrades residential buildings or mixed-use buildings.

You lot need to meet the following requirements:

• Take a 60-hr licensure form, and pass an exam.

Commercial contractors, on the other manus, should contact local canton construction offices for licenses and permits.

Minnesota

Country license: Yes ; Registration: Yes

General contractors in the state of Minnesota demand to be licensed and registered with the land. Residential contractors or remodelers, notwithstanding, need to obtain a license but don't need to be registered at a state level.

In order to obtain a license you lot are required to:

• Show proof of insurance General Liability and Workers Bounty
• Pass trade, concern and police exams

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Mississippi

State license: Yes ; Registration: Yes

Whether you are a residential or commercial contractor, if your projects exceed $fifty,000 y'all are required by the state to concur a license. You as well need to:

• Testify proof of insurance like General Liability and Workers Compensation, if you have employees
• Pass merchandise, business organisation, and law exams

Missouri

State license: Check with Urban center and County Regime ; Registration: Check with City and County Authorities

General Contractors aren't required to hold a license, simply there may be a requirement at the city or county level. Bank check with local authorities before accepting contracts.

Montana

State license: No ; Registration: Yes

Licensing is not required in Montana, but if y'all have employees, you are required to register at the Department of Labor and Manufacture and provide proof of Workers Bounty insurance.

Nebraska

State license: No ; Registration: Yes

General Contractors don't need a state license to piece of work in the state of Nebraska, however, if you do any construction, alteration, renovations, installations, additions, or repairs, you are required to register with the state's Department of Labor.

Nevada

State license: Yep ; Registration: Yes

Any business or individual who constructs or alters any edifice, road, highway, parking facility, railroad, or any other structure is required to maintain a state license.

In order to obtain a license you are required to:

• Show proof of insurance
• Show proof of a Surety Bond
• Provide financial statements
• Bear witness proof of iv years of work experience inside the last x years in a related field.
• Pass merchandise, business, and law exams

New Hampshire

Land license: No ; Registration: No

There are no licensing requirements for general contractors in the country. Check your local jurisdiction for whatsoever boosted requirements.

New Jersey

Land license: No ; Registration: Yes

You are not required to obtain a license past the state, but, if you work on building, improving, or repairing homes you lot need to register with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.

New Mexico

Land license: Yes ; Registration: Aye

General contractors are required by the state to get a license. In that location are several classifications of licenses awarded by the New United mexican states Section of Regulation and Licensing. Make sure to apply for the ane that best suits your occupation. In near cases, in lodge to obtain your license yous volition be required to:

• Present proof of at to the lowest degree 4 years of experience. You can substitute 2 years of educational activity for work experience
• Pass law, trade, and business exams
• Testify proof of insurance

New York

State license: Check with City and County Government ; Registration: Check with Metropolis and County Regime

General Contractors aren't required to hold a state license in the state of New York, but there may exist local governments with their ain licensing requirements. Be sure of what they are before y'all start working.

North Carolina

State license: Yes ; Registration: Aye

General Contractors are required to have a state license to work if the projects exceed $30,000 in worth. There are many classifications of licenses such as:

• Edifice contractors
• Residential contractors
• Highway contractors
• Public utility contractors
• Special contractors

These classifications are further divided into limited and unlimited sections and these depend on the telescopic of the work that you programme to practice:

• Limited: projects worth less than $500,000
• Intermediate: projects worth less than $one,000,000
• Unlimited

Keep in listen, no matter what license you utilize for yous will need to pass trade, license, and lath exams.

Due north Dakota

State license: Aye ; Registration: Yes

All contractors are required to obtain a state license if the project exceeds $4,000. There are 4 classes of licenses depending on the value of the project:

• Class A: projection exceeds $500,000
• Form B: projection is less than $500,000
• Class C: project is less than $300,000
• Grade D: project is less than $100,000

In addition, no affair what license you apply for, yous need to testify proof of insurance.

Ohio

State license: Bank check with city and canton government ; Registration: Check with city and county government

In Ohio, licensing and registration is done at the local level, and then make sure yous check with the city or county where you are planning to piece of work every bit a contractor.

Oklahoma

Land license: Check with urban center and county regime ; Registration: Check with city and county government

General Contractors do non need to exist licensed or registered at a country level to work in Oklahoma. Still, you should bank check your local government's licensing and registration requirements before you start any project.

Oregon

State license: Yeah ; Registration: Yeah

The state of Oregon defines contractors as people who are paid to do construction piece of work that involves the improvement of real property.

You can employ for a commercial license, residential license, or a commercial and residential (dual) license. In lodge to apply in any of these categories you will be required to:

• Show proof of insurance
• Have a pre-license grooming class and laissez passer the test.
• If the project exceeds $100,000, you volition have to file for a Public Works Bond of $30,000 with the Structure Contractors Board (CCB). The bail needs to be filed before work starts.

Pennsylvania

State license: No ; Registration: Yes

Full general Contractors do non demand to exist licensed at a state level, but if the value of your annual home improvement projects exceeds $5,000 yous'll need to annals with the state's Attorney General'south Office.

The requirements depend on the city you operate in. Check the requirements of your local government earlier you start working.

Rhode Island

Country license: No ; Registration: Yes

Getting a license in Rhode Island is non required, but you do need to go through a registration process. Every contractor and subcontractor involved in commercial construction, home structure, remodeling, or repairs must register with the Registration and Licensing Lath. In order to complete your registration, you lot will need to:

• Consummate five hours of preparation courses
• Bear witness proof of Full general Liability with coverage of at least $500,000
• Show proof of Workers Compensation if you have employees

South Carolina

Land license: Yeah ; Registration: Yep

A state license is required if you are working on projects worth more than $five,000. The S Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation issues 2 main types of licenses depending on the type of work you want to perform:

• General Contractors License.
• Mechanical Contractors License.

In order to apply for your license you are required to:

• Nowadays an audited financial statement, or you lot can likewise submit a Surety Bond instead.
• Show proof of at least ii years of feel in a related field inside the last 5 years.
• Pass trade, business, and law exams.

Southward Dakota

State license: Check with city and county regime ; Registration: Cheque with city and county government

You don't need to be licensed at the state level, but local governments may have licensing requirements.

Tennessee

Country license: Yes ; Registration: Yep

You are required to agree a license before negotiating or behest for projects amounting to more than $25,000. This applies to any contractor who performs installation, structure, or repair of buildings, highways, land, public utilities, etc.

• Testify proof of at least 3 years of relevant piece of work feel
• Audited financial statements
• Pass business concern, trade, and constabulary exams

Texas

Country license: Bank check with city and canton government ; Registration: Check with urban center and county authorities

Texas does not require full general contractors to obtain a license. However, there may be licensing requirements at the local level, so exercise check with your urban center or county before you start accepting contracts. Keep in mind, if you contracting piece of work involves plumbing, electrical, or HVAC work you'll need a country license.

Utah

Country license: Yes ; Registration: Yes

A license is required if you practise any general contracting piece of work exceeding $3,000. The Full general Building Contractor License (B-100 license) is issued by the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing. Yous'll need to meet the following requirements:

• Show proof of insurance
• Provide financial statements
• At least 2 years relevant piece of work experience inside the last ten years
• Pass business concern, trade, and police force exams

Vermont

State license: Check with city and canton government ; Registration: Bank check with city and canton government

While yous don't demand a state license you lot should ever check with local authorities to make certain you're coming together their requirements.

Virginia

State license: Yes ; Registration: Yes

General Contractors are required to obtain a license awarded by the Section of Professional person and Occupational Regulations. There are iii classes of license yous tin choose from depending on the scope of piece of work you program to do:

• Grade A: Individual projects ranging from $10,000 to $150,000 annually. A minimum of 2 years of feel is required.
• Class B: Individual projects ranging from $120,000 to $750,000 a year. A minimum of 3 years of experience is required.
• Class C/Unlimited: A minimum of 5 years of experience is required, and you'll need to complete a pre-license teaching class approved past the Lath of Contractors and laissez passer the exams.

Washington

State license: No ; Registration: Yes

While in that location aren't whatever state licensing requirements in Washington, you'll need to enroll with the Washington State Department of Labor. To annals you lot'll need:

• Bear witness proof of a Surety Bond of at least $12,000
• Prove proof of insurance
• Pass board, merchandise, and business exams

W Virginia

State license: Yes ; Registration: Aye

All full general contractors are required to obtain a land license if the project exceeds $2,500. There are several license classifications you tin apply for depending on the work you lot practise.

You lot'll exist required to:

• Submit proof of insurance or proof of a wage bond
• Pass business organisation and law exams

Wisconsin

State license: Yes ; Registration: Yes

General Contractors are required to have a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier license if the projection exceeds $1,000. This can be for construction, home alteration, home improvements, commercial projects, and public projects. Some requirements y'all'll need to run into include:

• Completing a 12-hour course approved by the board and pass the exam
• Prove proof of insurance

Wyoming

Land license: Check with metropolis and canton government ; Registration: Check with city and county government

General Contractors are not required to take a land license to piece of work, however, licensing may be done at a city or county level, so make sure you check the requirements of your local jurisdiction before accepting projects.

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Source: https://www.coverwallet.com/business-tips/general-contractor-license

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