Pass the Contractor License Exam on Your First Try.

Alabama (AL)

Licensing authority

Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors for commercial/industrial work over $50,000; the Home Builders Licensure Board licenses residential builders on homes over $10,000

State exam

Required — a Business & Law exam plus a trade/technical exam, administered by PSI; commonly ~70% to pass

Exam covers

Alabama contracting law, business and project management, safety, and trade-specific technical knowledge

Fee range

Roughly $200–$400 in application and exam fees (varies by license type and classification)

Alabama splits contractor licensing between two state boards — commercial general contractors and residential home builders.

Alaska (AK)

Licensing authority

Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing — a general contractor license (registration) is required

State exam

No general written exam — general contractors register with proof of insurance and bond; a residential-contractor endorsement requires an approved Alaska cold-climate ("arctic engineering") course instead of an exam

Fee range

Roughly $250–$400 in application and license fees, plus bond and insurance

Alaska registers general contractors rather than testing them; only trade licenses (electrical, mechanical) involve state exams.

Arizona (AZ)

Licensing authority

Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC)

State exam

Required — a Statutory & Regulatory (SRE / business-management) exam plus a trade exam for the chosen classification, administered by PSI; ~70% to pass

Exam covers

Arizona contracting statutes and rules, business and project management, plus trade-specific technical content

Fee range

Roughly $200–$580 in application, exam, and license fees, plus a recovery-fund assessment (varies by residential vs. commercial)

Arkansas (AR)

Licensing authority

Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board — commercial contractors on projects of $50,000 or more; residential work is overseen by the Board's Residential Contractors Committee

State exam

Required — a Business & Law exam (plus a trade exam for some classifications), administered by PSI; ~70% to pass

Exam covers

Arkansas licensing law, contracts, lien and business management, and trade-specific knowledge

Fee range

Roughly $100–$300 in application and exam fees (varies by commercial vs. residential)

California (CA)

Licensing authority

California Contractors State License Board (CSLB)

State exam

Required — two exams (Law & Business + a trade/classification exam), administered by PSI; closed-book

Exam covers

Contracts, licensing and lien law, safety, labor and financial management, plus trade-specific technical knowledge

Fee range

~$450–$700 in state application and issuance fees (excludes bond, fingerprinting, and exam retakes)

California licenses contractors statewide for any project of $1,000 or more.

Colorado (CO)

Statewide GC license

None — general contractors, HVAC, and roofers are licensed locally by cities and counties (e.g., Denver, Aurora)

State-licensed trades

Electricians and plumbers are licensed statewide by the Colorado Dept. of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) boards, each with its own state exam

Fee range

Varies by city; DORA trade exams and licenses run roughly $100–$200

Colorado has no statewide general-contractor license. General contracting is licensed locally; only electrical and plumbing are state-licensed.

Connecticut (CT)

Licensing authority

Connecticut Dept. of Consumer Protection — Home Improvement Contractor and New Home Construction Contractor registration

State exam

No exam for the contractor registrations; the licensed trades (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) are examined separately by DCP examining boards

Fee range

Roughly $120–$240 in registration fees, plus a Guaranty Fund contribution

Connecticut registers home-improvement and new-home contractors (no exam); only the trades are exam-licensed.

Delaware (DE)

Statewide GC license

None in the competency sense — general contractors buy a Delaware business license from the Division of Revenue (no exam)

State-licensed trades

Electricians, plumbers, and HVACR contractors are licensed by boards under the Division of Professional Regulation, each with a state exam

Fee range

About $75 for the contractor business license; trade exams and licenses vary

Delaware does not test general contractors — it requires a business license. Only the trades are exam-licensed.

Florida (FL)

Licensing authority

Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB)

State exam

Required for a Certified (statewide) license — Business & Finance plus trade/technical parts, delivered by Pearson VUE; open-book, 70% to pass

Registered vs Certified

"Registered" contractors use a local competency card instead of the state exam and can work only in that jurisdiction

Fee range

Roughly $275–$500+ in exam and application fees (varies by biennial cycle)

Georgia (GA)

Licensing authority

State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors, under the Georgia Secretary of State

State exam

Required — a Business & Law exam plus a residential or commercial (NASCLA) building/technical exam, administered by PSI

Fee range

Roughly $190–$340 in application and exam fees

Hawaii (HI)

Licensing authority

Hawaii Contractors License Board, under the Dept. of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA)

State exam

Required — a Business & Law exam plus a trade exam for the classification (A general engineering, B general building, or C specialty), administered by PSI; ~70% to pass

Exam covers

Hawaii contracting law, business and financial management, safety, and trade-specific technical content

Fee range

Roughly $100–$350 in application, exam, and licensing fees (billed on a biennial cycle)

Idaho (ID)

Licensing authority

Idaho Contractors Board, administered by the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) — registration required for work of $2,000 or more

State exam

No exam — general-contractor registration requires proof of liability insurance (and workers' comp) rather than a test; electrical, plumbing, and HVAC licenses are separate and do require state exams

Fee range

About $50 for the registration, plus insurance

Idaho registers general contractors (no exam); only the trades are examined.

Illinois (IL)

Statewide GC license

None — general-contractor licensing is local (e.g., the City of Chicago)

State-licensed trades

Plumbing contractors are licensed by the Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH); roofing contractors by IDFPR, each with its own state exam

Fee range

Varies by city and trade

Illinois has no statewide general-contractor license. Some trades are state-licensed; general contracting is licensed locally.

Indiana (IN)

Statewide GC license

None — general-contractor licensing is local (e.g., Indianapolis, Fort Wayne)

State-licensed trades

Plumbing contractors are licensed statewide by the Indiana Plumbing Commission (state exam); electrical and HVAC are generally licensed locally

Fee range

Varies by city and trade

Indiana has no statewide general-contractor license — general contracting is licensed by each municipality.

Iowa (IA)

Licensing authority

Iowa Division of Labor — Contractor Registration, required for anyone earning $2,000 or more per year from construction

State exam

No exam — registration requires an unemployment-insurance account and (for out-of-state contractors) a bond; electrical, plumbing, and HVAC are separately licensed with state exams

Fee range

$50 for the registration (out-of-state contractors also post a bond)

Iowa registers general contractors (no exam); competency exams apply only to the trades.

Kansas (KS)

Statewide GC license

None — Kansas licenses general contractors, and most trades, at the city or county level

State-licensed trades

There is no statewide contractor or trade license; check the local jurisdiction where you work

Fee range

Varies by city and county

Kansas has no statewide contractor licensing. Requirements are set locally (e.g., Wichita, Overland Park, Johnson County).

Kentucky (KY)

Statewide GC license

None — general contractors are licensed locally

State-licensed trades

HVAC, electrical, and plumbing contractors are licensed statewide by the Kentucky Dept. of Housing, Buildings and Construction (HBC), each with a state exam

Fee range

Varies by city; HBC trade licenses run roughly $100–$300

Kentucky has no statewide general-contractor license; only HVAC, electrical, and plumbing are state-licensed.

Louisiana (LA)

Licensing authority

Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors — commercial work of $50,000 or more and residential work of $75,000 or more

State exam

Required — a Business & Law exam plus a trade/classification exam; ~70% to pass

Exam covers

Louisiana contracting law, business and project management, and trade-specific technical knowledge

Fee range

Roughly $100–$350 in application and exam fees (varies by classification)

Maine (ME)

Statewide GC license

None — Maine does not license general contractors at the state level

State-licensed trades

Electricians and plumbers are licensed statewide by boards under the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR), each with a state exam

Fee range

Varies; trade licenses run roughly $100–$200

Maine has no statewide general-contractor license. Only electrical and plumbing trades are state-licensed.

Maryland (MD)

Licensing authority

Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC), under the Maryland Dept. of Labor — governs home-improvement/residential work; there is no separate statewide license for new commercial construction

State exam

Required for the MHIC contractor license — a business and Maryland home-improvement-law exam, administered by PSI; ~70% to pass

Exam covers

Maryland home-improvement law, contracts and consumer protection, and business/financial management

Fee range

Roughly $250–$400 in exam, license, and Guaranty Fund fees

Maryland licenses home-improvement contractors statewide through MHIC; new commercial construction is not covered by a single state license.

Massachusetts (MA)

Licensing authority

The Construction Supervisor License (CSL) is issued by the Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS); separately, Home Improvement Contractors register with the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation

State exam

Required for the CSL — an open-book exam on the Massachusetts State Building Code, administered by PSI; ~70% to pass. The HIC registration has no exam

Exam covers

The Massachusetts building code, business practices, and construction safety

Fee range

Roughly $150 for the CSL (exam + license); about $150 plus a Guaranty Fund fee for HIC registration

Massachusetts uses two credentials: a Construction Supervisor License (exam-based) and a Home Improvement Contractor registration (no exam).

Michigan (MI)

Licensing authority

Michigan Dept. of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Construction Codes

State exam

Required for Residential Builders and Maintenance & Alteration contractors — a Business & Law part plus a Practice & Trade part, via PSI. 60 hours of prelicensure education is required first

Fee range

Roughly $310 ($195 license fee + ~$117 exam)

Minnesota (MN)

Licensing authority

Minnesota Dept. of Labor and Industry (DLI) — Residential Building Contractor / Remodeler license

State exam

Required for residential contractors — an exam covering business, law, and trade practices; ~70% to pass

Exam covers

Minnesota building code and contracting law, business and financial management, and residential construction practices

Fee range

Roughly $300–$500 in exam and license fees, plus a Contractor Recovery Fund contribution

Minnesota licenses residential building contractors statewide; commercial general contracting is not covered by a single state license.

Mississippi (MS)

Licensing authority

Mississippi State Board of Contractors — commercial work of $50,000 or more and residential work of $10,000 or more

State exam

Required — a Business & Law exam plus a trade/technical exam; ~70% to pass

Exam covers

Mississippi contracting law, business management, safety, and trade-specific content

Fee range

Roughly $100–$300 in application and exam fees (varies by classification)

Missouri (MO)

Statewide GC license

None — Missouri licenses general contractors locally

State-licensed trades

There is no statewide contractor or trade license; requirements are set by each city or county

Fee range

Varies by jurisdiction

Missouri has no statewide contractor license. Licensing is handled by individual municipalities and counties.

Montana (MT)

Licensing authority

Montana Dept. of Labor and Industry — Construction Contractor Registration (or independent-contractor exemption)

State exam

No exam — registration requires workers' compensation coverage (or an exemption); electrical and plumbing licenses are separate and do involve state exams

Fee range

About $70–$125 for registration (varies by employee count)

Montana registers general contractors without an exam; the trades are licensed separately.

Nebraska (NE)

Licensing authority

Nebraska Dept. of Labor — Contractor Registration

State exam

No exam — contractors register (proof of workers' comp or exemption); trade and local licenses are separate

Fee range

About $25 for the state registration; local licensing and fees vary by city

Nebraska has no statewide general-contractor exam — only registration. Competency licensing (where required) is local or by trade.

Nevada (NV)

Licensing authority

Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB)

State exam

Required — a trade exam for the classification plus a Nevada Business & Law (construction management) exam, administered by PSI; ~70% to pass

Exam covers

Nevada contracting law, business and financial management, and trade-specific technical knowledge

Fee range

Roughly $300–$600 in application and exam fees, plus a bond scaled to your approved monetary limit

New Hampshire (NH)

Statewide GC license

None — New Hampshire does not license general contractors at the state level

State-licensed trades

Electricians and plumbers are licensed statewide by boards under the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC), each with a state exam

Fee range

Varies; trade licenses run roughly $100–$300

New Hampshire has no statewide general-contractor license — only electrical and plumbing are state-licensed.

New Jersey (NJ)

Licensing authority

New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs — Home Improvement Contractor registration; new-home builders register with the New Home Warranty program

State exam

No exam — home-improvement contractors register with proof of commercial general-liability insurance; HVACR contractors are separately licensed (with an exam) by a state board

Fee range

About $110 for the annual home-improvement registration, plus insurance

New Jersey registers home-improvement contractors (no exam); only certain trades, such as HVACR, are exam-licensed.

New Mexico (NM)

Licensing authority

New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Dept., Construction Industries Division (CID)

State exam

Required — a Business & Law exam plus a trade exam for the classification, administered by PSI; ~75% to pass

Exam covers

New Mexico construction law, business management, and trade-specific technical content

Fee range

Roughly $200–$400 in application and exam fees (varies by classification)

New York (NY)

Statewide license

None — contractor licensing in New York is local/municipal

Example (NYC)

New York City's Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) license, issued by the Dept. of Consumer and Worker Protection, requires a business/consumer-protection exam (not a technical trade exam)

Fee range

Varies by locality; the NYC HIC license and exam run roughly $75–$175 plus a trust-fund contribution or bond

New York has no statewide contractor license. Requirements differ by city and county (NYC, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, etc.).

North Carolina (NC)

Licensing authority

North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors (NCLBGC)

State exam

Required for the qualifier — a classification-specific exam (Building, Residential, etc.) via PSI; open-book, ~90 questions

Exam covers

Plans and specifications, the NC building code, cost estimating, ethics, and NC contractor/lien law

Fee range

Roughly $150–$205 (exam plus a tiered license fee: Limited, Intermediate, or Unlimited)

North Dakota (ND)

Licensing authority

North Dakota Secretary of State — contractor license, required for work of $4,000 or more

State exam

No exam — the license class (A, B, C, or D) is set by your insured net worth; trades such as electrical and plumbing are licensed separately by state boards

Fee range

Roughly $100–$450 depending on license class

North Dakota licenses general contractors by net-worth class, not by exam.

Ohio (OH)

Licensing authority

Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB), Dept. of Commerce

Scope

State license covers only 5 commercial trades — electrical, HVAC, plumbing, hydronics, and refrigeration. General/residential contractors are licensed locally

State exam

Required for the covered trades — a trade Technical exam plus a Business & Law exam, both via PSI

Fee range

Roughly $95–$170 in application and exam fees (a $500K liability insurance policy is also required)

Oklahoma (OK)

Statewide GC license

None — general-contractor licensing is local

State-licensed trades

Electrical, plumbing, mechanical (HVAC), and related trades are licensed statewide by the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board (CIB), each with an exam; roofing contractors register with the CIB

Fee range

Varies by city; CIB trade exams and licenses run roughly $75–$250

Oklahoma has no statewide general-contractor license. The mechanical trades are state-licensed; roofers register.

Oregon (OR)

Licensing authority

Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB)

State exam

Required — pass the CCB exam after 16 hours of pre-license training; ~70% to pass

Exam covers

Oregon contracting law, licensing and lien rules, business and tax basics, and worksite safety

Fee range

Roughly $250–$350 (training, exam, and a two-year license fee), plus a surety bond and liability insurance

Pennsylvania (PA)

Statewide GC license

None — home-improvement contractors register with the PA Attorney General; general-contractor licensing (where it exists) is local

Exam

No exam — registration is administrative

Fee range

About $100 for a 2-year registration (required if you perform more than $5,000/year in home improvements)

Rhode Island (RI)

Licensing authority

Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board (CRLB)

State exam

No exam for general registration — applicants complete a mandatory pre-registration education course; commercial and specialty trades have additional requirements

Fee range

About $200 for a two-year registration, plus the education course

Rhode Island registers contractors (no general exam); the emphasis is on education, insurance, and bonding.

South Carolina (SC)

Licensing authority

South Carolina Dept. of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) — the Contractor's Licensing Board for commercial work and the Residential Builders Commission for residential work

State exam

Required — a Business Management & Law exam plus a trade/technical exam (often the NASCLA exam for commercial); ~70% to pass

Exam covers

South Carolina contracting law, business and financial management, and trade-specific technical knowledge

Fee range

Roughly $100–$300 in application and exam fees (varies by commercial vs. residential and license group)

South Dakota (SD)

Statewide GC license

None — there is no statewide general-contractor competency license (a Contractor's Excise Tax license from the Dept. of Revenue is a tax registration, not a competency license)

State-licensed trades

Electricians and plumbers are licensed statewide by the South Dakota Electrical Commission and Plumbing Commission, each with a state exam

Fee range

Varies by city; trade licenses run roughly $75–$200

South Dakota has no statewide general-contractor license — only the excise-tax registration plus state-licensed electrical and plumbing trades.

Tennessee (TN)

Licensing authority

Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors — required for projects of $25,000 or more (any amount for HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and roofing)

State exam

Required — a Business & Law exam plus a trade/classification exam, administered by PSI; ~70% to pass

Exam covers

Tennessee contracting law, business and financial management, and trade-specific technical content

Fee range

Roughly $100–$250 in application and exam fees, plus a financial statement to set your monetary limit

Texas (TX)

Statewide GC license

None — Texas does not license general contractors at the state level; GCs register with individual cities

Trade licenses

Electricians and HVAC technicians are licensed by TDLR (exams via PSI); plumbers by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (exams via Pearson VUE)

Fee range

Varies by city and by trade license

There is no single Texas general-contractor license. Only specific trades are state-licensed; general contractors register locally.

Utah (UT)

Licensing authority

Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL)

State exam

Required — a Business & Law exam plus a trade exam for the classification (e.g., B100 General Building), preceded by a pre-license course; ~70% to pass

Exam covers

Utah construction law, business and financial management, and trade-specific technical knowledge

Fee range

Roughly $200–$400 in application and exam fees, plus the pre-license course

Vermont (VT)

Licensing authority

Vermont Office of Professional Regulation (OPR), under the Secretary of State — Residential Contractor registration, required for residential work of $10,000 or more

State exam

No exam — registration requires general-liability insurance ($1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate); electricians and plumbers are separately licensed with state exams

Fee range

$75 for individuals or $250 for businesses (registration), plus insurance

Vermont's residential-contractor program is a registration (no exam), backed by insurance rather than testing.

Virginia (VA)

Licensing authority

Virginia Board for Contractors, under the Dept. of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) — Class A, B, or C by project/annual dollar value

State exam

Required for Class A and Class B — a trade exam plus completion of a pre-license course; Class C has no exam; ~70% to pass

Exam covers

Virginia contracting law and regulations, business and project management, and trade-specific content

Fee range

Roughly $100–$385 in application and exam fees (varies by class)

Washington (WA)

Licensing authority

Washington State Dept. of Labor & Industries (L&I) — contractor registration (General or Specialty)

State exam

No exam — registration requires a surety bond and general-liability insurance; electricians and plumbers are separately certified with state exams

Fee range

About $125–$150 in registration fees, plus a $30,000 GC bond and insurance

Washington registers general contractors without an exam; only the trades (electrical, plumbing) are examined.

West Virginia (WV)

Licensing authority

West Virginia Division of Labor, Contractor Licensing Board

State exam

Required — a Business & Law exam plus a trade exam for the classification; ~70% to pass

Exam covers

West Virginia contracting law, business and safety practices, and trade-specific technical content

Fee range

Roughly $90–$150 in application and exam fees (plus contractor registration)

Wisconsin (WI)

Licensing authority

Wisconsin Dept. of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) — Dwelling Contractor and Dwelling Contractor Qualifier credentials for one- and two-family homes

State exam

No exam — the Dwelling Contractor Qualifier requires a 12-hour approved course instead of a test; electrical, plumbing, and HVAC are separately licensed with state exams

Fee range

Roughly $100 for the Dwelling Contractor + Qualifier credentials, plus the 12-hour course

Wisconsin certifies dwelling contractors via coursework (no exam); general commercial contracting is not covered by a single state license.

Wyoming (WY)

Statewide GC license

None — Wyoming licenses general contractors locally (e.g., Cheyenne, Casper)

State-licensed trades

Electricians are licensed statewide by the Wyoming Dept. of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety (state exam); most other trades are licensed locally

Fee range

Varies by city and county

Wyoming has no statewide general-contractor license. General contracting is licensed locally; electrical is state-licensed.

Washington D.C. (DC)

Licensing authority

D.C. Dept. of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) — General Contractor/Construction Manager license and Home Improvement Contractor license

State exam

No trade exam for the General Contractor/Construction Manager business license; Home Improvement Contractors must post a $25,000 bond and pass a criminal background check

Fee range

About $654 for the General Contractor/Construction Manager license; about $288 for the Home Improvement Contractor license

D.C. licenses contractors as a business/consumer-protection credential (bond and background check) rather than through a technical trade exam.