All 50 states + DC · Updated 2026

Contractor license requirements by state

Every state classified: exam-based license, statewide registration, or local rules only.

Quick answer

US contractor licensing splits three ways: about half of states require an exam-based statewide license for general contractors (e.g., Florida, California, Georgia, North Carolina); a second group requires statewide registration without a full GC exam (e.g., Washington, Pennsylvania); and the rest — including Texas, Colorado and Kansas — have no statewide GC requirement at all, leaving rules to cities and counties. Specialty trades (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) are state-licensed almost everywhere regardless.

State license with exam required (24 states)

These are the states where exam prep applies — you must pass a state exam before you can be licensed.

Alabama
BOARD
Licensing Board for General Contractors
STATUS
GUIDE COMING
State license with exam for commercial work above a dollar threshold; NASCLA accepted.
Alaska
BOARD
Dept. of Commerce — Construction Contractors
STATUS
GUIDE COMING
State licensing; residential endorsement requires a cold-climate course and exam.
Arizona
BOARD
Registrar of Contractors (AROC)
STATUS
GUIDE COMING
License with trade + business exams for virtually all residential and commercial work.
Arkansas
BOARD
Contractors Licensing Board
STATUS
GUIDE COMING
License with Business & Law exam; commercial threshold $50,000, residential $2,000.
California
BOARD
Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
STATUS
GUIDE COMING
Class A/B/C licenses; law + trade exams; required for jobs over $1,000 (previously $500 — verify current).
District of Columbia
BOARD
DOB / DLCP
STATUS
GUIDE COMING
GC licensing in DC; verify current exam requirements.
Florida
BOARD
CILB / DBPR
STATUS
GUIDE LIVE
Certified (statewide) and registered (local) paths; three-part exam via Professional Testing; NASCLA accepted for trade parts.
Georgia
BOARD
State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors
STATUS
GUIDE LIVE
Business and Law exam + NASCLA trade exam via PSI; required over $2,500.
Hawaii
BOARD
Contractors License Board (PVL)
STATUS
GUIDE COMING
A/B/C licenses with exams; among the strictest licensing states.
Louisiana
BOARD
State Licensing Board for Contractors
STATUS
GUIDE COMING
Commercial license over $50,000, residential over $75,000; Business & Law + trade exams; NASCLA accepted.
Maryland
BOARD
MHIC / Dept. of Labor
STATUS
GUIDE COMING
Home improvement work requires MHIC license with exam; new construction differs.
Massachusetts
BOARD
Board of Building Regulations
STATUS
GUIDE COMING
Construction Supervisor License (CSL) exam for structural work; HIC registration for home improvement.
Michigan
BOARD
LARA
STATUS
GUIDE COMING
Residential builder license requires pre-license education and exam; commercial GC not state-licensed.
Minnesota
BOARD
Dept. of Labor and Industry
STATUS
GUIDE COMING
Residential building contractor license with exam; commercial generally not state-licensed.
Mississippi
BOARD
State Board of Contractors
STATUS
GUIDE COMING
Commercial over $50,000 and residential over $50,000 (verify thresholds); Business & Law exam; NASCLA accepted.
Nevada
BOARD
State Contractors Board
STATUS
GUIDE COMING
License with Business & Law + trade exams; bonds scale with contract volume; NASCLA accepted.
New Mexico
BOARD
Construction Industries Division
STATUS
GUIDE COMING
GB licenses with Business & Law + trade exams; NASCLA accepted.
North Carolina
BOARD
Licensing Board for General Contractors
STATUS
GUIDE COMING
License for projects $40,000+ (verify current threshold); limitation tiers; NASCLA accepted.
Oregon
BOARD
Construction Contractors Board (CCB)
STATUS
GUIDE COMING
CCB license requires pre-license training and an exam — registration-style but with a real test.
South Carolina
BOARD
Contractors Licensing Board (LLR)
STATUS
GUIDE COMING
GC license with Business & Law + trade exams above thresholds; NASCLA accepted.
Tennessee
BOARD
Board for Licensing Contractors
STATUS
GUIDE COMING
License for projects $25,000+; Business & Law + trade exams; NASCLA accepted.
Utah
BOARD
DOPL
STATUS
GUIDE COMING
GC licenses with Business & Law exam and pre-license course; NASCLA accepted.
Virginia
BOARD
DPOR / Board for Contractors
STATUS
GUIDE COMING
Class A/B/C licenses; pre-license course + exams depending on class; NASCLA accepted.
West Virginia
BOARD
Contractor Licensing Board
STATUS
GUIDE COMING
License with Business & Law + trade exams over $5,000 (verify threshold); NASCLA accepted.

Statewide registration (generally no GC exam) (13 states)

These states verify insurance, bonding and identity at state level but generally don't require a general contractor exam.

  • Connecticut — Dept. of Consumer Protection. Home improvement contractor registration; new home construction has separate rules.
  • Delaware — Division of Revenue. State business license and registration; no statewide GC exam.
  • Idaho — Contractors Board. Statewide registration; no GC exam (specialty trades licensed separately).
  • Iowa — Division of Labor. Contractor registration above an income threshold; no statewide GC exam.
  • Montana — Dept. of Labor & Industry. Construction contractor registration (with employees); no GC exam.
  • Nebraska — Dept. of Labor. Contractor registration; no statewide GC exam.
  • New Jersey — Division of Consumer Affairs. HIC registration moving to formal licensing under the 2026 Home Improvement and Home Elevation Contractors Licensing Act — watch this state.
  • North Dakota — Secretary of State. Contractor license for jobs over $4,000; class-based, no exam.
  • Pennsylvania — Attorney General (HICR). Home improvement contractor registration; no statewide GC exam; Philadelphia licenses locally.
  • Rhode Island — Contractors Registration Board. Registration with pre-education; limited exams; verify current rules.
  • Vermont — Office of Professional Regulation. Residential contractor registration (recent); no GC exam.
  • Washington — Labor & Industries (L&I). Contractor registration with bond and insurance; no GC exam.
  • Wisconsin — DSPS. Dwelling Contractor certification with qualifier course; verify exam requirements.

No statewide license — local rules apply (14 states)

No statewide general contractor license — but city and county rules often apply, and specialty trades are still state-licensed.

  • Colorado — No statewide GC license; cities and counties license (e.g., Denver requires an ICC exam).
  • Illinois — No statewide GC license (state licenses roofing/plumbing); Chicago and other cities license locally.
  • Indiana — No statewide GC license; licensing handled by cities/counties.
  • Kansas — No statewide GC license; county/city rules (e.g., Johnson County exams).
  • Kentucky — No statewide GC license; trades (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) licensed at state level.
  • Maine — No statewide GC license; some trades licensed; local rules apply.
  • Missouri — No statewide GC license; St. Louis, Kansas City and counties set rules.
  • New Hampshire — No statewide GC license; some trades licensed at state level.
  • New York — No statewide GC license; NYC and other municipalities license locally.
  • Ohio — GCs licensed locally; state OCILB licenses commercial specialty trades (electrical, HVAC, plumbing).
  • Oklahoma — No statewide GC license; trades licensed at state level.
  • South Dakota — No statewide GC license; electrical/plumbing licensed; local rules apply.
  • Texas — No statewide GC license or exam; cities (Austin, Dallas, San Antonio) run registration; state licenses electricians, plumbers, HVAC.
  • Wyoming — No statewide GC license; city/county rules apply.

Frequently asked questions

How many states require a general contractor license?

Roughly half of US states require an exam-based statewide license for general contractors, a further group requires statewide registration without a full exam, and the remainder (including Texas, Colorado and Kansas) leave general contractor rules entirely to cities and counties.

Which states have no statewide contractor license?

States with no statewide general contractor license include Texas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Wyoming, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Oklahoma, New York, New Hampshire, Maine, South Dakota and Ohio. Local cities and counties in these states often still require registration or local licenses, and specialty trades are usually still state-licensed.

What is the NASCLA exam and which states accept it?

The NASCLA Accredited Examination is a commercial general building contractor exam accepted by a long list of states — including Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia — so passing it once can satisfy the trade exam in many states. Each state still requires its own business/law exam.

Does registration mean the same thing as a license?

No. Registration states (like Washington or Pennsylvania for home improvement) verify identity, insurance and bonding but generally do not test competence with an exam. License-with-exam states test trade and business knowledge before you can work.

Classifications reflect general statewide rules for general/building contractors as of 2026 and are simplified — thresholds, categories and exam requirements vary within each state and change over time. Always verify with the state board before applying or bidding. The License Desk is an independent study resource.