GetTradeLicense

Contractor License Requirements
by State

Find out exactly what you need to get licensed — exam requirements, experience hours, fees, and reciprocity agreements — all in one place.

50

States Covered

5

Trade Types

Free

No Sign-Up Required

Set up the business before you apply

Most states license the company as well as the person, so the application usually asks for an LLC or corporation and a registered agent in that state. Northwest forms the entity and acts as your registered agent — a flat fee, no upsell funnel.

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Form an LLC with Northwest→

Available States

General contractor license requirement by stateTexas — No statewide licenseCalifornia — License requiredKentucky — No statewide licenseGeorgia — License requiredWisconsin — License requiredOregon — License requiredMissouri — No statewide licenseVirginia — License requiredTennessee — License requiredLouisiana — License requiredNew York — Registration, no examIdaho — Registration, no examFlorida — License requiredIllinois — No statewide licenseMontana — License requiredMinnesota — License requiredMaryland — License requiredIowa — Registration, no examDistrict of Columbia — License requiredWashington — Registration, no examSouth Dakota — No statewide licenseOhio — Registration, no examNebraska — Registration, no examIndiana — No statewide licenseMassachusetts — License requiredNevada — License requiredNorth Dakota — License requiredArkansas — License requiredMississippi — License requiredColorado — No statewide licenseNorth Carolina — License requiredUtah — License requiredOklahoma — No statewide licenseWyoming — No statewide licenseWest Virginia — License requiredSouth Carolina — License requiredMaine — No statewide licenseHawaii — License requiredAlabama — License requiredKansas — No statewide licenseRhode Island — License requiredConnecticut — Registration, no examMichigan — License requiredAlaska — License requiredDelaware — Registration, no examNew Mexico — License requiredVermont — No statewide licenseNew Jersey — Registration, no examPennsylvania — Registration, no examNew Hampshire — No statewide licenseArizona — License required
  • License required (28)
  • Registration, no exam (10)
  • No statewide license (13)
Colour shows the general contractor rule; electrician, plumber, HVAC and roofing rules are on each state page. Tap a state to open it.