Arkansas General Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (ACLB) licenses general contractors statewide under Arkansas Code Title 17 Chapter 25 (Commercial Contractors) and Title 17 Chapter 38 (Residential Builders and Remodelers). Any contracting work valued at $50,000 or more — including labor and materials — requires an ACLB license. Arkansas issues three primary classifications: Commercial Contractor (any non-residential project of $50,000 or more), Residential Builder (new single-family homes), and Residential Remodeler (residential alterations of $2,000 or more). All applicants must submit a current financial statement, pass the PSI Arkansas Business and Law examination, and pass a trade examination matching the requested classification.

Regulatory Oversight

Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (ACLB) administers and enforces this credential under the authority of Arkansas Code Title 17 Chapter 25 (Contractors) and Title 17 Chapter 38 (Residential Building); ACLB Rules and Regulations. The Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (ACLB) licenses Commercial Contractors, Residential Builders, and Residential Remodelers statewide, sets financial responsibility standards, administers PSI examinations, and conducts disciplinary proceedings. ACLB enforces the $50,000 single-project threshold above which contracting work requires a state license.

Official portal: https://aclb.arkansas.gov/
Address: 4100 Richards Road, North Little Rock, AR 72117
Phone: (501) 372-4661

Who May Apply

To qualify, an applicant must have reached age 18 and hold a valid Social Security Number. No Arkansas residency requirement.

Good moral character

ACLB conducts a fitness review on every qualifying party. Felony convictions and prior license revocations are reviewed individually.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application; ACLB may request additional documentation.

Required Experience and Education

Eligibility here is not measured in years of experience but by no fixed minimum years of experience, but the qualifying party must demonstrate competence sufficient to pass the trade examination and ACLB reviews the financial statement and project history submitted with the application, per the cited materials.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

ACLB Project Experience form listing prior projects and dollar values
Reference letters from prior owners, architects, or general contractors
W-2 statements, 1099 records, or business tax returns covering the qualifying period

Education substitution

Accredited construction management or engineering coursework may be listed in support of the qualifying party but does not substitute for the examination.

Examination Requirements

Examinations are administered by PSI Services LLC (under contract to ACLB). The applicant must pass the following examination parts before the license can issue:

PSI Arkansas Business and Law Examination — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 70%
PSI Arkansas Trade Examination — Commercial Building, Residential Builder, or Residential Remodeler — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $80 per PSI exam part paid on the day of testing.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be re-taken individually by paying a new $80 fee. Each application remains valid for one year.

Insurance and Financial Requirements

The cited materials impose no contractor license bond for this credential. Bear in mind that specific contracts, permits, or public works can still require their own bonds.

General liability

ACLB does not impose a state-level general liability minimum. Most commercial owners contractually require $1,000,000/$2,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory in Arkansas under A.C.A. §11-9-101 et seq. for any contractor with three or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

Every applicant must submit a current financial statement. Commercial Contractors must submit a CPA-reviewed or audited statement showing minimum net worth of $15,000. Residential Builder and Residential Remodeler applicants may submit a compiled or self-prepared statement, but ACLB sets project value limits based on demonstrated net worth.

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$100
Examination	$160
Initial license	$300
Renewal (every year)	$300

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the Arkansas Commercial Contractor / Residential Builder / Residential Remodeler comes due every year. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $300. Arkansas contractor licenses renew annually. Updated financial statement required at each renewal.

Continuing education: Residential Builders and Remodelers must complete continuing education hours each renewal as set by ACLB rule (currently zero for Commercial Contractors).

Downloadable Asset

2026 Arkansas General Contractor License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and License Transfer

Arkansas accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Louisiana	Trade exam waived	Bilateral ACLB–Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors reciprocity for active commercial contractors in good standing.
Mississippi	Trade exam waived	Bilateral ACLB–Mississippi State Board of Contractors reciprocity.
Tennessee	Trade exam waived	Bilateral ACLB–Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors reciprocity.

ACLB accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination in lieu of the Arkansas Commercial Trade Examination. The Arkansas Business and Law examination is still required even when the trade exam is waived.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares General Contractor license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

Application Process, Step by Step

Choose the classification. Commercial Contractor (any non-residential project $50,000+), Residential Builder (new homes), or Residential Remodeler (residential alterations $2,000+).
Designate the qualifying party. The qualifying party must be a full-time employee, owner, or officer who will sit for the trade and business and law exams.
Prepare the financial statement. Commercial requires CPA-reviewed or audited statement with $15,000 minimum net worth. Residential allows compiled statements with project caps tied to net worth.
Submit the ACLB application. File the application with the fee, qualifying party designation, financial statement, project list, and proof of workers compensation.
Pass the PSI Business and Law exam at 70%. Required for all classifications.
Pass the PSI trade exam at 70% (or submit NASCLA score for Commercial). Commercial Building, Residential Builder, or Residential Remodeler trade exam.
Receive the ACLB license. ACLB issues the license after exams are passed and documentation is verified. License must be renewed annually.

Recommended References

These are the preparation and reference materials tied to this credential — cited by the regulator or widely used by applicants. CLR earns nothing from listing them.

Arkansas Contractor Licensing Law and ACLB Rules — Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board. Primary legal reference. Open-book at the PSI test center.
NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management — Arkansas edition — NASCLA. Standard reference for the business and law portion.
International Building Code (Arkansas-adopted edition) — International Code Council. Required for the Commercial trade exam.

Frequent Application Errors

Working from the cited board instructions, here are the snags most likely to trip up a Arkansas General Contractor filing.

Misreading the $50,000 threshold

The $50,000 threshold is per project and includes labor plus materials. Splitting one job into multiple contracts to stay under the threshold is treated as unlicensed contracting.

Submitting an inadequate financial statement

Commercial Contractors must submit a CPA-reviewed or audited statement. Self-prepared spreadsheets are rejected and delay the application by weeks.

Confusing Residential Builder with Residential Remodeler

Residential Builder authorizes new single-family construction. Residential Remodeler authorizes alterations of $2,000+. Doing new construction on a Remodeler license is unlicensed contracting.

Skipping the Business and Law exam after NASCLA

NASCLA waives only the Commercial trade exam. The Arkansas Business and Law exam is always required.

Letting the financial statement go stale

ACLB requires a current statement (typically dated within 12 months) at every renewal. A stale statement blocks renewal and forces reapplication.

Document Checklist

The most critical documents or confirmations the applicant should have in hand before filing with ACLB:

☐ ACLB application with fee and qualifying party designation
☐ Current financial statement (CPA-reviewed for Commercial; compiled acceptable for Residential)
☐ Project experience list and references
☐ PSI Arkansas Business and Law exam pass certificate at 70%+
☐ PSI Arkansas trade exam pass certificate (or NASCLA score for Commercial)
☐ Workers compensation coverage certificate for any contractor with three or more employees
☐ Certificate of good standing from the Arkansas Secretary of State (entities)

Other Arkansas Trade Licenses

Should the General Contractor path not apply, these other Arkansas trade guides from CLR may help:

Questions Applicants Ask

When do I need an Arkansas contractor license?

Any contracting work valued at $50,000 or more (including labor and materials) requires a Commercial Contractor or Residential Builder license. Residential remodeling work of $2,000 or more requires a Residential Remodeler license.

What are the three main Arkansas contractor classifications?

Commercial Contractor (non-residential projects of $50,000+), Residential Builder (new single-family homes), and Residential Remodeler (residential alterations of $2,000+). Each requires a separate trade exam.

Does Arkansas accept the NASCLA exam?

Yes. ACLB accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination in lieu of the Arkansas Commercial Trade Examination. The Arkansas Business and Law exam is still required.

What financial statement does Arkansas require?

Commercial Contractors must submit a CPA-reviewed or audited statement showing at least $15,000 net worth. Residential Builders and Remodelers may submit compiled statements but project value limits are tied to net worth.

How often does the Arkansas contractor license renew?

Annually. Renewal requires payment of the renewal fee and an updated financial statement.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-05-22 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-20