Arkansas Masonry Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Arkansas does not issue a standalone masonry classification. The Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (CLB) under ACA §17-25 licenses commercial contractors for projects of $50,000+ and residential contractors for projects of $2,000+. Masonry contractors qualify under the Commercial Building Construction (Limited or Unlimited) class with a Masonry subclass designation, or under the Residential Builders / Residential Remodelers limited class for smaller residential work. This page documents the verified path including the AR CLB business and law exam, financial statement, and silica compliance.

Regulatory Body Profile

Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (ACLB) is the statutory authority responsible for issuing and enforcing this license under 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

The Eligibility Audit

Eligibility begins with two baseline checks: the applicant must be 18 or older and must provide a valid Social Security Number. No Arkansas residency requirement; out-of-state entities must register with the Arkansas Secretary of State.

Good moral character

CLB reviews prior license discipline and character. Outstanding judgments bar issuance.

Background investigation

Criminal history disclosure required on the application.

Experience and Education Standards

The experience bar is 2 years of verifiable masonry experience installing brick, CMU, stone veneer, mortar, flashing, and weeps under a licensed contractor or as a self-employed masonry contractor below thresholds, and it must be backed by verifiable records — typically payroll, tax, project, or supervisor documentation covering the claimed period.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

CLB experience verification signed by licensed contractor supervisors
Project list with addresses, owner contacts, and dates
W-2, 1099, or payroll records

The Exam Syllabus

The exam, administered by PSI Services LLC under contract to AR CLB, breaks into the parts shown below — all must be passed before licensure:

Arkansas Business and Law Examination — 50 questions, 135 minutes, passing score 70%
NASCLA Accredited Masonry Examination — TMS 402/602, IBC Chapter 21 (commercial unlimited only) — 100 questions, 330 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $80 Arkansas business and law plus $219 NASCLA masonry exam paid to PSI.

Retake policy: Failed sections may be retaken with a new fee. The CLB application remains valid for one year.

Bonding, Insurance & Financial Security

There is no statewide surety bond tied to this credential in the cited record. Bonding can still surface at the project level — permit, license, or public-works bonds — so check before you bid.

General liability

No state minimum, but the CLB verifies a current GL certificate at application. Most owners require $1,000,000 per occurrence.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory in Arkansas under ACA §11-9 for any contractor with three or more employees, but the CLB requires it on every commercial application regardless of headcount. Masonry NCCI 5022 carries a high manual rate.

Additional financial requirements

Commercial Building Unlimited requires a CPA-reviewed or audited statement showing $50,000 net worth; Limited requires $5,000–$25,000. Residential Builder requires $5,000.

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$100
Examination	$299
Initial license	$100
Renewal (every year)	$100

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The Arkansas Masonry — AR Contractors Licensing Board (Commercial/Residential Subclass) runs on a year renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $100. Arkansas CLB licenses renew annually on the anniversary date. Late renewal incurs a $25 penalty plus possible reinstatement requirements.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Out-of-State Reciprocity

For this classification, Arkansas recognizes the NASCLA Accredited Examination.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Mississippi	NASCLA exam	NASCLA accredited exam scores accepted for trade portion.
Tennessee	NASCLA exam	NASCLA accredited exam scores accepted for trade portion.
Louisiana	NASCLA exam	NASCLA accredited exam scores accepted by LSLBC.

Arkansas is a NASCLA accredited state — passing the NASCLA Commercial Masonry exam waives the trade portion in 16+ partner states.

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

The Application Roadmap

Determine the threshold. Commercial $50,000+ requires the CLB Commercial Building license; residential $2,000+ requires the Residential Builder license.
Form an Arkansas entity. Register your LLC or corporation with the Arkansas Secretary of State and obtain an EIN.
Document two years of masonry experience. Compile signed verifications and project lists for the CLB application.
Pass the Arkansas Business and Law exam. Score 70% or better on the 50-question state business and law exam.
Pass the NASCLA Masonry exam (commercial unlimited only). Score 70% or better on the NASCLA accredited masonry exam.
Submit CPA-reviewed financial statement. File the application with the financial statement matching the requested classification net worth.
Submit CLB application with insurance. File the application, $100 fee, current GL certificate, workers comp certificate, and exam scores.
Receive license and post insurance. CLB issues the license; maintain GL, workers comp, and silica written exposure control plan continuously.

Recommended Study Materials

The following references are cited by the regulator, used in the application process, or commonly used to prepare for the trade scope. Listed for reader convenience; CLR receives no compensation for these recommendations.

NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management — Arkansas edition — NASCLA. Required reference for the Arkansas business and law exam.
TMS 402/602 Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures — The Masonry Society. Adopted by reference under IBC Chapter 21.
International Building Code Chapter 21 — Masonry (Arkansas-adopted edition) — International Code Council. Arkansas adopts the 2021 IBC statewide.

Pre-Application Checklist

Before submitting to ACLB, the applicant should have each of the following ready:

☐ Arkansas Secretary of State entity registration
☐ EIN and DFA tax account
☐ Two years of documented masonry experience
☐ Arkansas Business and Law exam pass certificate (70%+)
☐ NASCLA Masonry exam pass certificate (commercial unlimited)
☐ CPA-reviewed financial statement at required net worth
☐ GL and workers compensation certificates
☐ OSHA silica written exposure control plan

Where Applications Stall

These are the recurring mistakes that most often delay or reject a Arkansas Masonry application, based on the official instructions cited here.

Underclassifying the license

Taking a $200,000 masonry job under a Commercial Limited classification triggers immediate suspension; volume must match the requested classification.

Self-prepared financial statement

CLB rejects compiled or self-prepared statements. Only CPA-reviewed or audited statements satisfy the net worth requirement.

Residential / commercial confusion

A Residential Builder license does not authorize commercial masonry work even on small jobs. The two classifications are independent.

Silica plan absent on site

OSHA targets masonry sites in Little Rock, Fayetteville, and NW Arkansas. Missing 29 CFR 1926.1153(g) plans draw immediate citations.

Workers comp lapse during winter

Many masonry contractors pause January–February; lapsed comp triggers automatic CLB license suspension.

Other Arkansas Trade Licenses

Looking at a different trade? CLR also publishes these Arkansas licensing guides:

Common Questions

Does Arkansas have a standalone masonry license?

No. Masonry falls under the Commercial Building Construction or Residential Builder classification at the CLB.

What thresholds trigger licensing?

$50,000 for commercial building and $2,000 for residential under ACA §17-25.

Is the NASCLA exam accepted?

Yes. Arkansas accepts the NASCLA Commercial Masonry exam for the Commercial Building Unlimited classification.

What financial statement is required?

Commercial Unlimited requires a CPA-reviewed or audited statement showing $50,000 net worth. Limited requires $5,000–$25,000.

Does Arkansas enforce OSHA silica?

Federal OSHA enforces 29 CFR 1926.1153 in Arkansas; written exposure control plan and Table 1 controls are mandatory on every masonry site.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-06-12 · Next scheduled review 2026-09-10