Arkansas Pool Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Arkansas licenses swimming pool and spa construction as the 'Swimming Pools, Spas' SPECIALTY classification granted under the state commercial (and residential) contractor license issued by the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (CLB), a board within the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing. There is no standalone pool-only license: a builder qualifies for the specialty classification within a commercial or residential contractor license rather than obtaining a separate pool credential. A commercial contractor license is required for projects of $50,000 or more. To hold the classification the applicant must document at least one year of pool/spa experience through three sworn references, pass the Arkansas Contractor Business & Law examination administered by PSI, post a $10,000 surety bond, and file a CPA-prepared financial statement. Public swimming pools and spas are separately regulated by the Arkansas Department of Health, which handles plan review and permitting distinct from the contractor license covered here.

Regulatory Body

Under Ark. Code Ann. § 17-25-101 et seq. (commercial); § 17-25-501 et seq. (residential); § 17-25-401 (bond); CLB Rules 224-25 (Act 150), Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (ACLB / CLB) is the body that issues this license and enforces compliance with it. State licensing board within the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing that issues the commercial and residential contractor licenses under which the 'Swimming Pools, Spas' specialty classification is granted.

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

Eligibility Requirements

This guide does not establish a minimum applicant age; confirm any age requirement with the issuing authority. Applicants must provide a Social Security Number. No Arkansas residency requirement; out-of-state applicants may apply, and reciprocity is available for Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The $10,000 bond must be executed through an agent licensed by the Arkansas Insurance Department.

Good moral character

Assessed through three sworn work-experience references (who may not be relatives or affiliates) plus disclosure of failed projects, unpaid materials or labor, liens/judgments, and any prior discipline.

Background investigation

The application requires criminal background disclosure, and the affidavit authorizes the Board to obtain and review a criminal background check. Applicants must disclose any felony or non-traffic misdemeanor, bankruptcies within the last 10 years, sex-offender registration, and disciplinary history. A 'yes' answer does not automatically disqualify.

Disqualifying conditions

• No per se disqualifying offense list is published; felony and misdemeanor convictions are individually reviewed and do not automatically bar licensure

Experience and Education

Eligibility requires 1 year of At least one year of experience in the requested specialty. 'Swimming Pools, Spas' is a Specialty classification requiring 1 year of experience; major classifications such as Building require 5 years., documented and independently verifiable. Payroll, tax, project, and supervisor records are the usual proof the board will accept.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

• Three completed sworn Reference forms (pages 8-10 of the application) from non-affiliated persons with firsthand knowledge, detailing specific pool/spa projects, dollar amounts, and dates

Education substitution

None specified in board materials.

Exam Requirements

Testing provider or authority: PSI (register at test-takers.psiexams.com/arconst; PSI 855-257-1620). The following examination requirements cover the pathways described in this guide; follow each part's classification, waiver, and local-scope conditions. Unpublished format details do not remove an examination requirement:

• Arkansas Contractor Business & Law (required; open book, multiple choice, based on the NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Arkansas Edition) — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score: confirm in the current candidate bulletin
• Swimming Pools, Spa - Commercial (PSI trade content outline; open book; REQUIRED status unconfirmed against CLB sources) — 30 questions, 75 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $84 (Business & Law); the Swimming Pools/Spa trade exam registration fee was not published in the materials reviewed, and that trade exam's required status is unconfirmed

Retake policy: Not specified in board materials; exam fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Insurance and Bonds

Licensure is conditioned on filing a $10,000 contractor license surety bond with the ACLB / CLB.

General liability

Not required by the Contractors Licensing Board.

Workers' compensation

Required if the applicant has one or more employees; a current certificate of workers' compensation coverage must be provided.

Additional financial requirements

A CPA-prepared financial statement is required: a Compiled report for a Restricted Commercial license, or a Reviewed/Audited statement for an Unrestricted Commercial license. The net worth requirement for a specialty classification is $5,000, of which one-half ($2,500) must be cash in the bank. A Surety Bond in Lieu of Financial Statement may be substituted (this does not replace the separate $10,000 bond).

Fee Schedule

To turn these board fees into a realistic year-one budget — bond premium, liability insurance, and exam prep included — open the cost calculator preloaded for Arkansas pool contractor.

Renewal and Continuing Education

Expect to renew the Swimming Pools, Spas (specialty classification under the Arkansas Commercial/Residential Contractor License) every year. The cited materials name no distinct statewide fee for renewal. Renewal is annual. The reported ~$50 commercial renewal fee is not confirmed against a primary board fee schedule, so confirm the current amount with the Board (numeric field set to 0). A current CPA financial statement less than one year old is required at renewal, and the commercial license expiration date is set by the date of that statement; the $10,000 bond is continuous until cancelled.

Continuing education: None required by the Contractors Licensing Board.

Reciprocity

Arkansas does not accept the NASCLA Accredited Examination for this classification.

Arkansas has reciprocal agreements with Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Reciprocal applicants still file a full new application, the $10,000 bond, and a financial statement, but the Arkansas Business & Law exam is waived. The NASCLA Accredited commercial exam is NOT accepted for this trade in lieu of the state process; NASCLA is only the reference text for the Business & Law exam.

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

Pool Contractor Licensing in Neighboring States

Contractors working near a state line, or weighing where to qualify first, should compare Arkansas's requirements against the bordering jurisdictions before committing to an application:

• Louisiana Pool Contractor License Requirements — Swimming Pools (commercial classification 1.13, subclassification of Building Construction) / Residential Swimming Pools (classification 9.1, subclassification of Residential Construction)
• Mississippi Pool Contractor License Requirements — Swimming Pools (specialty classification under a Commercial Certificate of Responsibility)
• Missouri Pool Contractor License Requirements — No statewide swimming pool / spa contractor license (pool construction is licensed and permitted locally by Missouri city and county building departments)
• Oklahoma Pool Contractor License Requirements — No state swimming pool & spa construction license (Oklahoma issues no general or pool-specific contractor credential)
• Tennessee Pool Contractor License Requirements — Contractor License with the Swimming Pools (BC-26) building-category classification
• Texas Pool Contractor License Requirements — No state swimming pool/spa contractor license (Texas issues none; pool construction is governed by local building permits and, for public pools, DSHS design standards)

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

1. Confirm the classification and license type you need. Pool building is the 'Swimming Pools, Spas' specialty classification under a commercial or residential contractor license. A commercial license is required for projects of $50,000 or more; confirm the residential thresholds against A.C.A. § 17-25-501 et seq.
2. Document one year of pool/spa experience. Obtain three completed sworn Reference forms (application pages 8-10) from non-affiliated persons with firsthand knowledge, listing specific pool/spa projects, dollar amounts, and dates.
3. Pass the Arkansas Business & Law exam with PSI. Register at test-takers.psiexams.com/arconst and sit the open-book, 50-question, 2-hour exam ($84) based on the NASCLA Arkansas Edition guide. Verify with the Board and PSI whether the separate Swimming Pools/Spa trade exam is required for your file.
4. Obtain the $10,000 surety bond and CPA financial statement. Post the $10,000 contractor bond in the exact company name and EIN through an Arkansas-licensed agent, and prepare a CPA Compiled (Restricted) or Reviewed/Audited (Unrestricted) statement meeting the $5,000 specialty net worth, with $2,500 in cash.
5. Submit the complete application to the Board on time. File the $100 non-refundable application with references, exam results, bond, Power of Attorney, and financial statement at least three weeks before a Board meeting; the file must be completed within 90 days of receipt or a new application and fee are required.
6. Add workers' compensation and receive the license. Provide a current workers' compensation certificate if you have employees. The license is not released until the bond, Power of Attorney, and passing Business & Law score are on file.

Application Checklist

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

• Verify whether your projects fall under the commercial license ($50,000+ threshold) or a residential specialty classification
• Gather three sworn Reference forms documenting at least one year of pool/spa experience
• Register with PSI and pass the open-book Arkansas Business & Law exam ($84), or qualify for a reciprocity/military exemption
• Obtain a $10,000 surety bond in your exact company name and EIN through an Arkansas-licensed agent, plus a Power of Attorney
• Have a CPA prepare the required financial statement meeting the $5,000 net worth ($2,500 cash) specialty threshold
• Provide a current workers' compensation certificate if you have one or more employees
• Submit the $100 non-refundable application at least three weeks before a Board meeting and complete the file within 90 days

Progress is saved in this browser, so you can return to this checklist while your application is in flight.

Common Filing Mistakes

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

Assuming a separate pool license exists

Arkansas has no standalone pool credential; you must qualify for the Swimming Pools, Spas specialty under a commercial or residential contractor license, which brings the full bond and financial-statement requirements.

Treating the trade exam as clearly required or clearly optional

The PSI Swimming Pools/Spa trade outline exists, but CLB sources do not confirm it as a required step. Do not skip verification: contact the Board and PSI to learn exactly which exams apply to your application.

Relying on unverified fee figures

Only the $100 filing fee, $84 exam fee, and $50 late fee are board-sourced. The ~$50 annual renewal is not confirmed against a primary fee schedule, and no separate issuance fee was found — verify all current amounts with the Board before budgeting.

Missing the Board meeting and 90-day deadlines

A complete application must be received at least three weeks before a Board meeting and must be finished within 90 days of receipt, or a new application and fee are required. The license is not released until the bond, Power of Attorney, and passing exam score are on file.

Study and Reference Materials

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.

• NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management (Arkansas Edition) — NASCLA. Reference text the Arkansas Business & Law exam is based on; runs about $78-$88. The exam is open book, so bringing the tabbed guide is advantageous.
• PSI Exam Content Outline — Arkansas Swimming Pools, Spa (Commercial) — PSI. Free official outline covering filtration/circulation, maintenance and operation, accessories/associated trades, pool repairs, and safety. Confirm with the Board whether this trade exam is required.

Other Arkansas Trade Licenses

If the Pool Contractor license is not the right fit, the following published Arkansas trade guides are also covered by CLR:

• Arkansas General Contractor License Requirements
• Arkansas Electrician License Requirements
• Arkansas Plumber License Requirements
• Arkansas HVAC Technician License Requirements
• Arkansas Roofing Contractor License Requirements
• Arkansas Painting Contractor License Requirements
• Arkansas Landscaping Contractor License Requirements
• Arkansas Masonry Contractor License Requirements
• Arkansas Concrete Contractor License Requirements
• Arkansas Carpentry Contractor License Requirements
• Arkansas Solar Installer License Requirements
• Arkansas Low-Voltage Technician License Requirements
• Arkansas Fire Sprinkler Contractor License Requirements
• Arkansas Home Inspector License Requirements
• Arkansas Handyman License Requirements
• Arkansas Pest Control License Requirements
• Arkansas Septic Contractor License Requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a standalone pool contractor license in Arkansas?

No. Arkansas grants pool building as the 'Swimming Pools, Spas' specialty classification under a state commercial or residential contractor license issued by the Contractors Licensing Board, not as a separate pool-only credential. Both verifiers confirmed this against the official CLB Commercial New Application.

Do I have to pass a swimming pool trade exam?

The Board's own application checklist and Testing-Info list only the Arkansas Business & Law exam plus documented experience as testing requirements. PSI does publish a 'Swimming Pools, Spa - Commercial' trade content outline (30 questions, 75 minutes, 70% to pass, open book), but whether passing it is a required licensing step is unconfirmed. Verify directly with the Board and PSI before relying on it.

How much experience do I need for the pool specialty?

At least one year of experience in the Swimming Pools, Spas specialty, proven with three completed sworn Reference forms from non-affiliated people with firsthand knowledge of your specific pool/spa projects, dollar amounts, and dates. Major classifications such as Building require five years, but this specialty requires only one.

What bond and financial requirements apply?

All commercial contractors must post a $10,000 surety bond in the exact company name and EIN, executed by an Arkansas-licensed agent. A CPA-prepared financial statement is also required (Compiled for Restricted Commercial, Reviewed/Audited for Unrestricted), showing the $5,000 specialty net worth with $2,500 in cash. A Surety Bond in Lieu of Financial Statement may substitute for the statement but not for the $10,000 bond.

Does Arkansas offer reciprocity for out-of-state pool contractors?

Yes, with Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Reciprocal applicants still file a full new application, the $10,000 bond, and a financial statement, but the Arkansas Business & Law exam is waived. Most partners require the license to have been held at least one year, and North Carolina reciprocity only covers mapped classifications such as Swimming Pools.

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