Idaho Contractor Licensing

Trade-by-trade licensing requirements for Idaho, sourced directly from the state regulatory board and maintained by Gabriel Giner, editor. We currently publish 18 published trade guides, with direct links to each underlying board, statute, or exam-provider resource.

Choose your trade

General Contractor
Idaho Contractor Registration and Public Works Contractor License
Verified 2026-09-04
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Electrician
Idaho Journeyman and Master Electrician License
Verified 2026-09-04
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Plumber
Idaho Journeyman Plumber and Plumbing Contractor
Verified 2026-09-04
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HVAC Technician
Idaho Journeyman HVAC and HVAC Contractor
Verified 2026-09-04
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Roofing Contractor
Idaho Contractor Registration — Roofing
Verified 2026-09-04
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Painting Contractor
Idaho Contractor Registration for Painting + EPA Lead RRP
Verified 2026-09-04
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Landscaping Contractor
Idaho Contractor Registration for Landscaping + ISDA Pesticide Rules
Verified 2026-09-04
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Masonry Contractor
Idaho Contractor Registration (Masonry) — Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses
Verified 2026-09-04
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Concrete Contractor
Idaho Concrete Contractor Registration — No Separate Concrete License
Verified 2026-09-08
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Carpentry Contractor
Idaho Contractor Registration (Carpentry)
Verified 2026-09-04
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Solar Installer
Idaho Limited Electrical Contractor — Solar Photovoltaic
Verified 2026-09-04
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Low-Voltage Technician
Idaho Limited Energy Electrical Contractor License
Verified 2026-09-04
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Fire Sprinkler Contractor
Idaho Fire Protection Sprinkler Contractor License
Verified 2026-09-04
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Home Inspector
No statewide home inspector license
Verified 2026-09-30
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Pool Contractor
Idaho Contractor Registration (general; no swimming pool/spa classification)
Verified 2026-07-10
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Handyman
Minor Work / Casual Exemption (Idaho Contractor Registration Act — under-$2,000 threshold, Idaho Code § 54-5205(2)(f))
Verified 2026-07-17
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Pest Control
Professional Applicator License (Industrial, Institutional, and Structural Pest Control category)
Verified 2026-07-28
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Septic Contractor
Basic or complex septic installer registration
Verified 2026-09-30
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Published guides: 18
Exam-backed: 10
Bond-backed: 4
Local / municipal: 9
Avg initial fee: $143

How licensing works in Idaho

Idaho is not a one-size-fits-all licensing market. Across the 18 guides currently live on this state hub, 10 require a formal trade examination and 4 require a surety bond before the credential can issue. 9 of the published entries rely on city, county, or municipal registration rather than a single statewide credential, so contractors need to confirm the local building department or business-license office before bidding work.

The point of this state page is to give you a fast read on the regulatory model before you dive into a specific trade. Start with the trades grid below if you already know your specialty. If you are comparing jurisdictions, use the cost calculator for first-year cost and the reciprocity matrix for license portability.

Main boards and agencies

Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses
DOPL is Idaho's umbrella occupational licensing agency, administering roughly 48 boards and professions including building code inspectors and the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC trades. It does not license or register residential home inspectors, and no DOPL board has jurisdiction over the home inspection profession; the agency's 'Inspectors' content pertains to building code officials under the Idaho Building Code Board, a separate role.
Open agency site
Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses — Idaho Electrical Board
The Idaho Electrical Board and DOPL issue electrical licenses and registrations, administer examinations through PSI, sell or coordinate electrical permits, conduct inspections, enforce the electrical statutes and rules, and publish the state’s license fees.
Open agency site
Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses — Idaho State Plumbing Board
Issues plumbing apprentice, journeyman, specialty, and contractor credentials; administers plumbing permits, inspections, and licensing.
Open agency site
Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses — Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Board
Issues HVAC apprentice, journeyman, specialty, and contractor credentials and administers the state HVAC permitting and inspection program.
Open agency site
Idaho Contractors Board
Registers qualifying contractors. Idaho calls this a registration, not a trade license.
Open agency site
Idaho Electrical Board
Issues electrical installer and contractor credentials, administers the electrical examination process, and oversees electrical permits and inspections within its jurisdiction.
Open agency site
Idaho State Fire Marshal — Department of Insurance
The Idaho State Fire Marshal licenses fire protection sprinkler contractors, administers the state exam route, receives plans in areas within its review process, and publishes license status information.
Open agency site
Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses — Electrical Board
DOPL issues limited electrical installer and limited electrical contractor licenses, administers the associated examination process, and regulates electrical permitting and inspections within its jurisdiction.
Open agency site
Idaho State Department of Agriculture, Division of Agricultural Resources (Pesticides Program)
The state agency that licenses and certifies professional (commercial) pesticide applicators, including structural pest control, and enforces the Idaho Pesticide and Chemigation Law. ISDA administers the core and category examinations, sets and collects license fees, requires proof of financial responsibility, and manages recertification.
Open agency site
Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses – Contractors Board (Idaho Board of Contractors)
Administers the Idaho Contractor Registration Act, registers contractors operating at or above the $2,000 threshold, verifies required insurance, and enforces registration requirements. Idaho requires registration, not a competency license; sub-$2,000 minor work is exempt.
Open agency site
Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses — Contractors Board
State contractor registration agency (the Idaho Contractors Board sits within DOPL) that administers the mandatory Idaho Contractor Registration Act. Idaho issues a general contractor registration only; there is no swimming-pool-specific state license or classification, so pool builders register under the general Act.
Open agency site
Idaho Contractors Board — contractor registration FAQ
Use this official state or local authority to confirm the concrete route, scope, and current filing requirements for the project.
Open agency site
Idaho DEQ / public health districts
Use the cited agency guidance for the named installer pathway and the authority responsible for each project.
Open agency site

Compare Idaho against other states

Every trade above also has a national comparison hub showing how Idaho's exam, bond, fee, and experience requirements stack up against the other 50 jurisdictions.

States bordering Idaho

Licensing rules change at the state line. Contractors bidding work across the border should review the neighboring hub before assuming Idaho's requirements carry over.

Best starting points in Idaho

Budget

Estimate first-year cost

Compare filing fees, bond premiums, insurance assumptions, and renewal cost before you apply.

Mobility

Check reciprocity pathways

See whether this state accepts NASCLA or uses bilateral reciprocity for the trade you hold now.

Research

Search related guides

Jump directly to linked state and trade pages if you are comparing multiple jurisdictions side by side.