Pennsylvania Carpentry License Requirements (2026)

Pennsylvania regulates residential carpentry through the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (HICPA, 73 P.S. §517.1 et seq.) administered by the Office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General Bureau of Consumer Protection. Any contractor who performs $5,000 or more of home improvement work per calendar year on residential property must register as a Home Improvement Contractor before performing the work. Carpentry — additions, decks, framing repairs, finish work — is squarely within scope. There is no trade exam, but registrants must hold $50,000 commercial general liability insurance, pay a $50 annual fee, and use the statutory written contract on any project over $500. New residential construction is exempt from HICPA but Philadelphia and Pittsburgh require additional municipal contractor registration.

Federal requirement: EPA Lead RRP Rule

Renovation, repair, or painting that disturbs paint in pre-1978 housing is regulated nationwide under the federal EPA Lead RRP Rule — regardless of whether Pennsylvania licenses this trade. See our complete EPA RRP Lead Certification guide for who needs firm and renovator certification, what it costs, and how renewal works.

Governing Authority

Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General — Bureau of Consumer Protection, Home Improvement Contractor Registration (PA OAG HIC) administers and enforces this credential under the authority of Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, 73 P.S. §517.1 et seq. (Act 132 of 2008). The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General administers the statewide Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration program under HICPA. Pennsylvania does NOT issue a statewide general contractor, electrician, plumber, or HVAC license — all trade licensing happens at the municipal level. HIC registration is a consumer-protection filing, not a competency license: there is no exam, no experience requirement, and no trade testing. It is mandatory for any contractor performing residential home improvement work totaling more than $5,000 in a calendar year.

Official portal: https://hic.attorneygeneral.gov/
Address: Strawberry Square, 14th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone: (717) 772-2425

Eligibility Requirements

At a minimum the applicant has to be 18 years old and supply a valid Social Security Number. No Pennsylvania residency requirement.

Good moral character

Criminal history is reviewed case-by-case by the licensing authority.

Background investigation

Criminal history disclosure required on the application.

Experience & Education Matrix

No fixed number of years of experience is set out in the cited sources for this credential; instead, the controlling requirement is No experience requirement..

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Notarized experience affidavits from licensed supervising contractors
W-2s, 1099s, or payroll records covering the qualifying period
Apprenticeship completion certificate where applicable

Education substitution

Approved carpentry apprenticeship or accredited trade school coursework may substitute for part of the experience requirement.

Examination Structure

This credential carries no state-administered written exam under the cited sources. What governs instead is: No state trade exam.

Examination fee: $50 biennial HIC registration fee.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be retaken after paying a new exam fee. Applications remain valid for one year.

Insurance & Financial Security

The cited state source set does not require a contractor license surety bond for this credential. Contractors should still confirm project-specific bond, permit-bond, or public-works bond requirements before bidding.

General liability

73 P.S. §517.3 requires Home Improvement Contractors to maintain commercial general liability insurance with minimum limits of $50,000 per occurrence and $50,000 property damage.

Workers' compensation

Workers compensation is mandatory under 77 P.S. §481 for any contractor with one or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required.

Application and License Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$50
Initial license	$50
Renewal (every 2 years)	$50

Maintenance & Renewal

Expect to renew the Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration every 2 years. Renewal currently costs $50. Biennial renewal with $50 fee. Late renewal triggers AG enforcement on any unregistered contracts.

Continuing education: No state continuing education requirement for HIC.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and Endorsement

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

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified.

Pennsylvania has no formal reciprocity. Out-of-state contractors must register under HICPA.

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

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

Register the business with the Pennsylvania Department of State. For LLCs and corporations.
Obtain $50,000 commercial general liability insurance. Per 73 P.S. §517.3.
Submit the HIC registration with $50 fee. Online via attorneygeneral.gov.
File workers compensation certificate. For any employees.
Adopt the statutory written contract template. Per 73 P.S. §517.7.
Receive the HIC registration number (PA#). Display on every contract, ad and vehicle.
Apply for Philadelphia L&I license if working in Philadelphia. Separate from HICPA.
Renew biennially with $50 fee and current insurance. Two-year cycle.

Pre-Submission Checklist

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

☐ PA Department of State business registration
☐ OAG HICPA registration with $50 fee
☐ Certificate of $50K commercial general liability insurance
☐ Workers compensation certificate (if employees)
☐ Statutory written HIC contract template
☐ EPA Lead RRP certification (pre-1978 work)
☐ Philadelphia L&I license (Philadelphia only)

Study and Reference Materials

What follows are the regulator-cited and commonly used preparation references for this trade. They appear here for convenience only; CLR takes no compensation for them.

Pennsylvania Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (73 P.S. §517.1 et seq.) — Office of the Attorney General. Primary statute.
HICPA Frequently Asked Questions — PA OAG Bureau of Consumer Protection. Free PDF on attorneygeneral.gov.
Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (34 Pa. Code Chapter 401) — Department of Labor and Industry. Adopted IRC and IBC.

Common Filing Mistakes

Drawn from the board instructions and sources cited on this page, the pitfalls below are the ones most likely to slow down or sink a Pennsylvania Carpentry application.

No written contract

73 P.S. §517.7 makes oral home improvement contracts unenforceable for any project over $500. The statutory written contract is required.

Skipping the AG OAG registration

Performing $5,001+ of home improvement work without HICPA registration is a violation of the Consumer Protection Law and can trigger criminal penalties and civil restitution.

Lead RRP for pre-1978 trim

EPA RRP certification is federally required and PA DOH Lead Hazard Control Program enforces concurrently.

Philadelphia L&I registration

Philadelphia requires a separate L&I contractor license. State HIC registration is not enough.

Mandatory Notice of Right to Cancel

Door-to-door home improvement sales are subject to a three-day cancellation. Carpenters who collect deposits before three days face AG enforcement.

Other Pennsylvania Trade Licenses

If the Carpentry license is not the right fit, the following published Pennsylvania trade guides are also covered by CLR:

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Pennsylvania HIC cover?

Any residential alteration, repair, addition, deck, replacement window or door, kitchen or bath remodel — anything that improves an existing residential structure. Excludes new home construction.

What is the project value threshold?

A contractor performing $5,000 or more of home improvement work in a calendar year must register, regardless of any single project value. The written contract requirement applies to projects over $500.

What insurance is required?

73 P.S. §517.3 requires $50,000 commercial general liability per occurrence and $50,000 property damage.

Does Philadelphia require additional registration?

Yes. Philadelphia requires a Department of Licenses and Inspections contractor license in addition to the state HICPA registration.

How often does the HIC registration renew?

Every two years with the $50 renewal fee and current insurance.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-05-04 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-02