Pennsylvania Painting Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Pennsylvania regulates residential painting through the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (HICPA), 73 P.S. §517.1 et seq., administered by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Bureau of Consumer Protection. Any contractor — including painters — who performs $5,000 or more in home improvement work in Pennsylvania per calendar year on private residential property must register as a Home Improvement Contractor (HIC). Registration is $50 every two years, requires proof of insurance, and mandates specific written-contract disclosures. Pennsylvania does not require an exam. Federal EPA Lead RRP applies in addition to HICPA.

Federal requirement: EPA Lead RRP Rule

The federal EPA Lead RRP Rule applies in every state — including Pennsylvania — to renovation, repair, or painting that disturbs paint in housing built before 1978. See our complete EPA RRP Lead Certification guide for who needs firm and renovator certification, what it costs, and how renewal works.

Regulatory Oversight

This license is issued and enforced by Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General — Bureau of Consumer Protection, Home Improvement Contractor Registration (PA OAG HIC) pursuant to 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

Who May Apply

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

PA AG reviews consumer complaint history. Prior home improvement fraud convictions are disqualifying under 73 P.S. §517.4.

Background investigation

Disclosure of prior criminal convictions related to home improvement required.

Required Experience and Education

Eligibility here is not measured in years of experience but by no experience prerequisite for HIC registration, per the cited materials.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

PA AG HIC registration application
Certificate of insurance ($50,000 GL minimum)
EPA RRP Renovator certificate for pre-1978 work

Examination Requirements

This credential carries no state-administered written exam under the cited sources. What governs instead is: No state exam — PA HIC is a consumer-protection registration

Examination fee: $0 state exam; EPA RRP $200 – $300.

Insurance and Financial Requirements

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

HICPA requires minimum $50,000 personal injury liability and $50,000 property damage liability per occurrence ($100,000 total). Market standard is $1,000,000 / $2,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation mandatory under 77 P.S. §501 for any employer with one or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required.

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$50
Initial license	No separate state fee
Renewal (every 2 years)	$50

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration — Painting Scope comes due every 2 years. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $50. Biennial renewal. Lapsed registration voids residential contracts and exposes the contractor to consumer fraud claims.

Continuing education: No CE required for HIC renewal.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and License Transfer

The NASCLA Accredited Examination is not accepted by Pennsylvania for this classification.

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

PA HIC does not reciprocate. Out-of-state painters must register with the PA AG before performing residential work.

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

Application Process, Step by Step

Form business entity with PA Department of State. Register LLC/corporation and obtain EIN.
Procure $50,000 / $50,000 minimum general liability. Required by HICPA; market standard $1M/$2M.
Submit PA AG HIC registration application. $50 biennial registration fee; online portal at attorneygeneral.gov.
Set up workers compensation if hiring employees. Mandatory from the first employee under 77 P.S. §501.
Complete EPA Lead-Safe Firm Certification. Required for pre-1978 housing; PA has extensive pre-1978 stock in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg.
Use a HICPA-compliant residential contract template. 73 P.S. §517.7 requires the HIC number, three-day cancellation rights, total price, and specific payment-schedule disclosures on every contract over $500.
Display HIC number in advertising. 73 P.S. §517.9 requires the HIC number on all advertising, including business cards, vehicle signage, and websites.
Renew HIC registration biennially. Two-year renewal cycle; lapsed registration voids residential contracts.

Frequent Application Errors

Working from the cited board instructions, here are the snags most likely to trip up a Pennsylvania Painting filing.

Working without HIC registration above $5,000/year

73 P.S. §517.3 makes unregistered residential contracting a violation; PA AG enforces aggressively with civil penalties.

Contracts missing HICPA disclosures

Noncompliant contracts are unenforceable; consumers can collect treble damages under PA UTPCPL.

No HIC number in advertising

73 P.S. §517.9 requires the HIC number on all advertising — PA AG monitors actively.

Ignoring the federal EPA Lead RRP rule

Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have extensive pre-1978 housing; EPA enforcement is aggressive.

No workers comp from day one

77 P.S. §501 requires coverage from the first employee.

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.

73 P.S. §517.1 et seq. (Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act) — PA Attorney General. Governing HICPA statute.
EPA Lead-Safe Work Practices Student Manual — US EPA. Required for federal RRP Renovator.
PDCA Painting and Decorating Craftsman's Manual — PDCA. Trade reference.

Document 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
☐ PA AG HIC registration
☐ General liability insurance ($50K minimum personal injury and property damage)
☐ Workers compensation (if employees)
☐ EPA Lead-Safe Firm Certification
☐ HICPA-compliant residential contract template
☐ HIC number displayed in advertising
☐ EIN from the IRS

Other Pennsylvania Trade Licenses

Should the Painting path not apply, these other Pennsylvania trade guides from CLR may help:

Questions Applicants Ask

Does Pennsylvania regulate residential painting?

Yes. HICPA (73 P.S. §517.1 et seq.) requires HIC registration with the PA Attorney General for any contractor performing $5,000 or more in home improvement work per calendar year on private residential property.

Is there an exam?

No. PA HIC is a consumer-protection registration, not a competency exam.

What must appear on a residential contract?

73 P.S. §517.7 requires the HIC number, three-day cancellation rights, total price, payment schedule, start/completion dates, and specific HICPA notices on every contract over $500. Noncompliant contracts are unenforceable.

Is EPA Lead RRP required?

Yes. Pennsylvania has extensive pre-1978 housing in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg; EPA enforcement is active.

What is the minimum general liability?

$50,000 personal injury and $50,000 property damage per occurrence under HICPA. Market standard is $1M/$2M.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-05-14 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-12