Original 51-jurisdiction comparison
Contractor Qualifying Party Requirements by State
A contractor license can belong to a business while one person supplies the experience, examination and supervision behind it. That person may be called a qualifying party, qualifying agent, RME, RMO, RMI, PQP, qualifying officer or supervisor—and the relationship is not portable from one state to another.
Underlying guides were source-checked from through ; each row shows its date. Scope: general/building contractor businesses, not every specialty-trade credential.
The four licensing models
- State qualifier required
- 19
- of 51 jurisdictions
- Individual credential linked to business
- 6
- of 51 jurisdictions
- No statewide competency qualifier
- 12
- of 51 jurisdictions
- Local rule
- 14
- of 51 jurisdictions
The categories describe the statewide general/building-contractor model—not whether every entity type uses identical paperwork. Sole proprietors, partnerships, corporations and LLCs can have different qualifier relationships within the same state.
The titles are not interchangeable
Qualifying party / agent
A broad term for the person whose examination, experience or credentials support the business license. Arizona, Louisiana, North Carolina and Tennessee use variants of this model.
RME or RMO
Responsible Managing Employee or Officer. The title signals a required employment, ownership or management relationship; California and Hawaii illustrate different versions.
RMI
Responsible Managing Individual. Oregon’s RMI is an owner or employee who manages or supervises construction and completes the state training/exam route.
PQP
Primary Qualifying Party. In South Carolina commercial licensing, the PQP serves in management and directs or reviews the licensed work.
Qualifying officer
An individually licensed person who keeps an entity eligible. Michigan requires the company license and individual Residential Builder relationship to remain active.
Supervisor certificate
Often a local or scope-specific individual credential linked to a company. Denver, Cheyenne and Massachusetts use supervisor-based models in different ways.
State-by-state qualifying-party chart
Use the relationship column before choosing an officer, employee or outside individual. The full state guide contains the application path and cited official sources.
Showing 51 jurisdictions
| Jurisdiction | Statewide model | Person or credential | Core qualification | Relationship to business | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | State qualifier required | Qualifying party | Prime applicants designate a qualifying party and complete the Board-required examinations. The reviewed sources do not impose one universal three-year experience rule across every prime classification. | The qualifier is named on the licensed prime-contractor entity; prime and subcontractor application paths differ. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Alaska | Individual credential linked to business | Residential endorsement holder | The individual completes a 16-hour cold-climate course and the residential endorsement examination. | The endorsement must be assigned to a properly registered residential contractor before the holder performs covered work. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Arizona | State qualifier required | Qualifying party | General classifications ordinarily require four years of hands-on and/or managerial experience plus the Arizona Statutes and Rules requirement and the applicable trade exam or approved waiver. | The qualifying party is designated on the AZ ROC business license application. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Arkansas | State qualifier required | Qualifying party | The qualifying party completes any required examination. Residential rules provide experience, reference, or examination routes; commercial qualifications receive a broader Board review. | The qualifier supports the licensed entity. Material qualifier changes must be reported under the applicable Board rules. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| California | State qualifier required | Qualifying individual (RME, RMO or qualifying owner/partner) | The qualifier ordinarily documents four years at journeyman level or above and passes Law and Business plus the Class B examination unless a valid waiver applies. | The qualifying individual is attached to the exact licensed entity. An RME generally triggers a separate qualifying-individual bond and workers’ compensation coverage. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Colorado | Local rule | Local supervisor or qualifying person | Colorado has no statewide GC qualifier. Denver maps contractor classes to supervisor certificates; another jurisdiction may use a different model. | Check the authority having jurisdiction for the project address before bidding or applying for a permit. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Connecticut | No statewide competency qualifier | Business registration applicant | HIC registration has no state trade exam or minimum experience requirement. New-home registration is a separate consumer-protection credential. | The business holds the applicable registration; local permits and separately licensed trade work remain separate. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Delaware | No statewide competency qualifier | No GC qualifying individual | The statewide credential is a business-and-tax license with no general-contractor experience, qualifier or trade-exam requirement. | Professional trade licenses and local permits can still apply to the people and work involved. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| District of Columbia | No statewide competency qualifier | Home Improvement Salesperson for residential contracting | The BBL pages do not impose a GC trade-experience or examination qualifier. Residential contractors must maintain at least one separately licensed Home Improvement Salesperson. | The salesperson rule is a sales/consumer-protection requirement, not a substitute for a technical qualifying party. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Florida | State qualifier required | Certified or registered contractor qualifying the business | One route uses four years of active construction experience, including at least one year as a foreman; Florida also recognizes specified education-and-experience combinations. | An individual can apply personally or use CILB 6-A to qualify a business. The license and qualified business must both match the contracting entity. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Georgia | State qualifier required | Individual licensee or qualifying agent | A common route requires four years in construction, including two years working as or for a GC and one year in a listed qualifying function; degree-plus-experience routes also exist. | A business operating through a qualifying agent must keep the Board-approved individual associated with the licensed entity. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Hawaii | State qualifier required | Responsible Managing Employee (RME) or qualifying sole owner | The RME or sole owner documents four years of classification-specific, on-site supervisory experience within the prior ten years, including the required certificates and project history. | A contractor entity must employ and formally appoint the licensed RME for its classifications. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Idaho | No statewide competency qualifier | Registrant; public works has separate qualification rules | Ordinary private-work registration has no state experience or exam qualifier. Public-works licensing separately reviews financial capacity, work history, references and examination. | Do not use ordinary registration as a substitute for a required public-works or specialty-trade license. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Illinois | Local rule | Set by municipality | Illinois has no statewide GC qualifying-person system. Local licensing, insurance and competency requirements vary. | A Chicago or other municipal license does not automatically authorize work elsewhere in Illinois. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Indiana | Local rule | Set by municipality or county | A local program may license an individual and separately register the company; Allen County is one documented example. | Confirm both the person and entity requirements with the project jurisdiction. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Iowa | No statewide competency qualifier | Contractor registrant | DIAL registration has no statewide GC exam, experience or qualifying-individual requirement. | The exact individual or business doing construction registers; each out-of-state subcontractor handles its own registration and bond obligation. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Kansas | Local rule | Local qualifying individual | Johnson County company licenses use a qualifying individual with an approved exam score of at least 75% or an eligible accredited degree, plus ongoing CE. | The qualifying individual supports the local company license only; another jurisdiction may require a different credential. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Kentucky | Local rule | No statewide GC qualifier | General construction has no statewide qualifying-person requirement; a locality or specialty-trade board may impose one for its own credential. | Start with the permit authority and separate regulated trades for the actual project. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Louisiana | State qualifier required | Qualifying party | The qualifying party completes Business and Law and the classification’s examination or accepted credential requirement; the current checklist does not state one universal experience-year minimum for Building Construction. | The qualifier must be an owner, officer or full-time employee of the licensed entity. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Maine | Local rule | No statewide GC qualifier | Maine has no state GC experience, examination or qualifying-person requirement. | Local permits and separately licensed electrical, plumbing and other trades still govern the project. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Maryland | Individual credential linked to business | MHIC contractor applicant/licensee | The contractor applicant documents at least two years of home-improvement or construction experience and/or related education and passes the MHIC examination. | The licensed contractor and contracting business structure must match the MHIC application; new-home builder registration is separate. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Massachusetts | Individual credential linked to business | Construction Supervisor License holder | The CSL applicant generally documents three years of building-construction or design experience and passes the applicable examination. HIC is a separate business-facing registration. | A CSL holder or registered design professional supervises qualifying work; HIC registration does not itself replace the CSL. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Michigan | Individual credential linked to business | Individual qualifying officer | The individual Residential Builder completes 60 hours of approved prelicensure education and the applicable PSI examination. | An LLC or corporation needs a separate company license and must keep its individual qualifying officer active. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Minnesota | State qualifier required | Qualifying builder or qualifying remodeler | The business designates an eligible person who passes the applicable prelicensing examination; no prior experience or education is required to sit for it. | The business holds the license and the individual separately maintains the qualifying-person registration and continuing education. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Mississippi | State qualifier required | Qualifying party | The business documents the qualifying party’s role, actual work in the requested classification, projects and references. The Board makes the final classification decision. | The qualifying party is tied to the applying entity and requested classification. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Missouri | Local rule | Local qualified supervisor | Kansas City requires a full-time qualified supervisor for licensed contractor work where the classification calls for one. | The local supervisor credential and company license apply only within that program’s jurisdiction. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Montana | No statewide competency qualifier | Contractor-business license | The CCL sources reviewed do not establish a GC trade exam, experience threshold or qualifying-individual pathway. | Worker classification, ICEC and workers’ compensation status remain separate compliance questions. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Nebraska | No statewide competency qualifier | Registered contractor business | Nebraska registration does not use a statewide GC exam, experience test or technical qualifying individual. | The contractor business registers and maintains required workforce records; local programs may add person-level requirements. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Nevada | State qualifier required | Qualifying individual | The qualifier documents four years at journeyman level or above within the applicable lookback period and completes the required trade and business-law examinations unless waived. | The qualifier must be a bona fide owner or employee. NSCB can audit W-2 and entity records; paper-only qualifiers create discipline risk. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| New Hampshire | Local rule | No statewide GC qualifier | No statewide general-contractor experience or qualifying-individual requirement was identified. | Check the project authority and every separately regulated trade scope. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| New Jersey | No statewide competency qualifier | HICB business registrant | HICB registration has no state trade exam, experience prerequisite or separate technical qualifying-person credential for the business. | The business registers and maintains insurance and security; new-home construction and regulated trades use separate systems. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| New Mexico | State qualifier required | Qualifying party (QP) | The GB-98 QP documents 8,000 hours of foreman-level practical or related-trade experience within the prior ten years, including two years commercial, and completes the required exams or approved waiver path. | CID issues the license to the business, and every classification on it must have a certified QP. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| New York | Local rule | Set by city or county | New York has no statewide GC experience or examination qualifier. NYC uses registration, business documents, financial-solvency evidence and background review. | A local registration authorizes only the jurisdiction and scope that issued it. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| North Carolina | State qualifier required | Qualifying party | The qualifier demonstrates competency through the applicable trade examination or accepted NASCLA exam. The statute does not impose a general experience-year minimum. | The qualifier supports the licensed entity and classification; qualifying Building, Residential and Unclassified licenses also carry qualifier CE duties. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| North Dakota | Individual credential linked to business | Applicant’s sworn qualification statement | The statute does not prescribe a fixed experience-year minimum; the application includes a sworn statement of the applicant’s contractor experience and qualifications. | The named applicant/licensee is responsible for the entity’s class, filings and annual renewal certifications. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Ohio | Local rule | Set by local building jurisdiction | Ohio has no statewide GC qualifier. A municipality may set its own person or business qualification rules. | A Columbus or other city registration is not statewide authority. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Oklahoma | Local rule | Set by project jurisdiction | No statewide GC qualifying-person system exists. Oklahoma City requires contractor registration before purchasing covered permits. | State-licensed electrical, plumbing and mechanical contractors remain required for those scopes. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Oregon | State qualifier required | Responsible Managing Individual (RMI) | An owner or employee who manages or supervises construction normally completes 16 hours of approved education and passes the Oregon exam. Commercial endorsements separately count key-employee experience. | The RMI is attached to the licensed business; CGC Level 1 and 2 also depend on the business’s qualifying key employees. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Pennsylvania | No statewide competency qualifier | HICPA business registrant | The state registration has no trade-experience, apprenticeship, examination or technical qualifying-person requirement. | The business registers with the Attorney General; municipalities and licensed trades can impose separate requirements. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Rhode Island | No statewide competency qualifier | Registered contractor | General registration has no trade-experience minimum or state trade exam; first-time education normally applies unless work is exclusively commercial. | The contractor/entity registers and maintains insurance; state-licensed tradespeople working strictly within their license follow a separate exemption. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| South Carolina | State qualifier required | Primary Qualifying Party (PQP) | The PQP ordinarily documents two years of applicable, primarily commercial experience within the prior five years and passes the technical and South Carolina business-law examinations unless waived. | The PQP serves in management and is principally responsible for directing or reviewing the licensed work. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| South Dakota | Local rule | No statewide GC qualifier | Ordinary general building has no statewide qualifying-person credential; electrical and plumbing have separate state licenses. | Treat tax licensing, local construction approval and specialty-trade licensing as separate obligations. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Tennessee | State qualifier required | Qualifying agent | The qualifying agent satisfies the classification examination or waiver path and the application includes an eligible experience reference; the published guidance does not impose one universal three-year minimum. | The qualifying agent is designated for the licensed entity and has continuing-education duties for covered residential classifications. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Texas | Local rule | Set by city or permit authority | There is no statewide GC qualifying individual. Austin, for example, registers the GC assigned to a building permit rather than issuing a state competency license. | Confirm the contractor entity, permit account and licensed specialty subcontractors for the exact address. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Utah | State qualifier required | Qualifier | B100 and R100 ordinarily require two years/4,000 hours of paid construction-industry experience, with DOPL-listed alternative routes, plus the current business-law requirement. | For a business entity, the qualifier is named in DOPL’s application and background-check process; applicable owners are reviewed separately. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Vermont | No statewide competency qualifier | Residential contractor registrant | Registration has no minimum experience or state contractor exam; insurance, written contracts and consumer-protection enforcement are central. | The person or business contracting with the homeowner registers; separately licensed trade work and permits remain distinct. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Virginia | State qualifier required | Qualified Individual (QI); Designated Employee (DE) for A/B | The QI documents one year of experience for Class C, three for Class B, or five for Class A and meets the work-designation prerequisite. The A/B Designated Employee handles the required business exams. | A QI must be a member of Responsible Management or a full-time employee working at least 30 hours for the licensed business. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-21 |
| Washington | No statewide competency qualifier | Registered contractor business | L&I registration does not use a statewide technical qualifying individual for ordinary general contracting. | The legal business registers; electrical, plumbing, elevator, manufactured-home, boiler and asbestos scopes have separate credentials. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| West Virginia | State qualifier required | Business license holder / qualifying person | The Board sets examination and qualification requirements by classification; the statute does not state one universal number of experience hours. | The license must be structured for the actual business entity and is not freely transferred when ownership or the qualifying relationship changes. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Wisconsin | Individual credential linked to business | Dwelling Contractor Qualifier | The individual completes a 12-hour approved initial course; there is no separate state proctored exam or prior-experience minimum. | The contractor must itself hold, or employ, an active certified Qualifier. The business and individual credentials have different renewal cycles. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
| Wyoming | Local rule | Local qualified supervisor | Cheyenne requires every licensed company to have at least one qualified supervisor and may require experience, ICC testing and board review by class. | The local supervisor and company approval do not establish authority in another Wyoming jurisdiction. | Full guide Official authority Checked 2026-09-04 |
Before appointing—or losing—a qualifier
Verify before the application
- Which legal entity will sign contracts and hold the license?
- Must the person be an owner, officer, partner or full-time W-2 employee?
- Which classifications does the person actually qualify?
- Are experience, exams, fingerprints, bonds or continuing education tied to that person?
- May the person qualify another business at the same time?
Verify immediately after a change
- The regulator’s notice and replacement deadline.
- Whether the affected classification is suspended or may continue temporarily.
- Whether bids, new contracts, permits and work in progress receive different treatment.
- Whether a new application, exam, bond, insurance filing or entity amendment is required.
- Written confirmation that the public license record shows the correct person and entity.
Do not “borrow” a qualifier. States that require a qualifying individual commonly require genuine ownership, employment, management or supervision. A name on paper without the required relationship can jeopardize both the individual and business license.
Methodology and scope
This comparison starts with the site’s 51 source-backed general-contractor guides. We reviewed the license holder, person-level qualification, experience or examination path and required relationship to the business, then manually classified the statewide model. A local example is labeled as local; it is never presented as a state rule.
“No statewide competency qualifier” does not mean nobody signs the application or bears responsibility. It means the statewide general-contractor credential is a registration or business filing without a separate person whose trade competence qualifies the entity. Corporate officers, owners, registered agents and specialty licensees may still have distinct legal duties.
The table summarizes the normal route. Entity type, license class, reciprocity, exam waivers and ownership can alter the details, so use the state guide and regulator before restructuring a business or relying on another person’s credential.
Frequently asked questions
What is a qualifying party on a contractor license?
It is the individual whose experience, examination or professional credentials support a contractor business’s licensed classification. The exact title and legal duties vary by jurisdiction.
Does the qualifying party own the contractor license?
Often the business holds the license while the individual qualifies one or more classifications, but that is not universal. Some states license the individual separately, some link an individual credential to a business, and registration-only states may use no technical qualifier at all.
Can one person qualify more than one company?
Do not assume so. Ownership, full-time employment, management, supervision and multiple-entity restrictions are jurisdiction-specific. The business should obtain the regulator’s written answer before sharing or changing a qualifier.
What happens when a qualifying individual leaves?
The business may have a short reporting or replacement period, may lose authority in the affected classification, or may need a new application. Deadlines differ and can change, so notify the regulator promptly and confirm in writing whether bidding, contracting and active projects may continue.
Found a changed qualifier rule or a better primary source? Send a correction with the official source.