All Trades

14 construction trades with published state-by-state licensing guides.

• General Contractor

  Oversees and manages full-scope construction projects.

  48 published jurisdictions

• Electrician

  Installs, maintains, and repairs electrical systems.

  49 published jurisdictions

• Plumber

  Installs and repairs water, gas, and drainage systems.

  50 published jurisdictions

• HVAC Technician

  Installs and services heating, cooling, and ventilation systems.

  49 published jurisdictions

• Roofing Contractor

  Installs and repairs roofing systems.

  49 published jurisdictions

• Painting Contractor

  Performs interior and exterior painting and coatings work.

  48 published jurisdictions

• Landscaping Contractor

  Designs and installs outdoor landscapes and irrigation.

  49 published jurisdictions

• Masonry Contractor

  Builds with brick, stone, block, and concrete.

  48 published jurisdictions

• Carpentry Contractor

  Builds and installs wood structures and fixtures.

  49 published jurisdictions

• Solar Installer

  Installs and services solar PV systems.

  49 published jurisdictions

• Low-Voltage Technician

  Installs data, security, and low-voltage systems.

  49 published jurisdictions

• Fire Sprinkler Contractor

  Installs and services fire suppression sprinkler systems.

  49 published jurisdictions

• Home Inspector

  Performs visual evaluations of residential property condition for buyers and sellers.

  51 published jurisdictions

• Pool Contractor

  Builds and installs swimming pools, spas, and related decking, plumbing, and safety systems.

  51 published jurisdictions

14 regulated construction trades, one consistent format

Construction in the United States is divided into a handful of broad license categories that almost every state recognizes in some form. The four core trades — general contractor, electrician, plumber, and HVAC technician — are the most heavily regulated and the most consistently licensed at the state level. A general contractor manages full-scope construction projects and is usually responsible for pulling permits, coordinating subcontractors, and signing off on the work. An electrician installs and maintains the wiring, panels, breakers, and devices that carry power inside buildings. A plumber installs water supply, drainage, and gas piping. An HVAC technician installs and services heating, cooling, ventilation, and refrigeration equipment. Almost every state requires some form of license for each of these four trades, and the experience requirements range from two years for residential specialties to eight years for the master credential.

Beyond the core four, this site also covers specialty trades that are regulated to varying degrees across the country, including roofing, painting, solar, landscaping, masonry, carpentry, low-voltage, and fire sprinkler work. The hub pages above show the exact number of jurisdictions that are currently published for each trade.

How the trade pages work

Click any trade above to open the national hub for that trade. The hub page lists every U.S. jurisdiction in a single comparison table, with columns for license name, exam requirement, experience years, surety bond, initial fee, renewal cycle, NASCLA acceptance, and time-to-license. From the comparison table you can click any state name to open the full verified license guide for that state and trade. Every guide is built on the same seven-pillar structure — eligibility, experience, examination, insurance and bonding, reciprocity, fees and timeline, renewal — so once you understand how to read one page you can read every page. The format is intentionally consistent so contractors who hold a license in one state can quickly identify what they need to add or change to qualify in another.