Carpentry Contractor License Requirements by State
Builds and installs wood structures and fixtures. This page compares carpentry contractor licensing requirements across all 50 US states and the District of Columbia. Every row links to the verified state page with statute citations, fees, exam scope, insurance, and renewal rules.
- Published guides
- 51
- Exam pathways recorded
- 19
- Require surety bond
- 11
- Local / scope-specific
- 24
- Avg published experience
- 3.0 yr
Comparison table — all 51 jurisdictions
Scroll horizontally on smaller screens. Use the sort control to compare low-fee states, high-bond states, or the jurisdictions with the heaviest published experience requirements. Click any state to open the verified license page.
24 of these published jurisdictions have no single statewide trade license; local and scope-specific rules may apply.
| State | License | Exam | Experience | Bond | Initial fee | Renewal | NASCLA | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama State license | Alabama Carpentry Contractor Licensing Guide | Confirm with authority | — | — | — | 1 yr | — | — |
| Alaska Mixed / scope-dependent | Alaska Specialty Contractor (Carpentry) — Construction Contractor Endorsement | Required | — | $10,000 | $250 | 2 yr | — | 30 – 60 days from application to license number |
| Arizona Mixed / scope-dependent | Arizona Carpentry Contractor (C-7, R-7, or CR-7) | Required | 4 yr | $2,500 | $580 | 2 yr | — | Timing depends on experience verification |
| Arkansas Local / scope-specific | Arkansas Carpentry: Scope-Based Commercial or Residential Contractor Licensing | Confirm with authority | — | — | $50 | 1 yr | — | Timing depends on the selected ACLB path |
| California Mixed / scope-dependent | California Class C-5 Framing and Rough Carpentry / C-6 Cabinet, Millwork and Finish Carpentry | Required | 4 yr | $25,000 | $200 | 2 yr | — | CSLB does not publish a fixed processing time |
| Colorado Local / scope-specific | Colorado Carpentry Requirements — Local Building-Contractor Credentials | No statewide exam | — | — | — | — | — | No statewide carpentry licensing timeline |
| Connecticut State registration | Connecticut Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration | No statewide exam | — | — | $120 | 1 yr | — | DCP issues registration after a complete online application |
| Delaware Mixed / scope-dependent | Delaware Contractor Business License and Contractor Registration Certificate | No statewide exam | — | — | $75 | 1 yr | — | No carpentry-specific statewide timeline is published |
| District of Columbia Mixed / scope-dependent | DC Carpentry Contractor Requirements — General Contractor/Construction Manager or Home Improvement Contractor | No statewide exam | — | $25,000 | $99 | 2 yr | — | No fixed District carpentry timeline is published |
| Florida Local / scope-specific | Florida Carpentry — No Separate State Trade License | No statewide exam | — | — | — | — | — | No separate state carpentry licensure timeline |
| Georgia Local / scope-specific | No Georgia carpentry license; specialty exemptions can apply | Confirm with authority | — | — | — | — | — | No state carpentry-specialty application or processing timeline exists. |
| Hawaii State license | Hawaii C-5 Carpentry Remodeling/Repairs or C-6 Carpentry Framing Contractor | Depends on pathway | 4 yr | — | — | 2 yr | — | Board review |
| Idaho Local / scope-specific | Idaho Contractor Registration (Carpentry) | No statewide exam | — | — | $120 | 2 yr | — | 14 – 30 days from application to registration certificate |
| Illinois Local / scope-specific | Illinois Carpentry (No State License; Local Contractor Rules) | No statewide exam | — | — | $300 | 1 yr | — | No statewide timeline applies |
| Indiana Local / scope-specific | Indiana Carpentry — No State License (Local Contractor Registration) | No statewide exam | — | — | — | 1 yr | — | No statewide carpentry-license waiting period |
| Iowa Mixed / scope-dependent | Iowa Construction Contractor Registration (Carpentry) | No statewide exam | — | $25,000 | $50 | 1 yr | — | No universal processing time is published in Chapter 91C. |
| Kansas Local / scope-specific | Kansas Carpentry (no state license; municipal contractor registration) | Depends on pathway | — | — | — | 1 yr | — | Varies by local authority |
| Kentucky Local / scope-specific | Kentucky Carpentry Contractor Requirements — Local Rules | No statewide exam | — | — | — | — | — | There is no statewide carpentry credential timeline |
| Louisiana Local / scope-specific | Louisiana Carpentry Contractor License Guide | Depends on pathway | — | — | — | 1 yr | — | Timing depends on application completeness |
| Maine Local / scope-specific | Maine Carpentry — No State License (Contracts and Local Permits) | No statewide exam | — | — | — | 1 yr | — | No statewide carpentry credential is issued. |
| Maryland Mixed / scope-dependent | Maryland Home Improvement Contractor (MHIC) License | Required | 2 yr | — | $403.75 | 2 yr | — | Allow time for examination |
| Massachusetts Mixed / scope-dependent | Massachusetts Carpentry Contractor Requirements (HIC and CSL) | Required | 3 yr | — | — | 2 yr | — | Varies by HIC processing |
| Michigan State license | Michigan Residential Builder License (Carpentry) | Required | — | — | — | 3 yr | — | Depends on course completion |
| Minnesota Local / scope-specific | Minnesota Residential Building Contractor or Residential Remodeler License | Required | — | — | $500 | 2 yr | — | DLI does not publish a universal processing time |
| Mississippi State license | Mississippi Carpentry and Framing / Residential Builder or Remodeler | Depends on pathway | — | — | — | 1 yr | — | MSBOC says complete applications are processed weekly |
| Missouri State license | Missouri Carpentry Contractor Requirements — Local Permits and Licensing | No statewide exam | — | — | — | — | — | There is no statewide carpentry-license timeline |
| Montana Mixed / scope-dependent | Montana Construction Contractor License (Carpentry) | No statewide exam | — | — | — | 1 yr | — | DLI does not publish a universal processing time |
| Nebraska Mixed / scope-dependent | Nebraska Contractor Registration (Carpentry) | No statewide exam | — | — | $40 | 1 yr | — | NDOL does not publish one universal registration-processing timeline. |
| Nevada State license | Nevada C-3 Carpentry, Maintenance and Minor Repairs Contractor License | Required | 4 yr | $1,000 | $600 | 2 yr | — | Varies with application completeness |
| New Hampshire Local / scope-specific | New Hampshire Carpentry — No State Carpentry License | No statewide exam | — | — | — | — | — | There is no statewide carpentry-license timeline |
| New Jersey Mixed / scope-dependent | New Jersey Home Improvement Contractor Business (HICB) Registration | No statewide exam | — | $10,000 | $110 | 1 yr | — | The Division does not publish a universal processing time |
| New Mexico State license | New Mexico GB-2 Residential, GB-98 General Building, or Applicable Specialty Classification | Required | 4 yr | $10,000 | $360 | 3 yr | — | 60 – 120 days from application to license number |
| New York Local / scope-specific | No State Carpentry License — Local Contractor Requirements | Required | — | — | $100 | 2 yr | — | No statewide processing time exists |
| North Carolina Local / scope-specific | North Carolina Carpentry Contractor Requirements (General Contracting, Lead RRP, and Local Rules) | Depends on pathway | — | — | — | 1 yr | Accepted | Timing depends on whether the work needs NCLBGC licensure |
| North Dakota State license | North Dakota Contractor License (Carpentry) | No statewide exam | — | — | — | 1 yr | — | — |
| Ohio Local / scope-specific | Ohio Carpentry (no state license; municipal contractor registration) | No statewide exam | — | — | — | 1 yr | — | No statewide OCILB carpentry licensing timeline applies. |
| Oklahoma Local / scope-specific | Oklahoma Carpentry — Local Contractor and Permit Requirements | No statewide exam | — | — | — | — | — | No statewide licensing timeline; local processing varies. |
| Oregon State license | Oregon Construction Contractors Board License (Carpentry) | Required | — | $20,000 | $400 | 2 yr | — | 30 – 60 days from application to CCB number |
| Pennsylvania Local / scope-specific | Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor Registration | No statewide exam | — | — | $100 | 2 yr | — | The Attorney General does not publish a universal processing time |
| Rhode Island Local / scope-specific | Rhode Island Carpenter Contractor Registration | No statewide exam | — | — | $150 | 1 yr | — | CRLB does not publish a carpenter-specific processing time |
| South Carolina State license | South Carolina Residential Specialty Contractor — Carpenter | No statewide exam | 1 yr | $5,000 | — | 2 yr | — | — |
| South Dakota Local / scope-specific | South Dakota Contractor’s Excise Tax License (Carpentry) | No statewide exam | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Tennessee Local / scope-specific | Tennessee Carpentry Contractor License (State Threshold + Local Requirements) | Required | — | — | $250 | 2 yr | — | — |
| Texas Local / scope-specific | Texas Carpentry Contractor Requirements — Local Registration and Permits | No statewide exam | — | — | — | — | — | Varies by the local registration and permit-review process. |
| Utah State license | Utah S220 Carpentry & Flooring Contractor License | No statewide exam | — | — | — | 2 yr | — | Varies with application completeness |
| Vermont Local / scope-specific | Vermont Residential Contractor Registration (Carpentry Work) | No statewide exam | — | — | — | 2 yr | — | — |
| Virginia State license | Virginia Class A, B, or C Contractor — Finish Carpentry (FIN) or Framing (FRM) Specialty | Required | 1 yr | — | $260 | 2 yr | — | Timing depends on completing education |
| Washington Mixed / scope-dependent | Washington General or Specialty Contractor Registration — Carpentry | No statewide exam | — | $15,000 | — | 2 yr | — | — |
| West Virginia State license | West Virginia Carpentry Contractor License — Classification Guide | Depends on pathway | — | — | $90 | 1 yr | — | Allow time for examination |
| Wisconsin Local / scope-specific | Wisconsin Dwelling Contractor Certification (carpentry under dwelling contractor) | No statewide exam | — | — | $55 | 1 yr | — | Depends on completing the approved initial course |
| Wyoming Mixed / scope-dependent | Wyoming Carpentry Contractor — Local Licensing and Permit Guide | No statewide exam | — | — | — | — | — | Local and project-specific |
National picture for carpentry contractor
Of the 51 jurisdictions currently published in this dataset, 19 record required or conditional examination pathways, 11 record a positive license-bond amount, and 1 record NASCLA acceptance. Among entries with a positive numeric experience threshold, the average recorded value is 3 years.
The comparison above is generated at build time directly from the state license entries on this site. Every value is traceable to the regulator's published rule. If you spot a discrepancy, the state page is the source of truth and will be re-verified against the official source set.
Choosing where to license first
- Lowest barrier to entry: compare the recorded fee and examination pathway, then read the guide for local obligations and missing costs. A local-only label does not mean the work is unregulated.
- Strongest reciprocity downstream: states marked NASCLA Accepted, because the same exam can unlock multiple jurisdictions later.
- Lowest upfront cost: focus on combinations with the smallest initial fee and no bond requirement.
- Fastest path to wallet card: compare the Time column, but remember that municipal programs can still involve multiple city registrations.
Related trades
Scope of work overlaps at the edges of every classification. Contractors researching carpentry contractor licensing often also need the comparison hub for these adjacent trades:
Related reading
Original cross-state analyses from our dataset that add context to the carpentry contractor table above — who runs the exams, where the burden is heaviest, and what a criminal record means for eligibility.
The Contractor Licensing Atlas
What mapping 918 licenses revealed about exam providers, bonds, and where a trade needs no state license at all.
Contractor license difficulty index
Where each state ranks on exam, experience, and bond burden — hardest to easiest.
License costs ranked by state
Cheapest to most expensive states once fees, bond, and first-year insurance are counted.
Licensing with a criminal record
A 50-state look at background checks and which convictions actually block a license.
Data is sourced from the issuing boards' published rules. Latest completed source-check date represented in the dataset: 2026-09-30.