General Contractor License Requirements by State
Oversees and manages full-scope construction projects. This page currently compares 48 of 51 jurisdictions published jurisdictions for general contractor while the remaining states are still being researched and drafted. Every row links to the verified state page with statute citations, fees, exam scope, insurance, and renewal rules.
- Published guides
- 48
- Require trade exam
- 28
- Require surety bond
- 20
- Local / municipal
- 26
- Avg published experience
- 3.4 yr
Comparison table — 48 of 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.
26 of these published jurisdictions rely on local or municipal licensing instead of a single statewide credential.
| State | License | Exam | Experience | Bond | Initial fee | Renewal | NASCLA | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Local / municipal | Alabama General Contractor License (Unlimited, Major, or Minor) | Yes | 3 yr | — | $300 | 1 yr | Accepted | 60 – 120 days from application to wallet card (gated by board meeting schedule) |
| Alaska | Alaska General Contractor with Residential Contractor Endorsement | Yes | — | $25,000 | $350 | 2 yr | — | 30 – 90 days from course completion to endorsement issuance |
| Arizona | Arizona General Contractor (B, B-1, B-2, KA, or KB) | Yes | 4 yr | $9,000 | $480 | 2 yr | — | 60 – 120 days from application to wallet card |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Commercial Contractor / Residential Builder / Residential Remodeler | Yes | — | — | $300 | 1 yr | Accepted | 45 – 90 days from complete application to license issuance |
| California | California Class B — General Building Contractor | Yes | 4 yr | $25,000 | $200 | 2 yr | — | 4 – 6 months |
| Colorado Local / municipal | Denver Building Contractor (Class A, B, C, or D) — Municipal License | Yes | 5 yr | — | $350 | 2 yr | — | 45 – 90 days from application to wallet card |
| Connecticut Local / municipal | Connecticut Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration and New Home Construction Contractor Registration | No | — | — | $220 | 1 yr | — | 14 – 30 days from application to registration number |
| Delaware | Delaware Contractor Business License (Division of Revenue) | No | — | — | $75 | 1 yr | — | 1 – 10 business days via Delaware One Stop |
| District of Columbia | DC Home Improvement Contractor (Basic Business License) | No | — | $25,000 | $437 | 2 yr | — | 30 – 60 days from application to issued BBL |
| Florida Local / municipal | Florida Certified General Contractor (CGC) | Yes | 4 yr | — | $249 | 2 yr | Accepted | 90 – 180 days from application to wallet card |
| Georgia | Georgia General Contractor (Unlimited Tier) | Yes | 4 yr | — | $200 | 2 yr | Accepted | 90 – 180 days from application to wallet card |
| Hawaii | Hawaii Class A General Engineering and Class B General Building Contractor | Yes | 4 yr | $5,000 | $351 | 2 yr | — | 90 – 180 days from application to wallet card (board meets monthly) |
| Idaho | Idaho Public Works Contractor License and Idaho Contractor Registration | Yes | — | — | $250 | 1 yr | — | 15 – 60 days for Registration; 60 – 120 days for Public Works License |
| Indiana Local / municipal | Indiana General Contractor (Municipal — No State License) | Yes | 2 yr | $10,000 | $200 | 1 yr | — | 45 – 90 days from application to wallet card in Indianapolis |
| Iowa Local / municipal | Iowa Contractor Registration (Iowa Division of Labor) | No | — | $25,000 | $50 | 1 yr | — | 1 – 3 weeks from application to registration number |
| Kansas Local / municipal | Kansas General Contractor (Municipal — Wichita, Overland Park, KCK, Topeka) | Yes | — | $25,000 | $200 | 1 yr | — | 2 – 8 weeks per municipality once documentation and exam are complete |
| Kentucky Local / municipal | Kentucky General Contractor (No State License — Municipal Only) | No | — | — | $150 | 1 yr | — | 2 – 4 weeks (limited to local registration processing) |
| Louisiana Local / municipal | Louisiana Commercial / Residential Contractor (LSLBC) | Yes | — | — | $100 | 1 yr | Accepted | 60 – 120 days from application to license issuance at the next Board meeting |
| Maine Local / municipal | Maine Home Construction Contractor (no state license — registration-free, written contract required over $3,000) | No | — | — | $0 | — | — | Immediate — no state license to obtain |
| Maryland Local / municipal | Maryland Home Improvement Contractor (MHIC) | Yes | 2 yr | $50,000 | $250 | 2 yr | — | 60 – 120 days from application to license issuance |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Construction Supervisor License (CSL) and Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration | Yes | 3 yr | — | $150 | 2 yr | — | 60 – 120 days from application to wallet card |
| Michigan Local / municipal | Michigan Residential Builder License | Yes | — | — | $185 | 3 yr | — | 60 – 120 days from course completion to wallet card |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Residential Building Contractor / Residential Remodeler | Yes | — | $20,000 | $260 | 1 yr | — | 45 – 90 days from application to license issuance |
| Mississippi | Mississippi Commercial Contractor / Residential Builder or Remodeler | Yes | 3 yr | — | $200 | 1 yr | Accepted | 60 – 120 days from application to certificate |
| Missouri Local / municipal | Missouri General Contractor (Municipal — Kansas City and St. Louis) | No | — | $25,000 | $200 | 1 yr | — | 2 – 6 weeks per municipality once documentation is complete |
| Montana Local / municipal | Montana Construction Contractor Registration (CCR) / Independent Contractor Exemption Certificate (ICEC) | No | — | — | $70 | 2 yr | — | 2 – 6 weeks from application to approval |
| Nebraska Local / municipal | Nebraska Contractor Registration (NDOL) | No | — | $5,000 | $25 | 1 yr | — | 1 – 3 weeks from application to active registration |
| Nevada Local / municipal | Nevada Class A (General Engineering) or Class B (General Building) Contractor | Yes | 4 yr | $15,000 | $600 | 2 yr | — | 90 – 150 days from application to issued license |
| New Hampshire Local / municipal | New Hampshire General Contractor (no state license — municipal permitting only) | No | — | — | $0 | — | — | No state license to issue |
| New Jersey | New Jersey Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration | No | — | — | $90 | 1 yr | — | 4 – 6 weeks from application to registration number |
| New Mexico | New Mexico GB-98 General Building Contractor | Yes | 4 yr | $10,000 | $360 | 3 yr | Accepted | 60 – 120 days from application submission to license issuance |
| New York Local / municipal | New York General Contractor — No State License (NYC DOB Registration + Local Rules) | No | — | $25,000 | $300 | 2 yr | — | 6 – 12 weeks for NYC DOB General Contractor Registration |
| North Carolina | North Carolina General Contractor (Limited, Intermediate, or Unlimited) | Yes | — | — | $75 | 1 yr | Accepted | 60 – 120 days from application to wallet card |
| North Dakota | North Dakota Contractor License (Class A, B, C, or D) | No | — | — | $450 | 1 yr | — | 14 – 45 days from application to license issuance |
| Ohio Local / municipal | Ohio General Contractor (Municipal Registration — No State License) | Yes | — | $25,000 | $200 | 1 yr | — | 2 – 8 weeks per city |
| Oklahoma Local / municipal | Oklahoma General Contractor (Municipal Registration — No State License) | No | — | $5,000 | $100 | 1 yr | — | 7 – 30 days from application to active municipal registration |
| Oregon | Oregon CCB Construction Contractor License (RGC, RSC, CGC, or CSC) | Yes | — | $20,000 | $325 | 2 yr | — | 30 – 75 days from training start to wallet card |
| Pennsylvania Local / municipal | Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration | No | — | — | $50 | 2 yr | — | 2 – 4 weeks from application to HIC number issuance |
| Rhode Island Local / municipal | Rhode Island Residential Contractor Registration (and Commercial Roofing License) | No | — | — | $200 | 1 yr | — | 14 – 30 days from application to active registration |
| South Carolina | South Carolina General Contractor License (Group I–V) | Yes | 2 yr | — | $200 | 2 yr | Accepted | 60 – 120 days from application to wallet card |
| South Dakota Local / municipal | South Dakota Contractor's Excise Tax License (no state contractor license) | No | — | — | $0 | — | — | 1 – 2 weeks for the excise tax license to issue after application |
| Tennessee Local / municipal | Tennessee BC General Contractor (Building, Industrial, Highway, Municipal/Utility) or RB Residential | Yes | 3 yr | — | $250 | 2 yr | Accepted | 90 – 150 days from application to wallet card |
| Utah | Utah General Contractor (B100, B200, or R100) | Yes | 4 yr | $50,000 | $230 | 2 yr | — | 60 – 120 days from application to wallet card |
| Vermont Local / municipal | Vermont Residential Contractor Registration | No | — | — | $250 | 2 yr | — | 2 – 6 weeks from application to active registration |
| Virginia | Virginia Class A, B, or C Contractor (RBC, CBC, or BLD) | Yes | 2 yr | — | $385 | 2 yr | — | 60 – 120 days from application to wallet card |
| Washington | Washington Registered General Contractor | No | — | $12,000 | $124 | 2 yr | — | 14 – 30 days from application to registration number |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Contractor License (General Building, General Engineering, Residential, or Specialty) | Yes | — | — | $90 | 1 yr | — | 45 – 90 days from application to wallet card |
| Wisconsin Local / municipal | Wisconsin Dwelling Contractor Certification and Dwelling Contractor Qualifier | No | — | — | $75 | 2 yr | — | 30 – 60 days from course completion to issued credential |
National picture for general contractor
Of the 48 jurisdictions currently published in this dataset, 28 require a trade examination administered by PSI, Prometric, NASCLA, Pearson VUE, ICC, or the state board directly. 20 require an explicit surety bond filed with the regulator before the license issues, and 10 accept the NASCLA Accredited Examination as a path toward reciprocal licensure for this line of work. Where the regulator publishes a numeric threshold, the average documented experience requirement is 3.4 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: sort by initial fee and look closely at rows where Exam = No or the state is marked Local / municipal.
- 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 reading
Original cross-state analyses from our dataset that add context to the general contractor table above — who runs the exams, where the burden is heaviest, and what a criminal record means for eligibility.
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The Contractor Licensing Atlas
What mapping 586 licenses revealed about exam providers, bonds, and where a trade needs no state license at all.
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Contractor license difficulty index
Where each state ranks on exam, experience, and bond burden — hardest to easiest.
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License costs ranked by state
Cheapest to most expensive states once fees, bond, and first-year insurance are counted.
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Licensing with a criminal record
A 50-state look at background checks and which convictions actually block a license.
All data verified from the issuing state board's published rules. Last full pass: 2026-Q2.