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General Contractor
General contractor licensing varies widely across the United States. Some states require comprehensive licensing with exams, bonding, and insurance, while others have no state-level requirement at all. Understanding your state's requirements is critical before starting any construction project.
51
Total States
36
Require License
21
Require Bond
3.6 yrs
Avg Experience
General contractor licensing typically involves demonstrating experience, passing trade and business exams, meeting bonding and insurance requirements, and maintaining the license through continuing education.
Most states require 2-5 years of verifiable construction experience and passing one or more exams. Trade exams cover construction practices, building codes, and project management. Business and law exams cover contracts, liens, OSHA, and financial management.
Many states require surety bonds (typically $10,000-$25,000) to protect consumers. General liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage are also commonly required. Bond amounts may vary based on license classification and project limits.
Some states issue licenses at the state level, while others defer to cities and counties. Several states have no licensing requirement at all, though local jurisdictions may still require permits, registration, or bonding. Always check both state and local requirements.
Click any column header to sort. Click a state to view full requirements.
| State | License Required? | Trade Exam? | Experience (Yrs) | Bond Required? | Fees | CE Hours | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama(AL) | Yes | Yes | 4 | No | $502+ | HBLB: 6 hours/year; LBGC: unverified | Mar 2026 |
| Alaska(AK) | Yes | No | 3 | Yes | $300 | Residential endorsement: 16 hours/cycle; GC without endorsement: 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Arizona(AZ) | Yes | Yes | 4 | Yes | $554-$1,186+ | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Arkansas(AR) | Yes | Yes | 5 | Yes | $134-$184 | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| California(CA) | Yes | Yes | 4 | Yes | $753+ | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Colorado(CO) | No | No | 0 | No | — | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Connecticut(CT) | Yes | No | 0 | No | $240 | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Delaware(DE) | Yes | No | 0 | Yes | $75+ | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| District of Columbia(DC) | Yes | Yes | 3 | Yes | $540 | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Florida(FL) | Yes | Yes | 4 | Yes | $349-$399 | 14 | Mar 2026 |
| Georgia(GA) | Yes | Yes | 2–4 depending on license type | Yes | $300 | — | Mar 2026 |
| Hawaii(HI) | Yes | Yes | 4 | No | $848 | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Idaho(ID) | Yes | No | 0 | No | $50 | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Illinois(IL) | No | No | 0 | No | — | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Indiana(IN) | No | No | 0 | No | — | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Iowa(IA) | Yes | No | 0 | No | $50 | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Kansas(KS) | No | No | 0 | No | — | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Kentucky(KY) | No | No | 0 | No | — | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Louisiana(LA) | Yes | Yes | 4 | Yes | $350 | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Maine(ME) | No | No | 0 | No | — | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Maryland(MD) | Yes | Yes | 2 | Yes | $533 | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Massachusetts(MA) | Yes | Yes | 3 | No | $400 | 12 | Mar 2026 |
| Michigan(MI) | Yes | Yes | 0 | Yes | $312 | 21 | Mar 2026 |
| Minnesota(MN) | Yes | Yes | 0 | No | $550-$750 | 14 | Mar 2026 |
| Mississippi(MS) | Yes | Yes | 4 | Yes | $640+ | 2 | Mar 2026 |
| Missouri(MO) | No | No | 0 | No | — | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Montana(MT) | Yes | No | 0 | No | $70-$125 | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Nebraska(NE) | No | No | 0 | No | $25 | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Nevada(NV) | Yes | Yes | 4 | Yes | $700 | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| New Hampshire(NH) | No | No | 0 | No | — | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| New Jersey(NJ) | Yes | No | 0 | Yes | $200 | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| New Mexico(NM) | Yes | Yes | 2 | Yes | $134.53 - $269.06 | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| New York(NY) | No | No | 0 | No | — | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| North Carolina(NC) | Yes | Yes | 4 | No | $154+ | 8 | Mar 2026 |
| North Dakota(ND) | Yes | No | 0 | No | $100-$300 | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Ohio(OH) | No | No | 0 | No | — | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Oklahoma(OK) | No | Yes | 4 | Yes | $400 | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Oregon(OR) | Yes | Yes | 0 | Yes | $400+ | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | Yes | No | 0 | No | $50 | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Rhode Island(RI) | Yes | No | 0 | Yes | $150+ | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| South Carolina(SC) | Yes | Yes | 4 | No | $250 | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| South Dakota(SD) | No | No | 0 | No | — | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Tennessee(TN) | Yes | Yes | 4 | Yes | $305 | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Texas(TX) | No | No | 0 | No | — | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Utah(UT) | Yes | Yes | 2 | No | $285 | 6 | Mar 2026 |
| Vermont(VT) | Yes | No | — | No | $75-$250 | — | Mar 2026 |
| Virginia(VA) | Yes | Yes | 5 | No | $100-$310 | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Washington(WA) | Yes | No | 0 | Yes | $141.10 | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| West Virginia(WV) | Yes | Yes | 3 | Yes | $220 | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Wisconsin(WI) | Yes | No | 0 | No | $45 | 12 | Mar 2026 |
| Wyoming(WY) | No | No | 0 | No | — | 0 | Mar 2026 |
General contractors often work with other licensed professionals in the construction and trades industries. Explore related licensing requirements.
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See the full comparison table above for all 51 states.
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