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How to become a licensed general contractor in Alaska. State-level licensing required. Experience: 3 years. Total initial fees: $300. Verified 2026-03-22. Data verified 2026-03-22. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
General Contractor
Governing Authority
Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing
Official website →Yes
License Required?
3 years
Experience Required
Yes
Bonding Required?
$300
Total Initial Fees
2 years (expires September 30 of even-numbered years)
Renewal Period
Residential endorsement: 16 hours/cycle; GC without endorsement: 0 hrs
CE Hours
Description
General Contractor with Residential Endorsement. Required for new home construction and residential work >25% of structure value. Must complete 16-hour ACHP course and pass PSI Residential Contractor Endorsement Exam ($150).
Project Limit
Unlimited with proper license
Additional Requirements
Description
General Contractor without Residential Endorsement. Covers commercial work plus residential remodel <25% of structure value. NO exam required.
Project Limit
Unlimited with proper license
Additional Requirements
Description
General Contractor Handyman license for Alaska. Limited to projects ≤$10,000 aggregate per project (all labor, materials, and other items). $5,000 bond required.
Project Limit
$10,000 aggregate per project (all labor, materials, and other items)
Additional Requirements
Description
Specialty contractor license for Alaska. Covers specialized trades and construction activities. Categories: General contractor, specialty contractor, mechanical contractor.
Additional Requirements
Experience & Documentation
Verified3
Years Required
Required
Documented Project History
Journeyman/Trade Experience
Minimum 3 years of documented experience in the construction trade
Alternative Pathways (Education Substitutions)
Exam Requirements
VerifiedNot Required
Trade Exam
Not Required
Business & Law Exam
Trade Exam Details
GC Without Residential Endorsement: NO exam required. GC With Residential Endorsement: Must complete 16-hour Alaska Craftsman Home Program (ACHP) or equivalent within 2 years of application, THEN pass PSI Residential Contractor Endorsement Exam ($150). Exam results valid 1 year. No state pre-approval needed to schedule PSI exam. Approved ACHP providers: Alaska Craftsman Home Program, Inc.; Wisdom and Associates, Inc.
Business & Law Exam Details
No business/law examination required
Retake Policy
No exam required
Bonding Requirements
VerifiedSurety Bond Required
GC (with or without residential endorsement): $25,000; Standalone Residential Contractor: $20,000; Handyman: $5,000; Specialty/Mechanical: $10,000
Surety Bond Amount
Bond Types
Surety bonds protect consumers by providing financial recourse if a contractor fails to complete a project or violates licensing regulations. Bond costs are typically 1-3% of the bond amount annually.
Insurance & Workers' Comp
VerifiedRequired
General Liability
Required
Workers' Compensation
Minimum Coverage
Statutory minimums: Property damage $20,000; Injury/death one person $50,000; Injury/death multiple persons $100,000. Insurance docs must be dated within 30 days of receipt. Business name on insurance must exactly match application. These are statutory minimums — most projects require higher coverage.
Additional Insurance Requirements
Workers' Comp Threshold
Required for employers with 1 or more employees
Workers' Comp Details
Alaska requires workers' compensation insurance for employers with 1 or more employees. Sole proprietors may be exempt but coverage is recommended.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee $65 non-refundable application fee + $235 registration fee = $300 total. Alaska Business License ($50, valid 5 years) required separately. | $300 |
Exam Fee PSI Residential Contractor Endorsement Exam: $150. Only required for GC with residential endorsement. No exam for GC without residential endorsement. | $150 |
License Fee The $300 total covers both application ($65) and registration ($235). No separate license fee. | Included in $300 application/registration |
Renewal Fee Per 2 years | $250 |
Total Initial Fees $300 GC registration. Add $150 PSI exam if residential endorsement. Add $50 Alaska Business License (required separately, valid 5 years). | $300 |
Renewal & CE Requirements
Verified2 years (expires September 30 of even-numbered years)
Renewal Period
Residential endorsement: 16 hours/cycle; GC without endorsement: 0 hrs
CE Hours Required
Renewal Fee
$250
Regulatory Board
Contractor licenses must be renewed on schedule. Many states require continuing education covering building codes, safety practices, business law, and energy efficiency standards.
Out-of-State Reciprocity
VerifiedDoes Not Accept Out-of-State Credentials
ICC Certification Not Accepted
Reciprocity Type
Full application required
Transfer Details
Alaska does NOT offer interstate reciprocity for general contractor licenses. All out-of-state contractors must complete the full registration process.
General contractor license reciprocity varies significantly by state. Some states recognize ICC certifications, while others require passing the state exam regardless of prior credentials. Always verify current policies with the state licensing board.
Alaska changed all contractor license expirations to September 30 of even-numbered years (effective 10/1/2023). No exam required for GC without residential endorsement. Three distinct GC types with different bond amounts. No interstate reciprocity.
License expiration changed to September 30 of even-numbered years (effective 10/1/2023). Next cycle: expires 9/30/2026.
Three GC types: GC Without Residential Endorsement (commercial + remodel <25%), GC With Residential Endorsement (new homes + remodel >25%), GC Handyman (≤$10,000 aggregate).
GC Without Residential Endorsement: NO exam required.
GC With Residential Endorsement: Must complete 16-hour ACHP course + pass PSI exam ($150). Exam results valid 1 year.
Bond amounts: GC $25,000; Standalone Residential $20,000; Handyman $5,000; Specialty/Mechanical $10,000. Accepted forms: surety bond, cashier's check, or time certificate of deposit from Alaska-authorized bank.
Insurance statutory minimums: Property damage $20K; Injury/death one person $50K; Multiple persons $100K. Most projects require higher.
Workers' comp: Required for employers with employees; sole proprietors without employees may be exempt.
Alaska does NOT offer interstate reciprocity for GC licenses.
Fees: $65 application + $235 registration = $300 total. Alaska Business License ($50, 5 years) required separately.
Residential endorsement holders: 16 hours CE per biennial renewal. GC without endorsement: no CE confirmed.
Lien Law Basics
Preliminary Notice: Required
Lien Deadline: 120 days after completion
Alaska construction lien law: Preliminary notice is required to preserve lien rights. Lien filing deadline: 120 days after completion.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Alaska.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#31 of 51
Salary
#6 of 51
Cost
#34 of 51
Processing
#1 of 51
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers (SOC 47-1011)
Entry Level
$79,810
25th percentile
Median
$99,020
+26% vs. national avg ($78,690)Experienced
$110,530
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
3,040 employed in this state
Note: BLS category "First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades" is broader than general contractors specifically. It includes supervisors across all construction specialties.
Source: BLS OEWS – First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers (May 2024)
National employment projections for 2024-2034
Projected Growth
+5.5%
Average GrowthNew Jobs
+40,500
over 10 years
Annual Openings
55,200
per year (avg.)
729,900 currently employed nationwide (2024)
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (September 2025)
Electrical Career Ladder+21% salary growth potential
You are here
Electrical Contractor
$99,020
Master electrician license + contractor license
Apprenticeship (4-5 years) + journeyman exam
$81,860
You are here
Electrical Contractor
Master electrician license + contractor license
$99,020
Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024 for this state. Career paths represent common advancement routes — actual progression may vary. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook
Government fees and exam costs to obtain your initial license
Note: These are government licensing fees only. Education/training program costs (tuition, books, etc.) are not included as they vary widely by institution.
Estimated total: 164–178 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Source: Alaska Contractor Licensing
4–12 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: Alaska Contractor Licensing
Study guides and practice tests for the general contractor licensing exam.
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Official regulatory agency page — URL corrected during audit
Accessed 2026-03-22
Alaska requires state-level contractor licensing. 3 years of experience is required. All licensing is managed through the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing.
Requirements vary by state and local jurisdiction. Always verify current requirements with your state or local licensing authority.