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General Contractor
Total cost: $300
Governing Authority
Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing (under Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development)
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
Get the Alaska General Contractor Roadmap — every step, fee, and deadline mapped out. — every step mapped out.
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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
Overall licensing difficulty: 12/100
Study recommendation: 1–2 weeks of focused review is usually sufficient
Practice with realistic exam questions
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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 |
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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.
Moving to another state? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Compare Alaska with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
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.
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General Contractor requirements in Alaska verified against Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing (under Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development), March 2026.
Official regulatory agency page — URL corrected during audit
Accessed 2026-03-22
General Contractor Schools in Alaska
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