Alaska General Contractor License Requirements

Official classification: General Contractor · Issued by the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing.

🏗️ General ContractorAK ✔ Verified 2026-07-11

In Alaska, general contractors must hold the General Contractor, issued by the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, and a $25,000 surety bond is required. Full requirements — experience, exams, fees, insurance, renewal and reciprocity — are detailed below.

How to become a licensed general contractor in Alaska

Follow these steps to earn your General Contractor. Every figure is verified against the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing; full detail for each step is further down the page.

Build the required experience. None required
Confirm exam requirements. Alaska sets no state trade exam for this license, though your city or county may require one.
Secure your surety bond. Alaska requires $25,000 for General Contractor; $20,000 if performing exclusively residential work with Residential Contractor Endorsement.
Check the insurance rules. Liability: $50,000 per person injury/death; $100,000 multiple persons injury/death. Property damage: $20,000. Workers' compensation: Required to the extent AS 23.30 requires it (AS 08.18.101), i.e. once the business has employees; sole proprietors, partners, LLC members and for-profit corporate officers with at least 10% ownership are exempt for themselves.
Submit your application and fees. Apply through the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing — $100 application fee, plus a $250 license fee. Processing time: Several weeks on average for a new application; renewals filed online are usually immediate, and mailed renewals can take up to 4-6 weeks.
Keep the license active. Renewal: 2 years.

For the general path in every state, see the General Contractor guide →

Alaska general contractor license lookup

To confirm a general contractor is properly licensed in Alaska — or to check the status of your own license — search the issuing agency's official license database. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Verify a license now: Search the official commerce.alaska.gov database →

License types

General Contractor — General construction work; may not perform residential work without Residential Contractor Endorsement
General Contractor with Residential Contractor Endorsement — Authority to perform residential construction; requires 16-hour cold-climate building course and PSI examination

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	None required
Application fee	$100
License fee	$250
Renewal fee	$250
Renewal period	2 years
Continuing education	Not required for General Contractor registration. Residential Contractor Endorsement renewal: 16 contact hours per 2-year period (business-related and technical topics); the cold-climate construction course is a separate one-time initial-qualification requirement, not recurring CE.
Bond required	$25,000 for General Contractor; $20,000 if performing exclusively residential work with Residential Contractor Endorsement
Liability insurance	$50,000 per person injury/death; $100,000 multiple persons injury/death
Property damage	$20,000
Workers' comp	Required to the extent AS 23.30 requires it (AS 08.18.101), i.e. once the business has employees; sole proprietors, partners, LLC members and for-profit corporate officers with at least 10% ownership are exempt for themselves
Background check	Not required
Credit requirement	—
Reciprocity	None · other states' agreements
Processing time	Several weeks on average for a new application; renewals filed online are usually immediate, and mailed renewals can take up to 4-6 weeks

What an Alaska general contractor license costs

Application fee	$100.
License fee	$250.
Surety bond	$25,000 for General Contractor; $20,000 if performing exclusively residential work with Residential Contractor Endorsement. A bond's premium is a percentage of the bond amount, set by the surety.
Renewal fee	$250.
Renewal period	2 years.

Exams

No state trade exam is required — the General Contractor is a registration, not an examined license. Local jurisdictions may set their own exam requirements.

Renewing an Alaska general contractor license

The General Contractor renews on a fixed cycle set by the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing. Late and lapsed renewals are handled differently by every board, so check the renewal page linked below before the deadline passes.

Renewal period	2 years
Renewal fee	$250
Continuing education	Not required for General Contractor registration. Residential Contractor Endorsement renewal: 16 contact hours per 2-year period (business-related and technical topics); the cold-climate construction course is a separate one-time initial-qualification requirement, not recurring CE.
Where to renew	Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing

Local / municipal notes

Local municipal regulations and additional city licensing requirements may apply

Frequently asked questions

How much does an Alaska general contractor license cost?

Application: $100. License: $250. Renewal: $250.

How do I look up a general contractor license in Alaska?

Search the official license database at commerce.alaska.gov. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Do general contractors in Alaska need a surety bond?

$25,000 for General Contractor; $20,000 if performing exclusively residential work with Residential Contractor Endorsement

What experience is required for an Alaska general contractor license?

None required

Is insurance required for general contractors in Alaska?

Liability: $50,000 per person injury/death; $100,000 multiple persons injury/death. Property damage: $20,000. Workers' compensation: Required to the extent AS 23.30 requires it (AS 08.18.101), i.e. once the business has employees; sole proprietors, partners, LLC members and for-profit corporate officers with at least 10% ownership are exempt for themselves.

How long does it take to get an Alaska general contractor license?

Processing time: Several weeks on average for a new application; renewals filed online are usually immediate, and mailed renewals can take up to 4-6 weeks.

How often must an Alaska general contractor license be renewed?

2 years. Continuing education: Not required for General Contractor registration. Residential Contractor Endorsement renewal: 16 contact hours per 2-year period (business-related and technical topics); the cold-climate construction course is a separate one-time initial-qualification requirement, not recurring CE.

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-07-11 — always confirm current requirements directly with the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing before applying. This is not legal advice.