How to Get a General Contractor License
This guide is compiled from the 35 statewide pages on this site, covering the path to a general contractor license.
General building contractor licensing is where states differ the most. Some license at the state level with experience and exam requirements, while others — such as Texas — have no statewide license and leave it to individual cities. Where a license exists, a surety bond and insurance are usually required. Pick a state below to see exactly what applies.
Which states license general contractors?
Licensed statewide (35): Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Connecticut · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Iowa · Louisiana · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Jersey · New Mexico · North Carolina · North Dakota · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · Tennessee · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin
Licensed at the city level (8): Illinois · Indiana · Missouri · New York · Ohio · South Dakota · Texas · Wyoming
Not yet covered on this site for General Contractor: Colorado · Delaware · Kansas · Kentucky · Maine · New Hampshire · Oklahoma
The path, step by step
- Get the required experience. Each state sets its own rule and words it differently: in years, in supervised hours or through a registered apprenticeship, and not every state sets a fixed minimum. Open your state below for the exact wording.
- Sit the trade exam. 25 of 35 statewide pages list a state trade exam; 10 list none.
- Prepare for the surety bond, if one applies. Of the 35 statewide pages, 7 pages state one fixed amount ($10,000–$30,000), 9 pages describe a bond that depends on tier, contract volume, endorsement or financial standing (see each state page), 1 page says the board may require one, 17 pages state that none is required, and 1 page leaves it unstated.
- Check the insurance rules. 25 of 35 statewide programs mandate liability insurance.
- Submit the application and its fee. Where a single application fee is stated (27 of 35 states), it ranges from $15 to $450.
- Keep the license active. Renewal cycles: Annual (11), every 2 years (21), every 3 years (3). 13 of 35 states mandate continuing education to renew.
Primary figures at a glance — the full, source-cited figure is on each state page.
General Contractor license pages, by state
19 states list reciprocity agreements for General Contractor — compare them on the reciprocity hub →
Verified: 43 pages, between 2026-06-19 and 2026-09-21
Frequently asked questions
Is there a national general contractor license?
General building contractor licensing is where states differ the most. Licensing is set state by state.
How much does a general contractor license cost?
Where a single application fee is stated (27 of 35 states), it ranges from $15 to $450.
Which states set a fixed bond amount?
Alaska, Arkansas, California, Iowa, New Jersey, New Mexico, Washington.