Contractor License Reciprocity by State
Which states accept each other's contractor licenses — every agreement below is taken from the same verified, source-cited data shown on our state pages.
Two things to know before relying on any agreement here. First, reciprocity almost always waives only the trade exam — you still file a full application in the new state, and most states still require their own Business & Law exam, fees, and financial documents. Second, agreements change and often apply only to specific classifications or license levels, so confirm the current terms with the receiving state's board (linked on each state page) before you count on it.
⚡ Electrician license reciprocity
| State | Accepts / has agreements with |
|---|---|
| ALAlabama | Mississippi; Tennessee; North Carolina; South Carolina; Virginia; Ohio; Louisiana; Texas; Georgia (reciprocity has ended — the AECB no longer shares reciprocity with Georgia); NASCLA National Electrical Contractor Exam holders may apply for waiver |
| AKAlaska | Arkansas; Colorado; Iowa; Minnesota; Montana; Nebraska; New Hampshire; New Mexico; North Dakota; Oklahoma; South Dakota; Texas; Wyoming |
| AZArizona | Arizona uses universal license recognition (A.R.S. §32-4302), not a named reciprocity list: a contractor licensed in good standing for 1+ year in the same discipline and practice level in another state may obtain an Arizona license without re-taking the trade exam (military spouses also qualify). |
| ARArkansas | Alaska; Colorado; Idaho; Iowa; Louisiana; Maine; Minnesota; Montana; Nebraska; New Hampshire; New Mexico; North Dakota; Oklahoma; South Dakota; Texas; Vermont; Wisconsin; Wyoming |
| CACalifornia | Arizona (C-11 Electrical — trade exam may be waived); Nevada |
| COColorado | Alaska; Arkansas; Idaho; Iowa; Maine; Minnesota; Montana; Nebraska; New Hampshire; New Mexico; North Dakota; Oklahoma; South Dakota; Utah; Wyoming |
| CTConnecticut | Connecticut does not maintain formal reciprocal license agreements with any other state for electrical licenses. Out-of-state applicants may apply through the equivalent experience pathway if their out-of-state license required 576 classroom hours and 8,000 hours OJT (journeyperson) or 576 hours and 12,000 hours OJT (contractor). |
| FLFlorida | Endorsement pathway for holders of an active equivalent license in another U.S. state/territory within the last 2 years; Substantially-equivalent-exam pathway |
| GAGeorgia | Alabama (trade exam waived for Non-Restricted license holders in good standing); Louisiana (trade exam waived for Non-Restricted license holders in good standing); North Carolina (trade exam waived for Non-Restricted license holders in good standing); South Carolina (trade exam waived for Non-Restricted license holders in good standing); Tennessee (trade exam waived for Non-Restricted license holders in good standing) |
| IDIdaho | Colorado; Maine; Montana; Nebraska; New Hampshire; New Mexico; North Dakota; Oklahoma; Oregon; South Dakota; Texas; Utah; Wyoming |
| IAIowa | Alaska; Arkansas; Colorado; Minnesota; Montana; Nebraska; New Hampshire; North Dakota; Oklahoma; South Dakota; Texas; Wisconsin; Wyoming |
| KYKentucky | Louisiana; Ohio; Virginia; West Virginia |
| LALouisiana | As of 2024, LSLBC accepts any out-of-state exam passed without waiver, exemption, or grandfathering in the same classification — there is no fixed reciprocal-state list, and the business/law portion is never waived. |
| MEMaine | New Hampshire; Vermont; North Dakota; Idaho; Oregon; Wyoming |
| MDMaryland | Master: Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia (by examination, conditions apply); Journeyperson: Virginia (by examination or a Virginia apprenticeship) |
| MAMassachusetts | New Hampshire only (Journeyman and Master), and only if the NH license was earned by passing the NH exam (not by endorsement). |
| MNMinnesota | Journeyworker Electrician (individual license only): Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming — exam waived if licensed by exam in those states; Master Electrician (individual license only): Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska — exam waived if licensed by exam in those states; Note: Reciprocity applies to individual electrician licenses, not to the electrical contractor business license |
| MSMississippi | Trade-exam waivers (not full reciprocity) for applicants licensed in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, and South Carolina (electrical); other requirements still apply.; Expedited licensure for military-trained applicants and spouses (Miss. Code 73-50-1). |
| MTMontana | Alaska; Arkansas; Colorado; Minnesota; Nebraska; New Hampshire; New Mexico; North Dakota; Oklahoma; South Dakota; Texas; Utah; Wyoming |
| NENebraska | Alaska; Arkansas; Colorado; Idaho; Iowa; Minnesota; Montana; New Mexico; North Dakota; Oklahoma; South Dakota; Texas; Wyoming |
| NVNevada | Alabama; Arizona; California; Connecticut; Florida; Hawaii; Louisiana; New Mexico; North Carolina; South Carolina; Tennessee; West Virginia |
| NHNew Hampshire | Endorsement available for applicants from substantially similar jurisdictions; applicant must have 1 year professional experience in the license category sought; licensing jurisdiction must use same or later edition of electrical code as New Hampshire |
| NMNew Mexico | Alaska; Arkansas; Colorado; Idaho; Montana; Nebraska; Oklahoma; South Dakota; Texas; Utah; Wyoming — journeyman certificate reciprocity; applicant must hold active journeyman certificate in good standing for at least 1 year in reciprocating state; contractor license reciprocity not offered |
| NDNorth Dakota | Alaska; Arkansas; Colorado; Idaho; Iowa; Maine; Minnesota; Montana; Nebraska; New Hampshire; South Dakota; Utah; Wyoming |
| OHOhio | Alabama; Kentucky; Louisiana; Mississippi; North Carolina; South Carolina; Tennessee; Virginia; West Virginia |
| OKOklahoma | Alaska; Arkansas; Colorado; Idaho; Iowa; Montana; Nebraska; South Dakota; Texas; Wyoming |
| OROregon | Oregon has reciprocal electrical licensing agreements with certain states (see the BCD reciprocal application); states verified individually. |
| SCSouth Carolina | Technical-exam waivers are available with some states (the SC Business/Law exam is still required of all applicants); confirm the current agreement with the board. |
| SDSouth Dakota | Alaska; Arkansas; Colorado; Idaho; Iowa; Minnesota; Montana; Nebraska; New Hampshire; New Mexico; North Dakota; Oklahoma; Texas; Wyoming |
| TNTennessee | Tennessee has trade-exam (exam-waiver) reciprocity agreements with several states — commonly Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio and South Carolina — but coverage varies by classification; confirm the current agreement with the Board. |
| VTVermont | Maine; New Hampshire |
| WAWashington | Oregon (journey level only — reciprocal agreement for journeyman electricians who meet Washington apprenticeship requirements) |
| WVWest Virginia | Virginia; Ohio; North Carolina; Kentucky; Maryland |
| WIWisconsin | Iowa (Journeyman and Master); New Hampshire (Journeyman) — license held 1+ year and earned by state exam; no Wisconsin exam required |
| WYWyoming | Alaska; Arkansas; Colorado; Idaho; Iowa; Maine; Minnesota; Montana; Nebraska; New Hampshire; New Mexico; North Dakota; Oklahoma; Oregon; South Dakota; Texas; Utah |
No reciprocity on record: Delaware · Hawaii · Illinois · Indiana · Michigan · Missouri · New Jersey · New York · North Carolina · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · Texas · Utah · Virginia
🔧 Plumber license reciprocity
| State | Accepts / has agreements with |
|---|---|
| ALAlabama | Mississippi (Master Plumber reciprocity with Mississippi Board of Contractors, effective January 1, 2026; must pass Alabama Business Law Exam) |
| AZArizona | Arizona uses universal license recognition (A.R.S. §32-4302), not a named reciprocity list: a contractor licensed in good standing for 1+ year in the same discipline and practice level in another state may obtain an Arizona license without re-taking the trade exam (military spouses also qualify). |
| ARArkansas | Ohio; Texas; Louisiana; Oklahoma |
| CACalifornia | Arizona (trade exam may be waived); Nevada |
| CTConnecticut | Connecticut does not maintain formal reciprocal license agreements with any other state for plumbing licenses. Applicants with equivalent out-of-state licenses may apply through the equivalency pathway if their license required 720 classroom hours and 12,000 hours OJT (contractor) or 576 classroom hours and 8,000 hours OJT (journeyperson). |
| DEDelaware | Connecticut; Iowa; Maryland |
| FLFlorida | Limited; CILB reviews case-by-case |
| IDIdaho | Montana; Oregon; Washington |
| INIndiana | Kentucky; Ohio |
| IAIowa | South Dakota |
| LALouisiana | Plumbing reciprocity is administered by the State Plumbing Board separately from LSLBC — confirm directly with SPBLA. |
| MDMaryland | Delaware (Master Plumber/Gas Fitter holding both the plumbing and gas portions); Natural-gas-fitter pathways for current Baltimore County and WSSC license holders |
| MNMinnesota | Journeyworker Plumber and Master Plumber (individual licenses): North Dakota, South Dakota — exam waived if licensed by exam in those states; Note: Reciprocity applies to individual plumber licenses; the plumbing contractor business license has no published reciprocity agreements |
| MSMississippi | Trade-exam waivers for plumbing from Alabama (commercial plumbing) and Tennessee (which waives all trade exams); other requirements still apply.; Expedited licensure for military-trained applicants and spouses (Miss. Code 73-50-1). |
| MTMontana | Oregon; Idaho; North Dakota; South Dakota |
| NVNevada | Alabama; Arizona; California; Connecticut; Florida; Hawaii; Louisiana; New Mexico; North Carolina; South Carolina; Tennessee; West Virginia |
| NHNew Hampshire | Vermont; Maine |
| NJNew Jersey | Connecticut; Delaware; Maryland; New York; Pennsylvania |
| NMNew Mexico | New Mexico does not have reciprocity agreements with other states for plumbing contractor licenses; journeyman plumber reciprocity also not offered per CID |
| NDNorth Dakota | South Dakota; Minnesota; Montana |
| OHOhio | Arkansas; Mississippi; South Carolina; Tennessee |
| OKOklahoma | Arkansas (Journeyman reciprocity agreement available) |
| OROregon | Oregon maintains reciprocal agreements for the Journeyman Plumber license with certain jurisdictions (see the BCD reciprocal application). |
| SCSouth Carolina | Technical-exam waivers are available with some states (the SC Business/Law exam is still required of all applicants); confirm the current agreement with the board. |
| TNTennessee | Tennessee has trade-exam (exam-waiver) reciprocity agreements with several states — commonly Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio and South Carolina — but coverage varies by classification; confirm the current agreement with the Board. |
| TXTexas | Out-of-state Journeyman/Master licensees are exempt from the Tradesman 24-hour course; other out-of-state requests reviewed case-by-case (no blanket reciprocity). |
| WAWashington | Idaho (journey level only — Idaho-licensed journey level plumbers may waive the trade exam portion of the Washington examination) |
| WVWest Virginia | Ohio |
No reciprocity on record: Alaska · Colorado · Georgia · Hawaii · Illinois · Kentucky · Maine · Massachusetts · Michigan · Missouri · Nebraska · New York · North Carolina · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Dakota · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Wisconsin
❄️ HVAC license reciprocity
| State | Accepts / has agreements with |
|---|---|
| ALAlabama | South Carolina (must hold SC license for 5+ years); Tennessee (must hold TN license for 3+ years); Mississippi (must hold MS license for 1+ year); Louisiana (no waiting period); West Virginia (no waiting period); Ohio |
| AZArizona | Arizona uses universal license recognition (A.R.S. §32-4302), not a named reciprocity list: a contractor licensed in good standing for 1+ year in the same discipline and practice level in another state may obtain an Arizona license without re-taking the trade exam (military spouses also qualify). |
| CACalifornia | Arizona (trade exam may be waived); Nevada |
| CTConnecticut | Connecticut does not maintain formal reciprocal license agreements with any other state for heating/cooling licenses. Out-of-state applicants may use the equivalency pathway if their license required 576 classroom hours + 12,000 hours OJT (contractor) or 576 hours + 8,000 hours OJT (journeyperson). |
| DEDelaware | Connecticut; Maryland; Alabama; Arkansas; District of Columbia; Florida; Georgia; Michigan; New Hampshire; New Jersey; North Carolina; Ohio; Rhode Island; South Carolina; Virginia; West Virginia |
| FLFlorida | Endorsement (DBPR CILB 10) for active equivalent out-of-state license holders; Substantially-equivalent-exam pathway |
| GAGeorgia | Louisiana (Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors — trade exam waived; currently the only active reciprocity agreement) |
| LALouisiana | As of 2024, LSLBC accepts any out-of-state exam passed without waiver or exemption in the same classification — there is no fixed reciprocal-state list, and the business/law portion is never waived. |
| MDMaryland | Delaware (Master/Master Restricted and Journeyman/Journeyman Restricted); Virginia (Master/Master Restricted and Journeyman/Journeyman Restricted) |
| MAMassachusetts | Refrigeration: none (Massachusetts does not recognize out-of-state refrigeration licenses). |
| MNMinnesota | Not applicable — Minnesota does not issue a state HVAC contractor license; bond filing is required of all contractors regardless of other state credentials |
| MSMississippi | Trade-exam waivers for HVAC from Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Ohio, and Tennessee; other requirements still apply.; Expedited licensure for military-trained applicants and spouses (Miss. Code 73-50-1). |
| NVNevada | Alabama; Arizona; California; Connecticut; Florida; Hawaii; Louisiana; New Mexico; North Carolina; South Carolina; Tennessee; West Virginia |
| NJNew Jersey | Delaware; Maryland; New York; Pennsylvania |
| NMNew Mexico | New Mexico does not have reciprocity agreements with other states for HVAC/mechanical contractor licenses; journeyman refrigeration/sheet metal reciprocity: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wyoming (journeyman certificates only, not contractor licenses) |
| OHOhio | Alabama; Kentucky; Louisiana; Mississippi; Tennessee; South Carolina; West Virginia |
| SCSouth Carolina | Technical-exam waivers are available with some states (varies by subclassification); the SC Business/Law exam is still required. Confirm the current agreement with the board. |
| TNTennessee | Tennessee has trade-exam (exam-waiver) reciprocity agreements with several states — commonly Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio and South Carolina — but coverage varies by classification; confirm the current agreement with the Board. |
| TXTexas | TDLR does not advertise blanket ACR reciprocity; out-of-state experience may count toward the experience requirement — verify with TDLR. |
No reciprocity on record: Arkansas · Hawaii · Idaho · Indiana · Iowa · Kentucky · Michigan · Missouri · New York · North Carolina · Oklahoma · Oregon · Utah · Virginia · Washington · Wisconsin
🏗️ General Contractor license reciprocity
| State | Accepts / has agreements with |
|---|---|
| ALAlabama | Arkansas (ALBGC — trade exam portion may be waived); Mississippi (ALBGC); Louisiana (ALBGC); Tennessee (ALBGC); North Carolina (ALBGC); Tennessee, South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina (HBLB — Skills exam may be waived; Business & Law exam required) |
| AZArizona | Arizona uses universal license recognition (A.R.S. §32-4302), not a named reciprocity list: a contractor licensed in good standing for 1+ year in the same discipline and practice level in another state may obtain an Arizona license without re-taking the trade exam (military spouses also qualify). |
| ARArkansas | Alabama; Louisiana; Mississippi; Tennessee |
| CACalifornia | Arizona (trade exam may be waived); Nevada; Louisiana; North Carolina |
| CTConnecticut | Connecticut does not recognize out-of-state contractor registrations or licenses. All contractors performing covered work in Connecticut must register independently with the DCP regardless of credentials held in other states. |
| FLFlorida | Endorsement (DBPR CILB 10) for active equivalent out-of-state license holders; Substantially-equivalent-exam pathway |
| GAGeorgia | Louisiana (Unlimited GC and Residential Basic — must still pass Georgia Business & Law exam); Mississippi (Unlimited GC and Residential Basic — must still pass Georgia Business & Law exam); South Carolina (Residential Basic only — must still pass Georgia Business & Law exam) |
| LALouisiana | As of 2024, LSLBC accepts any out-of-state exam passed without waiver or exemption in a comparable classification — there is no fixed reciprocal-state list, and the business/law portion is never waived. |
| MIMichigan | Out-of-state applicants holding a current equivalent license may submit verification to potentially waive the 60-hour prelicensure education requirement; no full reciprocity agreement with any state |
| MSMississippi | Trade-exam waivers (exam only) from Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee — coverage varies by classification; other requirements still apply.; Expedited licensure for military-trained applicants and spouses (Miss. Code 73-50-1). |
| MOMissouri | Not applicable — no statewide license exists; local licenses are jurisdiction-specific. |
| MTMontana | Wyoming; Idaho; South Dakota; Utah |
| NVNevada | Alabama; Arizona; California; Connecticut; Florida; Hawaii; Louisiana; New Mexico; North Carolina; South Carolina; Tennessee; West Virginia |
| NJNew Jersey | New York; Pennsylvania; Connecticut |
| NMNew Mexico | New Mexico does not have reciprocity agreements with other states for general contractor licenses (GB-98 or GB-2) |
| NCNorth Carolina | South Carolina; Tennessee; Louisiana; Georgia; Mississippi; Alabama; Florida |
| SCSouth Carolina | Technical-exam waivers are available with some states (the SC Business/Law exam is still required). Residential builder exam-waiver reciprocity is reported with several states; confirm the current agreement with the board. |
| TNTennessee | Tennessee has trade-exam (exam-waiver) reciprocity agreements with several states — commonly Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina — but coverage varies by classification; confirm the current agreement with the Board. |
| WVWest Virginia | Tennessee |
No reciprocity on record: Alaska · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Maryland · Massachusetts · Minnesota · Nebraska · New York · North Dakota · Ohio · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Dakota · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · Wisconsin · Wyoming
🏠 Roofer license reciprocity
| State | Accepts / has agreements with |
|---|---|
| AZArizona | Arizona uses universal license recognition (A.R.S. §32-4302), not a named reciprocity list: a contractor licensed in good standing for 1+ year in the same discipline and practice level in another state may obtain an Arizona license without re-taking the trade exam (military spouses also qualify). |
| CACalifornia | Arizona (trade exam may be waived); Nevada |
| CTConnecticut | Connecticut does not recognize out-of-state contractor registrations. All contractors performing roofing work on Connecticut residential property must register independently with the DCP regardless of licenses or registrations held in other states. |
| FLFlorida | Endorsement (DBPR CILB 10) for active equivalent out-of-state license holders; Substantially-equivalent-exam pathway |
| GAGeorgia | Louisiana (Residential Basic and General Contractor Unlimited tracks — must still pass Georgia Business & Law exam); Mississippi (Residential Basic and General Contractor Unlimited tracks — must still pass Georgia Business & Law exam); South Carolina (Residential Basic track only — must still pass Georgia Business & Law exam) |
| LALouisiana | As of 2024, LSLBC accepts any out-of-state exam passed without waiver or exemption in a comparable classification — there is no fixed reciprocal-state list, and the business/law portion is never waived. |
| MIMichigan | Out-of-state applicants holding a current equivalent license may submit verification to potentially waive the 60-hour prelicensure education requirement; no full reciprocity agreement with any state |
| MSMississippi | Trade-exam waivers for roofing from Georgia and North Carolina (Arkansas waives most trade exams); other requirements still apply.; Expedited licensure for military-trained applicants and spouses (Miss. Code 73-50-1). |
| NVNevada | Alabama; Arizona; California; Connecticut; Florida; Hawaii; Louisiana; New Mexico; North Carolina; South Carolina; Tennessee; West Virginia |
| NJNew Jersey | New York; Pennsylvania |
| NMNew Mexico | New Mexico does not have reciprocity agreements with other states for roofing contractor licenses |
| SCSouth Carolina | Technical-exam waivers are available with some states (the SC Business/Law exam is still required); confirm the current agreement with the board. |
| TNTennessee | Tennessee has trade-exam (exam-waiver) reciprocity agreements with several states — commonly Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina — but coverage varies by classification; confirm the current agreement with the Board. |
No reciprocity on record: Alabama · Arkansas · Hawaii · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Maryland · Massachusetts · Minnesota · Missouri · New York · North Carolina · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · Texas · Utah · Virginia · Washington · Wisconsin
Reciprocity terms change frequently. Each figure reflects the linked state page's last verification date — always confirm with the receiving state's licensing board before applying. This is not legal advice.