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General Contractor License by State and Province (Verified Requirements)

By Dale Morgan · Updated 2026-10-17 · Every fact links to its official source.

"Do I need a general contractor license?" sounds like a yes-or-no question, but the honest answer is "it depends where." Some states license general contractors statewide, some only require registration, and some leave it to counties and cities. Getting this wrong can mean unpaid invoices or penalties, so it's worth checking carefully.

This guide puts the verified rules side by side. The explanations are ours. Every requirement, threshold and fee is quoted from a fact our editor checked against an official page, with the link right there.

chart iconCoverage at a glance

Only facts our editor checked word-for-word against an official page are counted. A blank cell means not yet verified, not not required.

JurisdictionVerified factsExam infoFees infoReciprocity infoPage
California9verified verifiedverified verifiedverified verifiedview
Arizona8verified verifiedverified verifiedverified verifiedview
Florida7verified verified— not yetverified verifiedview
Oregon6verified verifiedverified verified— not yetview
Virginia6verified verified— not yetverified verifiedview
Pennsylvania5— not yetverified verified— not yetview
Alberta4— not yetverified verified— not yetview
Colorado4verified verifiedverified verified— not yetview
Georgia4— not yet— not yetverified verifiedview
Louisiana4— not yet— not yet— not yetview
Nevada4verified verified— not yetverified verifiedview
Quebec4verified verified— not yet— not yetview
Washington4— not yetverified verified— not yetview
Connecticut3— not yetverified verified— not yetview
Mississippi3— not yetverified verifiedverified verifiedview
New York3— not yetverified verified— not yetview
Tennessee3verified verified— not yet— not yetview
Utah3verified verified— not yet— not yetview
Alabama2verified verifiedverified verified— not yetview
Hawaii2verified verified— not yet— not yetview
Iowa2— not yet— not yet— not yetview
Maryland2— not yetverified verified— not yetview
Arkansas1— not yet— not yet— not yetview
Illinois1— not yet— not yet— not yetview
Minnesota1— not yet— not yet— not yetview
Montana1— not yetverified verified— not yetview
North Dakota1— not yet— not yet— not yetview
Vermont1— not yet— not yet— not yetview

While you read, look for two things in your jurisdiction's section. The first is the trigger: many places require a license only above a certain project value or when a permit is involved, and where an official page states that trigger, we quote it. The second is local licensing, because a state that doesn't license general contractors may still have cities that do.

If your jurisdiction shows only a few facts, that doesn't mean the rules are light. It means we haven't finished verifying them, so treat the board link as your next step.

chart iconThe licensing path at a glance

Typical path to a general contractor license1Find thelicensing authority2Log supervisedexperience3Pass theexam4Apply andpay fees5Renew and keepup CE
Typical path to a general contractor license. A general outline only; the order and requirements differ by jurisdiction — see the verified facts below.

section iconComparing the numbers

The charts below compare only like-for-like values: the same kind of fee or the same experience measure, each quoted from an official page. Read the scope note on each source, because a contractor fee and an individual license fee are not the same thing.

Application fee by jurisdiction — contractor licenses (verified values only)California$450Alabama$300Washington$150Montana$70Iowa$50
Application fee by jurisdiction — contractor licenses (verified values only) (USD). Each bar is a single number quoted on an official page and reviewed by our editor; amounts are for the license type named in the scope note below and are not totals. Jurisdictions without a verified value are left out rather than estimated.

Chart sources (application fee):

Renewal fee by jurisdiction — contractor licenses (verified values only)Connecticut$500California$450Maryland$175
Renewal fee by jurisdiction — contractor licenses (verified values only) (USD). Each bar is a single number quoted on an official page and reviewed by our editor; amounts are for the license type named in the scope note below and are not totals. Jurisdictions without a verified value are left out rather than estimated.

Chart sources (renewal fee):

pin iconUnited States

California

Here is what the official California pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our California general contractor license requirements page.

Licensing authority

Is a state/provincial license required?

License levels

Experience / hours

Education & training

Exam

Fees

Renewal

Reciprocity & endorsement

Arizona

Here is what the official Arizona pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Arizona general contractor license requirements page.

Licensing authority

License levels

Exam

Fees

Renewal

Reciprocity & endorsement

Florida

Here is what the official Florida pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Florida general contractor license requirements page.

Licensing authority

Experience / hours

Exam

Reciprocity & endorsement

Other notes

Oregon

Here is what the official Oregon pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Oregon general contractor license requirements page.

Licensing authority

Education & training

Exam

Fees

Continuing education

Virginia

Here is what the official Virginia pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Virginia general contractor license requirements page.

Licensing authority

License levels

Education & training

Exam

Renewal

Reciprocity & endorsement

Pennsylvania

Here is what the official Pennsylvania pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Pennsylvania general contractor license requirements page.

Is a state/provincial license required?

Fees

Renewal

Local (city/county) licensing

Other notes

Colorado

Here is what the official Colorado pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Colorado general contractor license requirements page.

Exam

Fees

Renewal

Local (city/county) licensing

Georgia

Here is what the official Georgia pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Georgia general contractor license requirements page.

License levels

Renewal

Continuing education

Reciprocity & endorsement

Louisiana

Here is what the official Louisiana pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Louisiana general contractor license requirements page.

Is a state/provincial license required?

License levels

Other notes

Nevada

Here is what the official Nevada pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Nevada general contractor license requirements page.

Exam

Reciprocity & endorsement

Other notes

Washington

Here is what the official Washington pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Washington general contractor license requirements page.

Fees

Renewal

Other notes

Connecticut

Here is what the official Connecticut pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Connecticut general contractor license requirements page.

Fees

Renewal

Other notes

Mississippi

Here is what the official Mississippi pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Mississippi general contractor license requirements page.

Fees

Reciprocity & endorsement

Other notes

New York

Here is what the official New York pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our New York general contractor license requirements page.

Fees

Renewal

Local (city/county) licensing

Tennessee

Here is what the official Tennessee pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Tennessee general contractor license requirements page.

Licensing authority

Exam

Other notes

Utah

Here is what the official Utah pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Utah general contractor license requirements page.

Experience / hours

Exam

Other notes

Alabama

Here is what the official Alabama pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Alabama general contractor license requirements page.

Exam

Fees

Hawaii

Here is what the official Hawaii pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Hawaii general contractor license requirements page.

Is a state/provincial license required?

Exam

Iowa

Here is what the official Iowa pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Iowa general contractor license requirements page.

Is a state/provincial license required?

Other notes

Maryland

Here is what the official Maryland pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Maryland general contractor license requirements page.

Fees

Other notes

Arkansas

Here is what the official Arkansas pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Arkansas general contractor license requirements page.

Licensing authority

Illinois

Here is what the official Illinois pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Illinois general contractor license requirements page.

Local (city/county) licensing

Minnesota

Here is what the official Minnesota pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Minnesota general contractor license requirements page.

Continuing education

Montana

Here is what the official Montana pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Montana general contractor license requirements page.

Fees

North Dakota

Here is what the official North Dakota pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our North Dakota general contractor license requirements page.

Is a state/provincial license required?

Vermont

Here is what the official Vermont pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Vermont general contractor license requirements page.

Is a state/provincial license required?

pin iconCanada

Alberta

Here is what the official Alberta pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Alberta general contractor license requirements page.

Is a state/provincial license required?

License levels

Fees

Renewal

Quebec

Here is what the official Quebec pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Quebec general contractor license requirements page.

Exam

Other notes

pin iconStates and provinces not covered yet

If your jurisdiction is not listed above, we have not verified its general contractor rules yet. Use the General Contractor hub to find the official board link — we don't publish guesses.

steps iconHow to use this guide

help iconFAQ

What does California require for a general contractor license?

CSLB: applicants must pass a trade exam and/or a business and law exam, given by an approved testing vendor (exam fees paid to the vendor). (Contractor license (B General Building, CSLB)) — source: Apply for a Sole Owner license, verified 2026-10-17

What does Arizona require for a general contractor license?

Qualifying Party must pass the AZ Statutes and Rules exam (SRE) and a trade exam (unless waived), each with at least 70%. (Contractor license (AZ ROC, B / B-1 / B-2 / KB)) — source: Applying for a License | Arizona Registrar of Contractors, verified 2026-10-17

What does Florida require for a general contractor license?

Certified contractors must first pass a state certification examination. (Contractor license) — source: Licensing Portal - Checklist Details, verified 2026-10-17

What does Oregon require for a general contractor license?

Exam by PSI, based on the Oregon version of the NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management (2nd edition); open book. (Contractor license) — source: Oregon Construction Contractors Board : CCB License : State of Oregon, verified 2026-10-17

What does Virginia require for a general contractor license?

Exam fee for two portions of the exam: $72. (Contractor license (Virginia Board for Contractors)) — source: Board for Contractors | Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, verified 2026-10-17