Licensed contractors in the USA
Become a Licensed Contractor in the USA
How to get started:
- Complete the licensing application for your state.
- Take the state licensing exam (covers legal, business, building codes and other knowledge areas).
- Pay mandatory license fees
- Post a bond,
- Purchase workman’s compensation and liability insurance
- Establish minimum working capital.
Why Become a Licensed Contractor?
Given the time and expense involved, individuals might wonder if they need to become a licensed contractor. There are many reasons to become a licensed general contractor or trade contractor:
- Competitive edge in marketplace = more clients
- Establish credibility instantly
- It's the law for projects over a certain minimum cost.
- Having insurance and bonding protects you as well as your clients.
- You can charge more!
Any client, whether commercial or residential, would want to know they are contracting with a trustworthy firm certified by the state, county or local jurisdiction. Many homeowner's insurance policies require that work be completed by a licensed contractor. Also, more homeowners are becoming smarter shoppers and no that even though it costs more, working with a licensed contractor is much less risky.
--ContractorTabby 19:27, 9 May 2013 (BST)
[edit] External references.
Featured articles and news
A safe energy transition – ECA launches a new Charter
Practical policy actions to speed up low carbon adoption while maintaining installation safety and competency.
Frank Duffy: Researcher and Practitioner
Reflections on achievements and relevance to the wider research and practice communities.
The 2026 Compliance Landscape: Fire doors
Why 'Business as Usual' is a Liability.
Cutting construction carbon footprint by caring for soil
Is construction neglecting one of the planet’s most powerful carbon stores and one of our greatest natural climate allies.
ARCHITECTURE: How's it progressing?
Archiblogger posing questions of a historical and contextual nature.
The roofscape of Hampstead Garden Suburb
Residents, architects and roofers need to understand detailing.
Homes, landlords. tenants and the new housing standards
What will it all mean?
The Architectural Technology podcast: Where it's AT
Catch-up on the latest episodes.
Edmundson Apprentice of the Year award 2026
Entries now open for this Electrical Contractors' Association award.
Traditional blue-grey slate from one of the oldest and largest UK slate quarries down in Cornwall.
There are plenty of sources with the potential to be redeveloped.
Change of use legislation breaths new life into buildings
A run down on Class MA of the General Permitted Development Order.
Solar generation in the historic environment
Success requires understanding each site in detail.
Level 6 Design, Construction and Management BSc
CIOB launches first-ever degree programme to develop the next generation of construction leaders.
Open for business as of April, with its 2026 prospectus and new pipeline of housing schemes.
The operational value of workforce health
Keeping projects moving. Incorporating unplanned absence and the importance of health, in operations.





















