Is your contractor
actually licensed?
Free state-by-state contractor license verification: bond amounts, exam requirements, and official lookup links for 51 states across 20 trades, compiled from state licensing boards, NCSL, and NASCLA across all 50 states and DC (directory snapshot 2026-06-27). Don't sign before you check. See our methodology.
- Carpenter
- Demolition
- Electrician
- Elevator Mechanic
- Excavation
- Fire Protection
- Flooring Installer
- General Contractor
- States with licensing
- 36
- Trade types
- 20
- State × trade rules
- 1,020
- No state license
- 15
Data from state licensing boards, NCSL, and NASCLA. Always verify directly with your state's licensing board before signing any contract.
Directory snapshot
15 states list no statewide contractor license in this directory, so the check depends on where the job is. California shows the strictest state licensing score in our board snapshot, and among 115 trade-state rows with a stated surety bond the typical amount is about $17,539.
- 36
- states with ≥1 license category
- 15
- no statewide contractor license
- $17,539
- typical published bond
- California
- strictest state score
Source: state licensing boards · NCSL · NASCLA · snapshot 2026-06-27. Always look up your state and trade on the live board before you sign.
Coverage tier ≠ strictness order
According to state licensing boards, California leads the strictness index at #1 (9.5/10) while 6 jurisdictions tie for the broadest trade coverage at 20 of 20 tracked trades; Nevada ranks #2 on strictness among that full-coverage group.
- #1
- California strictness #1
- 20
- trades at full coverage tier
- #2
- Nevada strictness among tier
- 9.5/10
- California strictness score
Coverage counts how many of 20 tracked trades carry a statewide license in the directory; strictness is a composite score from exam, bond, insurance, and CE screens. Neither metric is a hiring clearance.
What the directory covers
According to state licensing boards, NCSL, and NASCLA, 36 of 51 jurisdictions require at least one statewide contractor license category across 20 tracked trades; 15 list none.
According to the same board-sourced directory (snapshot 2026-06-27), PlainHireCheck compiles licensing rules for 20 trades across 51 jurisdictions. Electrician is marked licensed in the largest share of states (100%). Surety-bond figures where published run about $10,000 to $500,000. This is a requirements directory, not a live credential check - verify the contractor on the board roster before you sign.
According to state licensing boards, NCSL, and NASCLA, PlainHireCheck compiles more than 1,020 trade-by-state licensing requirements; see our methodology for the full source list.
Jobsite screen gate
Exam · Bond · Insurance, the three screens boards actually stamp
Across 731 required trade×state rows in this snapshot, count how often each hiring screen appears. Only 42 rows (6%) carry the full three-stamp stack.
- 328 rows mandate a qualifying exam 45% of licensed rows
- 115 rows list a surety bond 16% of licensed rows
- 731 rows list a liability floor 100% of licensed rows
Open a board lookup or compare coverage rankings before treating any stamp as current.
Strictness vs. consumer friendliness, state by state
A stricter licensing regime (exams, experience, fees) is not automatically a more consumer-protective one (bonding, insurance, a working complaint path). Plotting 10 states on both scores separates jurisdictions that are hard to get licensed in from jurisdictions that actually protect the hiring consumer, the median splits below are the read: 8.5 strictness, 8.3 consumer-friendliness.
State strictness vs consumer-friendliness table: California, strictness 9.5, consumer-friendliness 9.5. Nevada, strictness 9.3, consumer-friendliness 9.2. Arizona, strictness 9.1, consumer-friendliness 9. Florida, strictness 8.8, consumer-friendliness 8.5. North Carolina, strictness 8.5, consumer-friendliness 7.3. Virginia, strictness 7.9, consumer-friendliness 7.5. Massachusetts, strictness 7.5, consumer-friendliness 7.5. Oregon, strictness 7.3, consumer-friendliness 8.3. Washington, strictness 7.2, consumer-friendliness 8. Minnesota, strictness 7, consumer-friendliness 7.8.
License requirements by trade
Open a trade to compare exam, bond, and insurance rules across states.
Carpenter
Builds and repairs structures, fixtures, and furniture using wood and other materials
Demolition
Safely tears down or removes structures, buildings, or hazardous materials
Electrician
Installs and maintains electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures
Elevator Mechanic
Installs, maintains, and repairs elevators, escalators, and lifts
Excavation
Performs earthmoving, grading, trenching, and site preparation work
Fire Protection
Installs sprinkler systems, fire alarms, and suppression equipment
Flooring Installer
Installs hardwood, carpet, tile, vinyl, and other floor coverings
General Contractor
Oversees all aspects of construction projects, coordinates subcontractors
Hiring checks from consumer advocates
Registry-style reminders before and during a contractor project, always confirm live board status separately.
Always Verify a License Before Hiring
Before signing any contract, verify the contractor's license on your state licensing board website. License lookup tools are free and take less than a minute. Never accept a license number without verifying it yourself.
Get At Least Three Written Bids
Always get at least three written bids for any project over $1,000. Bids should be itemized and specify materials, labor, timeline, and payment schedule. Beware of bids significantly lower than others.
Check Insurance Separately from Licensing
A contractor can be licensed but uninsured. Ask for a Certificate of Insurance (COI) naming you as additional insured. Verify it is current by calling the insurer. Both general liability and workers' compensation are important.
Never Pay More Than 10-30% Upfront
Be cautious of contractors demanding large upfront payments. A typical schedule: 10-30% down, incremental payments as work progresses, and 5-10% retained until completion and inspection.
Get Everything in Writing Including Change Orders
A detailed written contract protects you. It should include scope of work, materials, timeline, payment schedule, and warranty terms. Any changes must also be in writing as change orders.
Check the Contractor Complaint History
Most state licensing boards show complaint history and disciplinary actions. Ongoing unresolved complaints are a red flag. Also check the BBB and Google Reviews.
Know your rights as a homeowner
Guides cover verifying licenses, spotting red flags, disputes, and how bonds and insurance show up in board records.
How to Verify a Contractor's License
Step-by-step instructions to check a contractor's license with your state board before you hire.
10 Red Flags When Hiring a Contractor
Warning signs that signal a contractor is inexperienced, unlicensed, or running a scam.
What to Do When Work Goes Wrong
Your options for getting bad contractor work fixed, from complaints to bond claims to court.
Understanding Bonds and Insurance
How contractor bonds and liability insurance protect you, and how to file a claim.
Disclaimer: PlainHireCheck provides publicly available state licensing data for informational purposes only. Always verify contractor credentials directly with your state's licensing board before hiring. License requirements and fee amounts change; this directory snapshot is dated 2026-06-27.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a licensed and unlicensed contractor?
A licensed contractor has met state-specific requirements including education, experience, exams, and background checks. They carry required insurance and bonds. An unlicensed contractor has met none of these requirements. Hiring an unlicensed contractor may void your homeowner's insurance, expose you to liability if a worker is injured, and leave you with no legal recourse for defective work.
Does a license guarantee quality work?
No. A license means the contractor met minimum standards at the time of licensing. Always check reviews, ask for references, and see past project photos. However, a licensed contractor provides legal protections that an unlicensed contractor does not.
What is a contractor bond and why does it matter?
A contractor bond (surety bond) is a three-party agreement between the contractor, a bonding company, and you. If the contractor fails to complete a job or causes damage, you can make a claim against the bond. Bonds typically have limits ($5K-$100K) — they are a baseline protection, not comprehensive coverage.
What is contractor liability insurance?
General liability insurance covers property damage and bodily injury caused by the contractor. Always ask for a Certificate of Insurance showing at least $500,000-$1,000,000 in general liability coverage.
What is workers compensation and why do I care?
Workers' compensation covers contractors and their employees if injured on your property. Without it, an injured worker could potentially sue you as the property owner. Always verify workers' comp coverage before work begins.
Can I hire an unlicensed contractor to save money?
The risks are significant: work may not pass inspection, homeowner's insurance may deny claims, you could be liable for injuries, and you have limited legal recourse. Where contractor licensing is required by law, hiring unlicensed is also illegal.
Live rankings
Rankings derived from PlainHireCheck's published dataset. Verify a current requirement with the relevant state board. See all rankings.
Most regulated trades
Trades ranked by the number of states that require a license, from the live PlainHireCheck directory.
RankingsLeast regulated states
States ranked by fewest total licensing requirements, the lightest statewide burden in this snapshot.
StatisticsKey findings
Live counts from the state-by-trade extract: pairs marked required, trade coverage, and published bond amounts.
About this data
How PlainHireCheck works, and why you can trust these numbers
What this site is
PlainHireCheck is a free reference for contractor licensing requirements across 20 trades and all 50 states plus Washington D.C. We are an independent information portal; we do not recommend specific contractors, accept advertising from contractors or licensing schools, or hold financial relationships with any licensing board or trade association.
Editorial process
- Source. Research each state licensing board's official website for every one of the 20 trade categories, cross-checked against National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and NASCLA state-by-state surveys.
- Verify. Document the license type, issuing authority, exam requirements, bond and insurance minimums, and continuing-education rules exactly as published by the state board, then date-stamp the record.
- Publish. Build a per-state, per-trade page linking directly to the state's official license verification lookup tool so readers can audit our record against the original source.
Editorial independence & corrections
The PlainHireCheck is independent and accepts no payment, sponsorship, or promoted placement from any contractor, licensing school, or trade association. Found an error or a stale requirement? File a correction via the contact page; we respond within 72 hours and publish corrections with a visible revision note. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between a licensed and unlicensed contractor?
A licensed contractor has met state-specific requirements including education, experience, exams, and background checks. They carry required insurance and bonds. An unlicensed contractor has met none of these requirements. Hiring an unlicensed contractor may void your homeowner's insurance, expose you to liability if a worker is injured, and leave you with no legal recourse for defective work.
Does a license guarantee quality work?
No. A license means the contractor met minimum standards at the time of licensing. Always check reviews, ask for references, and see past project photos. However, a licensed contractor provides legal protections that an unlicensed contractor does not.
What is a contractor bond and why does it matter?
A contractor bond (surety bond) is a three-party agreement between the contractor, a bonding company, and you. If the contractor fails to complete a job or causes damage, you can make a claim against the bond. Bonds typically have limits ($5K-$100K) — they are a baseline protection, not comprehensive coverage.
What is contractor liability insurance?
General liability insurance covers property damage and bodily injury caused by the contractor. Always ask for a Certificate of Insurance showing at least $500,000-$1,000,000 in general liability coverage.
What is workers compensation and why do I care?
Workers' compensation covers contractors and their employees if injured on your property. Without it, an injured worker could potentially sue you as the property owner. Always verify workers' comp coverage before work begins.
Can I hire an unlicensed contractor to save money?
The risks are significant: work may not pass inspection, homeowner's insurance may deny claims, you could be liable for injuries, and you have limited legal recourse. Where contractor licensing is required by law, hiring unlicensed is also illegal.
Download the jurisdiction snapshot (same CSV as /statistics): contractor-licensing-statistics.csv (CC BY 4.0).
| Publisher | PlainHireCheck |
| Sources | Public state contractor licensing board records |