About PlainHireCheck

PlainHireCheck provides free, publicly available contractor licensing data for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Our goal is to help homeowners make informed hiring decisions by making state licensing requirements easy to understand and verify.

Our Data

All data comes from official state licensing boards, the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), and the National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies (NASCLA). This includes:

  • State licensing requirements: Which trades require a state license in each jurisdiction
  • Bond and insurance minimums: Required surety bond amounts and minimum liability coverage
  • Exam requirements: Whether a licensing exam is required, and of what type
  • Continuing education: CE hour requirements for license renewal
  • Verification links: Direct links to each state's official license lookup tool

How We Process the Data

We compile licensing requirements from primary state licensing board websites, NCSL's contractor licensing database, and NASCLA's state-by-state surveys. The compilation process involves several steps:

  • Source research: For each state-trade combination, we identify the relevant licensing statute, the issuing authority (state board, department, or local jurisdiction), and the specific requirements for licensure.
  • Requirement extraction: We document the license type required (state, local, or none), exam requirements, insurance and bond minimums, continuing education obligations, and the direct URL for the state's license verification tool.
  • Cross-verification: Requirements are cross-checked between NCSL data, NASCLA publications, and the state board's own website to catch discrepancies. When sources conflict, the state board's website is treated as authoritative.
  • Ongoing monitoring: We track legislative sessions through NCSL publications for bills affecting contractor licensing and update affected entries when changes are enacted.

Data Currency

PlainHireCheck's data was last systematically updated in January 2026, with targeted updates applied as specific legislative changes are identified. Licensing requirements change when states pass new legislation or when licensing boards update their rules — these changes can happen at any time during a legislative session.

We monitor major licensing law changes through NCSL and NASCLA publications and update affected state-trade combinations when changes are confirmed. However, there is always a lag between a legislative change and our database update. For the most current requirements, always verify directly with the state licensing board — our state pages provide direct links to each state's official verification tool.

Independence

PlainHireCheck is not affiliated with any state licensing board, NCSL, NASCLA, or any government agency. We are an independent information portal presenting public data in a more accessible format. We do not recommend specific contractors, we do not accept advertising from contractors or licensing schools, and we have no financial relationships with any licensing board or trade association.

Our mission is to help homeowners make informed hiring decisions by making licensing requirements transparent and comparable. The data speaks for itself — our role is to organize it and make it searchable.

How We Track Contractor Licensing Requirements

PlainHireCheck compiles contractor licensing requirements for 20 trade categories across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Each entry documents the license type required, issuing authority, examination requirements, insurance or bond minimums, and provides a direct link to the state's verification portal. Data is curated from official state licensing board websites and published statutes.

Because licensing rules change as legislatures update statutes and boards revise their requirements, we include last-verified dates for each state-trade combination. The site is designed as a starting point — homeowners can quickly see what credentials to look for, then verify directly with the state board using the links we provide.

Editorial Independence & Editorial Pipeline

Content on PlainHireCheck is compiled by our editorial team. Raw data from CMS, HHS, CDC, FDA, and HRSA is transformed into readable profiles by our continuous editorial pipeline, then validated against the source before publication. The PlainHireCheck editorial team, operating under Kiznis Studio, is responsible for editorial standards, methodology, and corrections.

We do not accept payment, sponsorship, or promoted placement from providers, hospitals, manufacturers, or any healthcare entity. Our only revenue source is contextual display advertising served by Google AdSense — advertisers do not influence which entities we cover or how we present data, and they do not receive preferential placement.

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. This site does not constitute legal or professional advice.

Contact

For questions or data corrections, email hello@plainhirecheck.com.