Trade license requirements · 51 jurisdictions
General Contractor · broad-license lane (#10/20 by licensing breadth)
Oversees all aspects of construction projects, coordinates subcontractors Licensing breadth 71% (#10/20 by licensing breadth) places this trade in the broad-license lane. Open-data from state boards, NCSL, and NASCLA; verify live status before you hire.
- 36
- States require license
- 71%
- Of all jurisdictions
- 26
- Surety bond mandates
- 15
- No state license
General Contractor licensing-breadth posture
General Contractor lands in the broad-license lane (#10/20 by licensing breadth): a state license is required in 36 of 51 jurisdictions (71%), with 21 of those rows also listing an exam.
- 36
- states require a license
- 21
- of those also mandate an exam
- 26
- also require a surety bond
- #10
- of 20 trades by breadth
Source: state licensing boards · NCSL · NASCLA · snapshot 2026-06-27. Specialty or local credentials may still apply where no statewide license is listed.
General Contractor · broad-license lane
According to state licensing boards, NCSL, and NASCLA, General Contractor requires a state license in 36 of 51 jurisdictions (71%), rank #10 of 20 by licensing breadth; #10/20 by licensing breadth.
According to the same board-sourced directory (snapshot 2026-06-27), general contractor sits in the broad-license lane. Of the 36 licensing states, 21 also mandate an exam and 26 list a surety-bond requirement. This is a requirements directory, not a live credential check - confirm status on the board roster before you hire.
Among 36 licensing states
NASCLA trade screen folio
General Contractor board screens in this snapshot
Entity-varying counts from state licensing boards, NCSL, and NASCLA: how many jurisdictions stamp exam, bond, and insurance requirements on this trade.
- 36/51 jurisdictions require a license 71% coverage
- 21 licensing states mandate an exam 58% of licensed rows
- 26 licensing states list a surety bond 72% of licensed rows
- 36 licensing states set a liability floor 100% of licensed rows
- #10 of 20 trades by breadth
Exam-mandate neighbourhood
Among licensing states, how many also mandate an exam; nearest trades by exam count (snapshot 2026-06-27).
Peer placement
Licensing breadth across all 20 tracked trades
Highlighted bar is General Contractor: share of jurisdictions requiring a state license in this snapshot (#10/20 by licensing breadth).
Same board as the distribution above (state licensing boards · NCSL · NASCLA · 2026-06-27).
States Requiring a General Contractor License (36)
| State | License Type | Exam | Bond | Insur. | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | General Contractor License | Yes | $25K | $500K | $150-$500 |
| Alaska | General Contractor License | No | $20K | $100K | $200-$400 |
| Arizona | ROC Contractor License | Yes | $35K | $1000K | $150-$350 |
| Arkansas | Commercial General Contractor License | Yes | $10K | $500K | $100-$300 |
| California | B General Building Contractor License | Yes | $25K | $1000K | $300-$450 |
| Connecticut | Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) | No | $10K | $500K | $220 |
| Delaware | General Business License + Contractor | No | No | $300K | $75-$200 |
| District of Columbia | General Contractor License | Yes | $50K | $500K | $200-$500 |
| Florida | Certified/Registered GC License | Yes | $100K | $1000K | $209-$300 |
| Georgia | General Contractor License | Yes | No | $500K | $200-$400 |
| Hawaii | General Engineering/Building Contractor | Yes | $15K | $200K | $160-$360 |
| Kentucky | Residential Contractor License | No | No | $100K | $100-$200 |
| Louisiana | Commercial/Residential Contractor License | Yes | $25K | $500K | $200-$400 |
| Maine | Home Construction/Improvement Contractor | No | No | $100K | $50-$100 |
| Maryland | MHIC License | No | $20K | $200K | $200-$400 |
| Massachusetts | CSL/HIC License | Yes | $10K | $1000K | $200-$400 |
| Michigan | Residential Builder License | Yes | No | $200K | $100-$300 |
| Minnesota | Residential Contractor/Remodeler License | Yes | $15K | $300K | $200-$400 |
| Mississippi | Commercial/Residential Contractor License | Yes | $10K | $500K | $100-$300 |
| Montana | Registered Building Contractor | No | No | $300K | $50-$100 |
| Nevada | NSCB Contractor License | Yes | $50K | $1000K | $200-$500 |
| New Hampshire | Home Improvement Contractor Registration | No | No | $300K | $50-$100 |
| New Jersey | Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) | No | $500K | $500K | $200-$400 |
| New Mexico | CID General Contractor License | Yes | $25K | $500K | $200-$400 |
| North Carolina | Licensed General Contractor | Yes | No | $500K | $200-$500 |
| North Dakota | Contractor Registration | No | $10K | $100K | $50-$100 |
| Oklahoma | Commercial/Residential GC License | Yes | $15K | $300K | $100-$300 |
| Oregon | CCB Licensed Contractor | No | $20K | $500K | $200-$400 |
| Rhode Island | Contractor License/Registration | No | $20K | $500K | $100-$200 |
| South Carolina | Licensed Contractor (Class I-IV) | Yes | $15K | $300K | $100-$300 |
| Tennessee | Licensed Contractor | Yes | No | $500K | $200-$500 |
| Utah | Licensed General Contractor | Yes | $25K | $300K | $150-$300 |
| Vermont | Registered Contractor | No | No | $100K | $50-$100 |
| Virginia | Class A/B/C Contractor License | Yes | $50K | $50K | $200-$500 |
| Washington | L&I Registered Contractor | No | $12K | $200K | $100-$200 |
| West Virginia | Registered Contractor | No | $15K | $300K | $50-$100 |
States Without State General Contractor License (15)
In these states, general contractor contractors do not require a state license. Local permits and municipal registration may still apply.
Breadth peers
Trades whose statewide licensing share sits nearest to General Contractor's 71% - not a fixed guide strip.
- Carpenter 70.6% · Δ0
- Demolition 70.6% · Δ0
- Elevator Mechanic 70.6% · Δ0
- Excavation 70.6% · Δ0
- Flooring Installer 70.6% · Δ0
Disclaimer: Requirements shown are from state licensing boards, NCSL, and NASCLA data. Always verify current requirements directly with your state's licensing board.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Nationwide trades with similar licensing breadth
Peer sets for General Contractor lead with jurisdiction licensing share (71% here), then exam-mandate count, distinct from the sidebar ABS(%) peers.
Similar licensing breadth
Nearest nationwide trades by share of jurisdictions requiring a license (71% here).
- Carpenter · 70.6% licensed
- Demolition · 70.6% licensed
- Elevator Mechanic · 70.6% licensed
- Excavation · 70.6% licensed
Similar exam-mandate stack
Nearest nationwide trades by count of licensing states that also mandate an exam (21 here).
- Pool Contractor · 25 exam states
- Solar Installer · 25 exam states
- Fire Protection · 32 exam states
- Elevator Mechanic · 36 exam states
| Publisher | PlainHireCheck |
| Sources | Public state contractor licensing board records |