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United States · Licensing exam

State contractor license rules compared

Rules change at the state line. North Carolina's state contractor license starts with projects of $40,000, California's with almost any job of $1,000 or more, or any job that needs a permit or employees, and Illinois' licensing agency lists no general contractor license at all. The table sets out who licenses, which exams you take and who gives them in eight states, with each one's own page for the detail.

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Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

Who issues a state contractor license?

StateLicensed byExamsTested by
CaliforniaCSLB, for jobs of $1,000 or more, or any permit or employeesLaw and Business, plus tradePSI
FloridaDBPR: certified statewide, or registered locallyThree parts, or Business and Finance plus tradeProfessional Testing and Pearson VUE
North CarolinaNCLBGC, projects of $40,000 or moreBusiness and Law, and a classification examPSI
VirginiaDPOR Board for Contractors: Class A, B or CBusiness exam portions, plus specialtyPSI
MinnesotaDLI, residential work onlyOne exam per license typeDLI
West VirginiaContractor Licensing BoardContractor Licensing Act, plus tradeProv
New YorkNew York City and some counties, for home improvementNYC home improvement: 30 questionsExamBuilder (NYC)
IllinoisIDFPR licenses roofers; no general contractor license on its listRoofing examIDFPR's exam vendor
California →Florida →North Carolina →Virginia →Minnesota →West Virginia →New York →Illinois →

Is there a national contractor license?

No. Each state's board issues its own license, under its own rules. Some boards accept part of another state's testing. West Virginia's board, for example, has reciprocity agreements for certain trades with North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and Alabama, accepts NASCLA exam scores, and reviews scores from other national testing groups case by case.

WV Contractor Licensing Board: FAQs (PDF) ↗

State license or city license?

Often both apply. A Florida contractor can be certified by the state, and work anywhere in Florida, or registered with a city or county and work only there. Minnesota lets cities and counties require their own license for work its state license doesn't cover, such as commercial jobs. In New York, home improvement licenses come from New York City and some counties, and New York City adds a Department of Buildings registration for builders of small homes. Illinois licenses roofers but lists no general contractor license. A state license also isn't a business license: West Virginia, for one, has every contractor register with its State Tax Department as well.

How to check a contractor license →
Sources: CSLB · Florida Statutes · NCLBGC and 6 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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