Contractor License Requirements: All 50 States (2026)

Licensing Requirements: Top 10 States by Construction Activity

Data verified March 2026 from official state licensing board websites. Fees and requirements change — verify current requirements at each state board's official website before submitting applications.

State	State License?	Threshold	Exam(s)	Exam Fee	License Fee	Bond	Timeline
California	YES	$1,000+ (AB 2622)	2 (trade + business/law)	$102.86	$200	$25,000	6–9 months
Texas	NO (state level)	Varies by city	Local registration	Varies	Varies	Varies	City-dependent
Florida	YES	$500+	3 (trade, business, project mgmt)	$236	$249	Varies by class	3–6 months
New York	NO (state level)	NYC: HIC for residential	City-specific	Varies	Varies	Varies	City-specific
Georgia	YES	No explicit threshold	NASCLA-compatible trade exam	$90–$120	$165	Varies	4–8 weeks
North Carolina	YES	$40,000+	NASCLA trade + NC Business/Law	~$120	$120	Varies by limit	4–6 weeks
Ohio	NO (state GC)	Varies by city	HB 614 statewide reg pending 2026	Columbus: $350	Varies by city	Varies	Varies
Pennsylvania	NO (state level)	$5,000+ (home improvement)	Local exams vary	$115–$118	$344 (state registration)	$5,646 (HICPA)	4–6 weeks
Illinois	NO (state level)	Varies by locality	Local exams	Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies
Arizona	YES	No explicit threshold	ROC trade exam or NASCLA	$66	Varies by class	$2,500–$100K	4–8 weeks

Sources: CSLB (cslb.ca.gov), DBPR (myfloridalicense.com), GCOC (sos.ga.gov), NCLBGC (nclbgc.org), ROC (roc.az.gov), PA AG Office, NYC DCA. Data verified March 2026. Check each state board's official website for current requirements — fees and thresholds update annually.

Key Takeaways: What Contractors Need to Know

California: Requires CSLB license for any project $1,000+ (combined labor and materials). Two exams required: trade + business/law. Timeline averages 6–9 months.
Texas: No statewide GC license — but Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin all have separate local requirements. Multi-city contractors need 3+ separate registrations.
Florida: Three exams required (trade, business, project management). One of the most rigorous state licensing processes in the country.
NASCLA Advantage: Georgia, North Carolina, and Arizona all accept NASCLA exam scores — pass once, potentially meet requirements in multiple states.
"No State License" States: NY, TX, OH, PA, and IL have no statewide GC license but still have significant local registration requirements. "No state license" ≠ no license needed.

All 50 States + DC — Full Guide Index

Click any state for the complete licensing guide including requirements, fees, exam details, reciprocity, and step-by-step application process.