CashFinders × TradeAtlas
From gig handyman to licensed contractor in your state
If you already take small jobs through apps or word of mouth, the next step up is a contractor licence. It lets you take on bigger jobs and pull permits under your own name. Here is what each state asks for, with the board's own page and the date we checked it.
Disclosure: Both sites are run by the same team. TradeAtlas maintains the licensing data on this page; CashFinders covers the gig platforms and the money side of side work.
This is not legal advice. Requirements change, and the board decides how they apply to you. Read your board's page before you apply. “Not verified” means we could not confirm a figure from the board, not that nothing is required.
Where you stand today
Most states let you do small jobs without a licence, up to a dollar limit. Once a job goes over that limit, needs a permit, or touches a licensed trade, you need the licence. Look up your state's limit in how much work you can do without a contractor license.
The path, in the order it usually happens
Step 1
Find out who licenses you
Some states license general residential contractors, some only register them, and some leave it to cities and counties. That decides everything else, so check your state's row below first.
Step 2
Document your experience
Boards that require experience usually want it verified: dates, the kind of work, and someone who can sign for it. Ask your board whether self-employed or gig work counts, and keep invoices, platform job histories and photos either way.
Step 3
Pass the exams or pre-licence course
Most licensing states test business and law, and some add a trade exam. A few require a set number of training hours instead of, or before, the test.
Step 4
Get bonded and insured
Where the state sets a bond or a minimum liability policy, the board usually wants proof before it issues the licence. The bond protects your customers; it is not insurance for you.
Step 5
Set up the business and apply
Many boards license the business entity, not just you, so forming the LLC or registering the business name often comes before the application. The trades-company guide linked at the end of this page covers that step.
Step 6
Check the local layer
A state licence does not replace city or county business licences or permits. Electrical, plumbing and HVAC work almost always needs its own trade licence on top.
What each state asks for
The credential listed is the one a general repair-and-remodel handyman would most likely apply for. Specialty trades have their own licences and are not covered here.
| State | Credential | Experience | Exams / training | Bond | Liability insurance | Fees | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AlabamaUnlicensed limit | Residential Home Builder License (without limitation / unlimited)State licence · Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board (HBLB)A licence is required when residential work (labor and materials) exceeds $10,000 (roofing: $2,500), per Ala. Code 34-14A-2; smaller jobs fall outside the definition, though local business licences may still apply. LLC $200 is the SOS fee per its page; a name reservation and possible online surcharge were not verified from official pages. | Not verifiedStatute (34-14A-7) and the Board FAQ require the applicant to show 'experience and ability' but set no minimum number of years; for an unlimited licence, passing the exam is the stated way to satisfy it. | Alabama Home Builders ExamRequired for the unlimited licence only; administered by Prov (provexam.com), not the Board. Exam fee not published on the Board pages read. Limited (single-trade) licences require no exam but need a current municipal/county contractor business licence. | Not verifiedNo bond for unlimited or limited licences; applicant instead supplies a credit report sent directly from a credit agency (Board may require positive net worth). A $10,000 bond applies only to the residential roofing licence. | Not verifiedBoard FAQ states the home builder licensure law does not set an insurance requirement. Builders must disclose in writing to the homeowner whether they carry liability insurance (Ala. Code 34-14A-19). | $100 nonrefundable application processing fee + $235 annual licence fee (unlimited) + $15 annual Homeowners' Recovery Fund fee (Rule 465-X-4-.04); exam fee not confirmed | ||
| CaliforniaUnlicensed limit | Class B - General Building ContractorState licence · Contractors State License Board (CSLB)Class B is the general building licence (qualifier needs 4 years experience). The $1,000 minor-work unlicensed threshold and the B-2 Residential Remodeling classification were not verified in this research and are not asserted. Older CSLB guides showing $330 application / $15,000 bond are outdated. | 4 years4 years of journey-level (or foreman/supervisor/contractor/owner-builder) experience in the classification within the last 10 years; education and training can substitute for up to 3 years (at least 1 year must be practical experience), a 4-year related degree up to 2 years. | Law and Business; Trade (Class B)Both required unless an exam waiver applies; a passed Law and Business exam stays valid generally 5 years. Read via search excerpt of CSLB pages. | $25,000$25,000 contractor bond (or cashier's check). Separate $25,000 Bond of Qualifying Individual may apply; LLCs also need a $100,000 employee/worker bond. | None stated for sole-owner licences; LLC licences must carry liability insurance of $1 million aggregate (5 or fewer personnel of record) plus $100,000 per additional personnel, max $5 million (BPC 7071.19)LLC insurance amounts read via search excerpt of CSLB application forms; the CSLB Issuing My License page lists 'LLC liability insurance (if applicable)' without amounts. | $450 application (one classification) + $200 initial licence fee (sole owner; $350 non-sole owner, covers 2 years) | ||
| ColoradoUnlicensed limit | No state-level licenceNo state agency licenses general contractors; Colorado DORA Division of Professions and Occupations licenses only specific trades (electrical, plumbing); general contractor licensing is by city/county'No state general contractor licence' is inferred from the DPO occupational list containing only electrical and plumbing credentials; no official page stating the absence outright was found, so confirm with DPO (303-894-7800). Licensing is local: Denver runs a two-step supervisor certificate then contractor licence process and does not accept other jurisdictions' licences. | Set locally. See the note for where to look. | ||||||
| FloridaUnlicensed limit | Certified Residential ContractorState licence · Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB)Florida also has 'registered' contractors: obtain a local licence first, then register with the state; valid only in the issuing local area, no state exam listed, and the FAQ lists no state experience requirement. Certified licensure (statewide) is the route described here. | 4 years4 years of field experience in the category, including at least 1 year as foreman; accredited college credit or military service can substitute for part (e.g. 4-year construction degree = 3 years plus 1 year proven experience). One year = 2,000 hours. | Business and Finance; Contract Administration; Project Management; Trade Knowledge (Residential)State certification exam must be passed before applying; all open-book. Exam fees not confirmed. | Not verifiedNo licence bond. Financial responsibility is shown by a credit report: FICO 660 or higher, or a 14-hour board-approved financial responsibility course if below 660; statute allows board net worth/cash/bonding alternatives capped at $20,000 (Division I). | $100,000 public liability / $25,000 property damage (all categories other than general and building contractors); general and building contractors: $300,000 / $50,000Per the CILB application (Active status applicants); workers' compensation or exemption also required. Residential falls under 'all other categories' on the form's wording; confirm with the Board. | $245 initial certification application if filed May 1, 2026 to Aug 31, 2027 ($145 if filed Sept 1 of an odd year to Apr 30 of an even year); exam fees separate and not confirmed | ||
| GeorgiaUnlicensed limit | Residential-Basic Contractor LicenseState licence · Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division)Georgia's Residential-Basic licence covers detached one- and two-family homes and one-family townhouses of three stories or fewer (scope read via search excerpt of the board's materials). The board's own pages returned 403 to direct fetch, so the $210 fee and LLC fee come from search excerpts of the official PDFs; local business licences/permits still apply. | 2 yearsAt least 2 years of proven experience working as, or in the employment of, a residential contractor, predominantly in the residential-basic category; applicant must be 21+ and have had significant responsibility for at least two residential-basic projects in the two years before applying (Rule 553-3-.01). | Residential-Basic Contractor Exam; Business & Law ExamBoth exams are required and given through PSI. PSI's candidate bulletin lists Residential Basic Individual $72 and Business and Law $60, 80 questions/200 min and 50 questions/120 min, 70% to pass (exam fees read from the PSI bulletin, the board's testing vendor, not a board page). | Not verifiedNo bond is listed in Rule 553-3-.01 (residential-basic); none found, not confirmed as 'none required' for every circumstance. The rule lists 'financial responsibility' as a qualification without stating a bond. | General liability of not less than $300,000 for the residential-basic category, plus workers' compensation as required by Georgia lawCertificate must stay on file and is a condition of renewal; licensee must notify the division within 30 days of coverage changes (Rule 553-3-.01). | $210 application ($200 application fee + $10 processing fee) per the board's Residential-Basic individual application form; exam fees are paid separately to PSI |
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| IllinoisUnlicensed limit | No state-level licenceNone at state level for general or residential repair/remodel contractors; licensing is by city/county (e.g. City of Chicago Dept. of Buildings general contractor licence). State exception: IDFPR licenses roofing contractors under the Roofing Industry Licensing Act (225 ILCS 335).Illinois has no statewide general or residential contractor licence; a handyman moving up must check each city/county (Chicago requires a licensed general contractor for most building work and has its own exam/insurance/solvency rules). 'No state GC licence' is inferred from the absence of any such act in what was opened plus the roofing act being the state's contractor licence; not proven from a single official statement. Roofing licence is state-level and the Act's repeal date is shown as Jan 1, 2031 in the current ILGA text. | Set locally. See the note for where to look. | ||||||
| MichiganUnlicensed limit | Residential Builder License (alternatively Residential Maintenance & Alteration Contractor License, limited to specific crafts)State licence · Michigan Dept. of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Construction CodesMichigan requires 60 hours of approved prelicensure courses (at least 6 hours each in business management/estimating/job costing, design and building science, and contracts/liability/risk management, plus other areas) before licence issuance, and a licence is needed for residential work of $600 or more. The Residential Builder licence is issued for 3 years; an M&A licence covers only listed crafts (carpentry, concrete, roofing, siding, etc.). | Not verifiedMCL 339.2404 and 339.2404b set no minimum years of experience; the entry route is the 60-hour prelicensure course plus exam. Applicant must show good moral character; LARA also accepts experience/knowledge attestations but no minimum years was confirmed. | Residential Builder examination (Business & Law and Practice/Trade parts, via PSI)MCL 339.2404(2) requires an exam on the obligations of a builder and the licensing statutes. The two-part (Business & Law / Practice & Trade) structure and PSI administration are from LARA guidance read via search excerpt; exam fee and question counts not confirmed from a current official page. | Not verifiedNo bond requirement found in the statute sections opened (MCL 339.2403-2404c); not confirmed either way. | Not verifiedNo state general-liability minimum found in the sections opened; unverified. | $195 application for a residential builder or maintenance & alteration contractor licence ($185 relicensure; veterans fee waived) per LARA's License Fees page; renewal $150 per LARA search excerpt; exam fee paid separately to PSI |
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| NevadaUnlicensed limit | B-2 Residential and Small Commercial (General Building)State licence · Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB)B-2 is the general residential licence; NSCB also has a B-7 Restricted residential-remodeling licence (new since Oct 2025) aimed at smaller jobs: 2 years experience, bond of at least $2,000, projects up to $7,000, no life-safety trades, valid 2 years (per NSCB flyer). Nevada LLC Articles fee not verified on nvsos.gov (official pages returned empty; third-party sources say $75, not used), so llcFilingFee is null. | 4 yearsTrade qualifier needs at least 4 years as a journeyman, foreman, supervisor or contractor in the classification within the 10 years before applying (NRS 624 via NSCB handbook and NSCB page); accredited training can count for up to 3 years. | Business and Law (Contractor Management Survey, CMS); Trade exam for the classification (may be waived, e.g. NASCLA B exam pass or equivalent-state endorsement)PSI administers the exams; retest after two weeks; application void after three failures. Whether a separate B-2 trade exam is required was not confirmed on a T0 page. | Not verifiedBond or cash deposit is required but not a fixed figure: NRS 624.270(4) says the Board fixes it per applicant (financial/professional responsibility and size of operations), between $1,000 and $500,000. No single amount for B-2 verified. | Not verifiedNo state general-liability minimum found in NRS/NAC 624 handbook text or the NSCB requirements page; unverified, not confirmed as none. | $300 non-refundable application fee; $600 two-year license fee; plus a Residential Recovery Fund fee based on the licence monetary limit (amount not captured). | ||
| New YorkUnlicensed limit | No state-level licenceNo state-level general contractor licence; home-improvement contractors are licensed locally (e.g. NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection)Licensing is local: NYC requires a DCWP Home Improvement Contractor licence (30-question exam with 21 to pass, Trust Fund enrollment $200 or a $20,000 surety bond, workers' comp proof, fingerprinting, 2-year licence fee $50 to $250 depending on application date; no experience requirement listed). That absence of a state licence is from the NYC page plus the absence of any state board found; a state-level negative was not proven on a NY T0 page. NY LLC: $200 Articles fee and $50 Certificate of Publication fee (dos.ny.gov fee schedule); the 120-day two-newspaper publication cost itself is set by newspapers and was not verified. | Set locally. See the note for where to look. | ||||||
| North CarolinaUnlicensed limit | General Contractor License, Residential classification, Limited limitationState licence · North Carolina Licensing Board for General ContractorsA state licence is required only when the undertaking costs $40,000 or more (G.S. 87-1), so many handyman jobs need none; the Limited limitation covers single projects up to $750,000 and Intermediate up to $1.5M (G.S. 87-10(a1)). NC's 'limited' is a dollar cap, not a trade scope; the Residential classification restricts work to buildings under the NC Residential Code. | Not verifiedG.S. 87-10 and 21 NCAC 12A set no minimum years of experience; requirements are age 18+, good moral character, financial responsibility, exam, and (if required) background check. | Examination for the chosen classification (Residential Contractor); North Carolina law, rule and building code examinationG.S. 87-10(b) and 21 NCAC 12A .0204/.0303 require passing a classification-specific exam plus the Board's NC law, rule and building code exam; passing score is 70 (Rule .0404). Statute caps the exam fee at $100; the actual current exam fee was not confirmed. | Not verifiedNo licence bond is required; a $175,000 continuous surety bond is only an optional alternative to showing $17,000 working capital or $80,000 net worth for a Limited licence (21 NCAC 12A .0204(e)). | Not verifiedNo general-liability minimum found in G.S. 87 or the Board rules; workers' compensation proof is required for building permits (permit applicants must furnish it). Unverified beyond that. | $75 application fee for a Limited licence (21 NCAC 12A .0304); exam fee separate (statutory cap $100); renewal up to $75 | ||
| OhioUnlicensed limit | No state-level licenceNo state general contractor licence; Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB, Dept. of Commerce) licenses commercial specialty trades onlyOCILB licenses commercial electrical, HVAC, plumbing, hydronics and refrigeration contractors (5 years of trade experience plus exam for the master licence); per Commerce, residential contractors need no state licence but local building/health departments may require registration or licensing. All Ohio items read via search excerpts of official pages (direct fetch returned 404); LLC $99 per Ohio SOS Form 610 (rev. 09/2025). | Set locally. See the note for where to look. | ||||||
| OregonUnlicensed limit | Residential General Contractor (CCB)State licence · Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB)The handyman-style option is the Residential Limited Contractor endorsement: $15,000 bond and $100,000 liability insurance (CCB page and ORS 701.081(3)); its training/exam/fee details were not verified. ORS text read via oregon.public.law (not oregonlegislature.gov). | Not verifiedCCB pages list no work-experience requirement for the residential general licence. | 16-hour pre-licence Business Practices and Law training (RMI); CCB licensing exam (80 multiple-choice questions, open book, 70% to pass)The Responsible Managing Individual must complete the approved 16-hour course and pass the exam ($60 per attempt, paid to the exam provider); continuing education required at each 2-year renewal. | $25,000$25,000 residential surety bond per ORS 701.081(1) (2023 ed. through 2024 session) and the CCB licence page; the Business Xpress directory still shows $20,000, which conflicts and looks stale. | $500,000 per occurrence general liability (ORS 701.073 / CCB) | $400 for a 2-year licence and $400 initial application fee for applications on/after 7/1/2025 (CCB page); Business Xpress directory lists $250, which conflicts and looks stale. | ||
| PennsylvaniaUnlicensed limit | Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) RegistrationState registration · Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer ProtectionPennsylvania has registration, not licensing: anyone doing $5,000 or more of home improvement work a year on residential property must register with the Attorney General. The AG FAQ page shows both $100 and $50 for the fee; the registration page says the fee was increased to $100, which is used here. | Not verifiedNo experience requirement stated; the AG page says registration is not an endorsement of competency or skill. | Not verifiedNo exam or course requirement stated on the AG pages. | Not verifiedNo surety bond requirement stated on the AG FAQ page. | At least $50,000 personal injury liability and $50,000 property damage coverage (or the AG self-insurance attestation)Per AG FAQ page; applies to contractors performing at least $5,000 of home improvements per year. | $100 per two-year registration period, new and renewal, non-refundable (AG registration page; the statute and older forms still show $50). | ||
| TexasUnlicensed limit | No state-level licenceNone at state level for general residential contracting (TDLR licenses specific trades only)No state general or home improvement contractor licence was found: TDLR's program list covers specific trades (electrical, air conditioning and refrigeration, etc.), and no general contractor program appears. That conclusion rests on the absence of such a program on the TDLR site; the TDLR trade pages (via search excerpt) say trade work needs a TDLR licence and municipalities handle permits, so check local city/county rules. The $300 LLC fee was read via search excerpt of the Texas SOS Form 205 instructions. | Set locally. See the note for where to look. | ||||||
| VirginiaUnlicensed limit | Class C Contractor License (Residential Building RBC / Home Improvement HIC / specialty classification)State licence · Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for ContractorsVirginia licenses the business entity, not the individual; a Class C licence covers jobs over $1,000 and under $30,000 (under $250,000 a year). The firm must also meet local licensing rules in each locality it works in. | 1 yearClass C: 1 year of experience in the classification for the qualifier (18VAC50-22-40). Class B: 3 years; Class A: 5 years (18VAC50-22-50, -60). Note the 2022 DPOR instruction booklet says 2 years for Class C; the current regulation text says 1. | Board-approved 8-hour pre-license basic business course (responsible management); Board-approved trade/classification exam for the qualifier (PSI), unless a licence prerequisite applies; Class A/B only: business exams (General and Virginia; Class A also Advanced)Pre-license course required for all classes; per DPOR page the exam is a separate requirement. Exam fees paid to PSI: $40 for one portion, $72 for two, $85 for three; $85 for the QI specialty exam. | Not verifiedNo bond required for Class C. Class A/B must show net worth ($45,000 Class A, $15,000 Class B) or alternatively a $50,000 surety bond. Class thresholds (Va. Code 54.1-1100): Class C single contract over $1,000 and under $30,000, or under $250,000 total in 12 months; Class B $30,000 to under $150,000 single / $250,000 to under $1 million annual; Class A $150,000+ single or $1 million+ annual. | Not verifiedNo state liability insurance minimum found in the pages read; null means unverified. | Initial Class C $235 plus $25 Recovery Fund assessment (18VAC50-22-100); Class B $380; Class A $400. DPOR also notes a $7.25/year technology fee on certain fees from July 1, 2026; DPOR forms in circulation show other totals, so confirm before paying. | ||
| WashingtonUnlicensed limit | General Contractor RegistrationState registration · Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I)Washington requires contractors to register with L&I with a bond and liability insurance, but no exam or experience. The $180 LLC fee is the base filing fee from the Secretary of State form (read via search excerpt); online filing adds a processing fee and expedited service adds $100. | Not verifiedNo experience requirement on the L&I registration page. | Not verifiedNo exam or training required for general contractor registration itself; extra requirements apply for plumbing, electrical, elevators, mobile home installation, boilers, asbestos. | $30,000$30,000 surety bond for general contractors ($15,000 for specialty); an assigned bank account of the same amount is an alternative. | $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined single limitPer L&I registration page; L&I must be listed as certificate holder (read via search excerpt). | $150.20 registration application and $150.20 renewal; $70.90 reinstatement after suspension. | ||
Covers the same 16 states as the unlicensed-limits table: the ten largest by population plus the states in the TradeAtlas licence directory.
Once you hold the licence
The licence is one part of running a company. Forming the business, insurance, writing your first bids and setting prices are in starting your own trades company. If you plan to add a specialty trade, the credentials library lists trade licences and certifications.