Overview of the Qualifications, Licenses and Certifications for Required of Home Improvement Contractors

Many different home improvement contractors are available to help with everything from home maintenance to interior remodeling to exterior work.

So how exactly do we define who is a home improvement contractor? A home improvement contractor is an individual or organization that enters into a legally binding agreement to do construction work or provide supplies at a fixed rate or price for another individual or organization. It may seem that anyone with construction knowledge can call themselves a contractor, but this is not necessarily the case.

To be a legitimate contractor in the United States one needs to:

Be at least 18 years old.
Give proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency.
Have liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage.

Note that a certificate of insurance should also be ready to show customers. Contractors can get certificates of insurance that show policy limits and coverage dates from insurance carriers.

Let’s explore the different kinds of construction contractors and the experience needed for each.

General Contractor

A general contractor is responsible for the entire construction project and accepts full responsibility for the construction process and final results. Subcontractors may be hired by a general contractor to work on various aspects of a project. A subcontractor is an individual or business that enters into a legally binding agreement to complete some or all of a contractor’s work. The general contractor may hire electrical, plumbing, and roofing subcontractors as well as subcontractors for the various other construction specialties. The general contractor coordinates the work and pays the subcontractors.

Specific requirements for general contractors can vary slightly by state, but here are the requirements that are most common for general contractors:

Have at least 2 years experience in home improvement, construction, or related education.
Must fill out credit report application form providing proof of credit to pay debts and long-term expenses as they become due in the course of business.
Must submit articles of incorporation and certificate of good standing from the Assessments & Taxation Department in one’s state if representing a corporation.
Must check with state’s department of licensing if they want to use a trade name to make sure the name is available to use. If so, register the name with their state’s assessments and taxation department. Submit trade name registration certificate with license application.
Proof of $50,000 liability insurance in effect at all times.
Renew license every 2 years

In addition to the above requirements, several types of contractors require a license. For the most part, contractors don’t need a license to bid on work less than a few hundred dollars. In most states though, licenses are required for those working in the electrical, plumbing, and HVACR fields. Roofing licenses are required in many states such as Alaska, Illinois, and North Carolina and not required in other states like Georgia and Delaware. Siding contractor licenses are also required in states such as California, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. Mississippi, New Mexico, and Minnesota are a few states that require a license for home remodeling. In some states, state licenses are not required but local licenses are so contractors should contact the local government in the area where they intend to work.

The following construction fields do not typically have specific licensing requirements, but it is still advised to check with your local state government to be sure: basement waterproofing, carpet & floors, general cleaning, decks, patios, & sunrooms, general repairs & maintenance, painting, power washing, windows & doors. For many states, licenses in certain specialties are not required, but if the work is over a certain amount (usually $500) registration or a license may be necessary.

Licenses vary by state. Visit http://www.cutredtape.com/us_licensing.html and http://www.cacontractorreferral.com/ to see what specialties require licenses in what states.

Here are general licensing requirements for a few fields that demand licensing:

> Find a General Contractor

Electrical Contractors

Master Electrician

Be employed in electrical services for at least 7 years under master electrician.
Pass exam (http://candidate.psiexams.com/index.jsp)
Apply to Board of Master Electricians for license in your state.

> Find an Electrician

HVACR

Journeyman

Been licensed as an apprentice for at least 3 years.
Completed at least 1,875 hours of training under licensed HVACR contractor while an apprentice.
Pass journeyman exam with score of 70% or above.
Currently hold an apprentice license.

Limited license

Licensed as a journeyman and worked under HVACR Master for at least 2 years.
Work at least 1,000 hours in year prior to application.
Pass limited contractor exam with score of 70% or above.
Hold a journeyman or high level license.

Master restricted license

Licensed as journeyman and worked at least 3 years under HVACR master.
Worked at least 1,875 hours year before applying.
Pass master restricted exam with score of 70% or above.
Hold a journeyman or higher level license.

Master license

Licensed as a journeyman and employed at least 3 years under licensed HVACR master.
Worked at least 1,875 hours year before applying for master license.
Pass master exam with at least a 70%.
Hold journeyman or higher level license.

> Find a HVACR Contractor

Plumbers

Journey Plumber

Held an apprentice license for at least 4 years.
Have completed 7,500 hours of training under licensed master plumber.
ave completed 32 hours of training in backflow prevention device testing.
Pass comprehensive written exam.

Master Plumber

Held a journey license for at least 2 years.
Have completed 3,700 hours of training under licensed master plumber.
Pass comprehensive written exam.

> Find a Plumber

Remember that these requirements vary slightly by state. Regardless of their field, contractors need knowledge and experience. The majority of contractors start out as an apprentice. Apprentices must be at least 16 years old and in some cases, apprentices must be at least 18 years old. They then progress in their field through on-the-job and often class-time training.

It is important to follow and look for general contractor qualifications if you are an independent home improvement contractor or are hiring someone to work on a construction project.

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All Around the Home (http://www.allaroundthehome.com) is a national home improvement contractor directory. Homeowners can find established, quality contractors with experience in home improvement contracts and repairs such as electricians, roofers and plumbers.

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