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How to Get a Contractor’s License in Indiana

Surety Bond Professionals is a family-owned and operated bonding agency with over 30 years of experience. With access to a broad range of surety markets, our expert agents are ready to assist with all of your Indiana contractor license bond needs. Learn how to get a contractor’s license in Indiana, below. What Contractor Licenses Are Issued in Indiana? The only contractors licensed at the state level in Indiana are plumbing contractors. All other contractors, both general and specialty, are licensed by the municipalities in which they operate. What Are the Steps in the Licensing Process? The local licensing process varies by jurisdiction, but they all involve providing proof of general liability insurance. If the contractor has employees, they also must provide proof of workers’ compensation insurance. They also typically involve providing letters of reference and agreeing to a criminal background check. Some municipalities require applicants for a general contractor or specialty contractor license to pass a written exam while others don’t. Some require a contractor license bond and others don’t. When a contractor license bond is required, it’s typically in the amount of $5,000, $10,000, or $20,000. Why Is a Contractor License Bond Required? An Indiana contractor license bond...

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How to Get a Contractor’s License in Alabama

Surety Bond Professionals is a family-owned and operated bonding agency with over 30 years of experience. With access to a broad range of surety markets, our expert agents are ready to assist with all of your Alabama contractor license bond needs. Learn how to get a contractor’s license in Alabama, below. What Contractor Licenses Are Issued in Alabama? Alabama contractors and subcontractors are required to be licensed by the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors if they work on commercial jobs valued at $50,000 or more or residential jobs of $10,000 or more, including the cost of labor and material. You may be able to continue working under a license from another state—specifically Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, or Tennessee—if you were licensed in that state for three consecutive years. A licensed subcontractor can bid on a job as a general contractor but must obtain a general contractor’s license before beginning to work on the job. Alabama also issues licenses in several construction specialties. What Are the Steps in the Licensing Process? Before you apply for an Alabama contractor’s license, you need to have registered your business with the Alabama Secretary of State if you will be operating as anything other...

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How to Get a Contractor’s License in Tennessee

Surety Bond Professionals is a family-owned and operated bonding agency with over 30 years of experience. With access to a broad range of surety markets, our expert agents are ready to assist with all of your Tennessee contractor license bond needs. Learn how to get a contractor’s license in Tennessee, below. What Contractor Licenses Are Issued in Tennessee? The Tennessee Code Annotated establishes the definitions for the various types of contractor licenses issued by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors. Tennessee contractor licenses are broadly categorized in terms of the size/value of projects the contractor is allowed to work on: Projects Under $25,000 Projects Over $25,000 Home Improvement Contractor license Prime/General Contractor license Limited Licensed Electrical Subcontractor license Limited Licensed Plumber Construction Management license Be aware that certain municipalities require contractors working in the jurisdiction to obtain a local license or permit in addition to a license issued by the state. What Are the Steps in the Licensing Process? In general, obtaining a state-level contractor’s license in Tennessee involves: Passing the Tennessee Business and Law exam Providing proof of workers’ compensation and general liability insurance Submitting an audited or reviewed financial statement to document net worth and operating capital...

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How to Get a Contractor’s License in Oregon

Surety Bond Professionals is a family-owned and operated bonding agency with over 30 years of experience. With access to a broad range of surety markets, our expert agents are ready to assist with all of your Oregon contractor license bond needs. Learn how to get a contractor’s license in Oregon, below. What Contractor Licenses Are Issued in Oregon? The Oregon Construction Contractors Board issues both residential and commercial contractor licenses with certain endorsements specifying the particular kind of work that can be performed in each case. There are seven endorsements for residential general contractor licenses and three for commercial. What Are the Steps in the Licensing Process? Here is an overview of key steps in the licensing process: Determine what type of license and endorsement you will need. Complete the pre-license training and pass the required examination. Register your business with the Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division, and the Oregon Department of Revenue. Purchase an Oregon contractor license bond in the amount required for your particular endorsement type. If you have both residential and commercial licenses, you must obtain two separate bonds. Obtain proof of proper workers’ compensation and general liability insurance. Download and complete the applicable application:...

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How to Get a Contractor’s License in North Carolina

Surety Bond Professionals is a family-owned and operated bonding agency with over 30 years of experience. With access to a broad range of surety markets, our expert agents are ready to assist with all of your North Carolina contractor license bond needs. Learn how to get a contractor’s license in North Carolina, below. What Contractor Licenses Are Issued in North Carolina? While North Carolina issues licenses to electrical, landscape, and HVAC licenses, the focus here is on the licensing of general contractors. The North Carolina Board of General Contractors issues licenses in five different classifications: Building contractor Residential contractor Highway contractor Public utilities contractor Specialty contractor Licenses in each of these categories are further classified as limited, intermediate, and unlimited classes based on the maximum allowable value of a single project. What Are the Steps in the Licensing Process? Before applying for a general contractor’s license of any type, you’ll need to register your business with the Office of the Secretary of State and meet certain eligibility requirements, including a passing grade on the applicable examination. You’ll also need to demonstrate the required level of working capital or purchase a North Carolina contractor’s license bond, as illustrated below. License...

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How to Get a Contractor’s License in Georgia

Surety Bond Professionals is a family-owned and operated bonding agency with over 30 years of experience. With access to a broad range of surety markets, our expert agents are ready to assist with all of your Georgia contractor license bond needs. Learn how to get a contractor’s license in Georgia, below. What Contractor Licenses Are Issued in Georgia? The Georgia Board for Residential and General Contractors issues four different types of contractor licenses: Residential-Basic Contractor License. Work is limited to detached one-and two-family homes and single-family townhouses of three stories or less. Residential-Light Commercial Contractor License. This includes all work allowed under a residential-basic contractor license, plus work on multi-family homes and multi-use light commercial buildings. General Contractor Licenses involve unlimited contractor services. General Contractor-Limited Licenses include everything permitted under a general contractor license but with a contract limit of $500,000. Education, experience, financial, and insurance requirements differ by license type. What Are the Steps in the Licensing Process? In general, getting licensed as a contractor in Georgia involves the following steps, though the details vary depending on the specific type of license you’re seeking: Determine which type of license you need and ensure that you meet the basic...

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How to Get a Contractor’s License in Texas

Surety Bond Professionals is a family-owned and operated bonding agency with over 30 years of experience. With access to a broad range of surety markets, our expert agents are ready to assist with all of your Texas contractor license bond needs. Learn how to get a contractor’s license in Texas, below. What Contractor Licenses Are Issued in Texas? In Texas, plumbers and electricians are licensed at the state level. However, other specialty contractors and general contractors are licensed locally, and not all local jurisdictions require contractor licensing. Electricians are licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Registration (TDLR) and plumbers are licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE). What Are the Steps in the Licensing Process? There are several different types of licenses for electrical and plumbing contractors. Refer to the TDLR or TSBPE website for a description of the different types of electrical and plumbing licenses and the procedures for obtaining the one you may need. Applications may be submitted online through these sites. Licensing requirements and procedures for specialty and general contractors vary by jurisdiction. You’ll need to check with the local government in the municipality where you plan to work to see...

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How to Get a Contractor’s License in Virginia

Surety Bond Professionals is a family-owned and operated bonding agency with over 30 years of experience. With access to a broad range of surety markets, our expert agents are ready to assist with all of your Virginia contractor license bond needs. Learn how to get a contractor’s license in Virginia, below. What Contractor Licenses Are Issued in Virginia? Virginia licenses contractors through the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, Virginia Board for Contractors. Virginia contractor licenses are classified in two different ways: The value of the projects undertaken The type of work done (general or specialty). The three main classes of Virginia contractor licenses are: License Class Single Project Value Total 12-Month Value of All Projects A Over $120,000 $750,000 plus B $10,000 to $120,000 $150,000 – $750,000 C $1,000 to $10,000 $150,000 or less All contractor licenses are issued to businesses, not individuals. This means that you must register your business with the state, even if you operate as a sole proprietor with only yourself as an employee. What Are the Steps in the Licensing Process? The licensing process is relatively straightforward: Register your business with the state. Complete the required eight hours of pre-licensing training and pass...

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How to Get a Contractor’s License in Florida

Surety Bond Professionals is a family-owned and operated bonding agency with over 30 years of experience. With access to a broad range of surety markets, our expert agents are ready to assist with all of your Florida contractor license bond needs. Learn how to get a contractor’s license in Florida, below. What Contractor Licenses Are Issued in Florida? Florida issues contractor licenses in two broad categories: Certified licenses, which are valid anywhere in the state Registered licenses, which are valid only in certain local jurisdictions Within each of these categories, Florida licenses residential contractors, building contractors, general contractors, and contractors in a variety of specialty trades. What Are the Steps in the Licensing Process? Licensing requirements and procedures vary depending on the type of license being sought. In general, whether you’re applying for a certified or registered contractor license, you’ll need to take and pass the Florida State Construction exam. Or, in the case of a certified contractor license, obtain a Certificate of Competency from the local jurisdiction in lieu of taking the written exam. Other requirements common to both certified and registered license applications are a credit score report and fingerprinting. The application packet for each type of...

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