If you plan to hire a contractor to do work in your home or on your property, then this is important information you need to know. Understanding all 50 State Contractor License Requirements and Verification Methods.
Contractor
Licensing Requirements
For All 50 States
Below I have also posted phone numbers and website links to help you verify the State License, Surety Bond or Liability Insurance of a Contractor or Carpet or Flooring Installer for all 50 states.
The State-Issued Contractor License
A Contractor’s License is designed to protect homeowners from shoddy or “fly-by-night” contractors.
In many states, Contractors may be required to purchase a Surety Bond and or/a General Liability Insurance Policy before the state will issue a license to conduct business within the state.
You should always verify to make sure anyone you hire to do work on your home or property is licensed according to your State’s requirements.
The Surety Bond
A Surety Bond is for the benefit of consumers who may be damaged as a result of defective or incomplete job completion; for license law violations; and for the benefit of employees (or sub-contractors) who have not been paid wages that are due to them by the general contractor.
Not all states require contractors to have a surety bond, but it is an important safeguard for homeowners.
If you are doing a major home project or remodel and your contractor does not have a surety bond, either find another contractor who does or speak with your attorney and get professional advice before you proceed. Learn more about Surety Bonds
The Contractor’s Liability Insurance Policy
A Contractors General Liability Insurance Policy is used specifically for coverage in the construction, home remodeling and building trades.
This policy pays for damages to property and persons caused by the contractor. This insurance also covers a range of issues from accidents to negligence and oversight.
Important: Be sure to ask the contractor to have his insurance agent send you a Certificate of Insurance naming you as an “additional insured” on the policy before any work begins.
The Certificate will verify the contractor’s Commercial General Liability and Workers Compensation insurance and should be provided to you free of charge.
The Workers’ Compensation Policy
Workers’ Compensation is a form of insurance providing wage replacement and medical benefits to employees injured in the course of employment in exchange for mandatory relinquishment of the employee’s right to sue his or her employer for the tort of negligence.
It is very important that your contractor and all his helpers and subcontractors are covered by a Workers Compensation policy while working on your property. Otherwise you could end up liable for medical costs and more.
Below you will find websites that will help you verify your contractors’ license, surety bond, liability insurance and workers’ compensation policy.
Finding Qualified Carpet or Flooring Installers
Even if your contractor has a license, bond, insurance and a valid workers compensation policy does not mean he is qualified to perform the quality of work you need preformed in your home.
If you are installing high-end products, you need to hire a contractor that is qualified and experiences in installing the same high-end materials.
Contractor License Requirements?
This is why it is also important for you to ask for and verify references before you hire any contractor or carpet or flooring installer. I know it is a pain in the neck to call and verify references, but it helps make sure you get quality installation.
Read my free article about How to Find a Qualified Carpet or Flooring Installer to learn more.
Always Verify Your Contractor License Requirements Before You Hire
Is your Carpet or Flooring Installer required to be Licensed, Bonded & Insured? Select your state below to see if your carpet or flooring installer is subject to State Licensing Regulations.
Also check to make sure everyone working on your property is covered by a valid Workers Compensation Policy.
One Price for Carpet, Padding and Installation?
If you purchase carpet or flooring from reputable flooring dealer, and they provide installation services for you, either by their own employees or an independent installation crew, then it is the responsibility of the flooring dealer to make sure the installer provided is properly licensed and insured.
The main key here is to make sure you pay the flooring dealer directly for the materials and installation labor, and it is shown combined together on one invoice as shown above. (This exception does not apply if you pay the installer for their services directly.)
Handling Carpet Installation Complaints
If the dealer provides installation as part of a package deal, then should you have a problem or complaint about your carpet installation, you can call the dealer where you bought it.
The dealer is responsible to make arrangements to have your carpet installation concerns addressed and corrected if necessary. In this situation you do not contact the installer directly if you have a concern or complaint, you contact the dealer.
Bear in mind that most carpet installations are only guaranteed for just one year. Beyond that time-frame you may have no recourse.
All 50 States Contractor License Requirements and Verification Methods
(States Listed Alphabetically)
ALASKA
Contractors must be registered with the Department of Community and Economic Development. To find out if a contractor is licensed in Alaska, call (907) 465-2546 or (907) 465-3035. To Verify Worker’s Compensation Insurance visit: http://labor.state.ak.us/wc/exit.html
ALABAMA
No state license required. To find out if a contractor is licensed in Alabama, call (334) 242-2839.
ARKANSAS
A state contractor’s license may be required. To find out if a contractor is licensed in Arkansas, call (501) 372-4661. To Verify Worker’s Compensation Insurance visit: http://www.awcc.state.ar.us/electron.html
ARIZONA
Contractors must be licensed by the state. To find out if a contractor is licensed in Arizona call (602) 542 1525. To Verify Worker’s Compensation Insurance visit: http://www.ica.state.az.us/HomePage/HOME_NCCI_Redirect.aspx
CALIFORNIA
Contractors must be licensed by the state. To find out if a contractor is licensed in California, click https://www2.cslb.ca.gov/onlineservices/CheckLicenseII/checklicense.aspx . To Verify Worker’s Compensation Insurance visit https://www.caworkcompcoverage.com/CoverageInfo.aspx
COLORADO
No state license is required. Check for license requirements at the local level. To Verify Worker’s Compensation Insurance visit: http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/CDLE-WorkComp/CDLE/1248095316013
CONNECTICUT
Contractors must be certified by the state. To find out if a contractor is certified in Connecticut click call (860) 713-6135. To Verify Worker’s Compensation Insurance visit: http://wcc.state.ct.us/online-services/coverage-verification-service.htm
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Contractors must be licensed by the state. To find out if a contractor is licensed in the District of Columbia call (202) 442-4311.
DELAWARE
No state license is required. Check for license requirements at the local level.
FLORIDA
Contractors must be registered or certified. To find out if a contractor licensed in Florida click https://www.myfloridalicense.com/wl11.asp.
GEORGIA
A state license may be required. To find out if a contractor is licensed in Georgia, click https://secure.sos.state.ga.us/myverification/ or call (478) 207-1416. To Verify Worker’s Compensation Insurance http://sbwc.georgia.gov/
HAWAII
Specialty contractors must be licensed by the state. To find out if a contractor is licensed in Hawaii, click http://hbe.ehawaii.gov/cogs/search.html or http://www.ehawaii.gov/dcca/pvllist/html// or call (808) 587-3295.
IOWA
Contractors must be licensed by the state. To find out if a contractor is licensed in Iowa call 515-242-5871. To Verify Worker’s Compensation Insurance visit: http://www.iowaworkforce.org/wc/links.htm
IDAHO
No state license is required. Check for license requirements at the local level. To Verify Worker’s Compensation Insurance visit: http://www.iic.idaho.gov/index.html
ILLINOIS
Most contractors do not need to be licensed.
INDIANA
No state license required. Check for license requirements at the local level.
KANSAS
No state license required. Check for licensing requirements at the local level.
KENTUCKY
No state license required. Check for license requirements at the local level.
LOUISIANA
Contractors must be licensed by the state. To find out if a contractor is licensed in Louisiana, call (800) 256-1392. To Verify Worker’s Compensation Insurance visit: http://www.laworks.net/WorkersComp/OWC_EmployerMenu.asp
MASSACHUSETTS
A state license is required. To find out if a contractor is licensed in Massachusetts, click http://www.state.ma.us/bbrs/Hicsearch.htm To Verify Worker’s Compensation Insurance visit: http://64.73.26.43/Disclaimer.aspx
MARYLAND
A state license is required. To find out if a contractor is licensed in Maryland call (410) 230-6176. To Verify Worker’s Compensation Insurance visit: http://www.wcc.state.md.us/wfms/online_cvs.html
MAINE
No state license is required. Check for license requirements at the local level.
MICHIGAN
Contractors must be licensed. To find out if a contractor is licensed in Michigan click on http://www.cis.state.mi.us/verify.htm. To Verify Worker’s Compensation Insurance visit: http://www.dleg.state.mi.us/bwuc/wkrcomp/asp/sr_bwdc.asp
MINNESOTA
A state license may be required. To find out if a contractor is licensed in Minnesota, call (651) 296-6319 or (800) 657-3978. To Verify Worker’s Compensation Insurance visit: http://www.inslookup.doli.state.mn.us/
MISSOURI
No state license required. Check for license requirements at the local level.
MISSISSIPPI
A certificate or license may be required. To find out if a contractor is has a certificate or license, call (800) 880-6161.
MONTANA
Contractors must register with the Department of Labor and Industry if they have employees. To find out if a contractor is licensed in Montana, call (406) 444-7734.
NORTH CAROLINA
No state license is required. To find out if a contractor is licensed, call (919) 571-4183
NORTH DAKOTA
A state license may be required. To find out if a contractor is licensed in North Dakota, call (701) 328-3665.
NEBRASKA
A state license may be required. To find out if a contractor is licensed in Nebraska call (402) 595-3189. To Verify Worker’s Compensation Insurance visit: https://inet.wcc.ne.gov/apps/npoc/(S(i2zauu3jr0tew4jan51fv2if))/NPOC0001Afrm.aspx
NEW HAMPSHIRE
No state license is required. Check for license requirements at the local level.
NEW JERSEY
Registration is required by the state. To find out if a contractor is registered in New Jersey, call 609-984-7910. To Verify Worker’s Compensation Insurance visit: http://pcov.njcrib.com/PcovA.aspx
NEW MEXICO
Construction contractors must be licensed by the state. To find out if a contractor is licensed in New Mexico, go to http://public.psiexams.com/search.jsp or call (505) 827-7030 in Santa Fe, (505) 841-8020 in Albuquerque or (505) 524-6320 in Las Cruces. To Verify Worker’s Compensation Insurance visit: http://www.workerscomp.state.nm.us/
NEVADA
A state license may be required. To find out if a contractor is licensed in Nevada, call 702-486-1100.
NEW YORK
No state license is required. Check for license requirements at the local level. To Verify Worker’s Compensation Insurance visit: http://www.wcb.ny.gov/content/ebiz/icempcovsearch/icempcovsearch_overview.jsp
OHIO
No state license required. General construction contractors may need to be licensed at the local level. Check with the city or county for licensing requirements. To Verify Worker’s Compensation Insurance visit: https://www.ohiobwc.com/provider/services/mcolookup/nlbwc/default.asp
OKLAHOMA
No state license is required. To Verify Worker’s Compensation Insurance visit: http://www.owcc.state.ok.us/ncci_coverage.htm
OREGON
Contractors must register with the Oregon Construction Contractors Board. To find out if a contractor is licensed in Oregon click https://ccbed.ccb.state.or.us/ccb_frames/consumer_info/ccb_index.htm or call (503) 378-4621. To Verify Worker’s Compensation Insurance visit: http://www.cbs.state.or.us/wcd/operations/coverage/online_coverage.pdf
PENNSYLVANIA
No state license is required. Check for license requirements at the local level. To Verify Worker’s Compensation Insurance visit: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=552709&mode=2
RHODE ISLAND
A state license may be required. To find out if a contractor is licensed in Rhode Island call (401) 222-1268. To Verify Worker’s Compensation Insurance visit: http://www.dlt.ri.gov/wc/fraud_coverage.htm
SOUTH CAROLINA
Contractors must be licensed by the state. To find out if a contractor is licensed in South Carolina call (803) 896-4696.
SOUTH DAKOTA
No state license required. Check for license requirements at the local level. To Verify Worker’s Compensation Insurance visit: http://dol.sd.gov/workerscomp/coverage.aspx
TENNESSEE
Contractors must have a state license. To find out if a contractor is licensed in Tennessee, call (615) 741-8307. To Verify Worker’s Compensation Insurance visit: http://www.tennessee.gov/labor-wfd/wcomp.html
TEXAS
No state license is required. Check with your city or county for local requirements.
UTAH
Contractors must have a license from the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing. To find out if a contractor is licensed in Utah click https://secure.utah.gov/llv/llv.
VIRGINIA
Some construction contractors must be licensed. To find out if a contractor is licensed in Virginia, call (804) 367-8511.
VERMONT
No state license is required. Check for license requirements at the local level.
WASHINGTON STATE
Contractors must register with the Washington Department of Labor and Industries. To find out if a contractor is licensed in Washington, click https://fortress.wa.gov/lni/bbip/ Or call (360) 902-5226. To Verify Worker’s Compensation Insurance visit: https://secure.lni.wa.gov/verify/
WISCONSIN
No state license required. Check for license requirements at the local level. To Verify Worker’s Compensation Insurance visit: https://www.wcrb.org/WCRB/CoverageLookup/CoverageLookupSearch.aspx
WEST VIRGINIA
Contractors must be licensed. To find out if a contractor is licensed in West Virginia, call (304) 558-7890 or (877) 558-5134. To Verify Worker’s Compensation Insurance visit: http://www.wvinsurance.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=73
WYOMING
No state license is required. Contractors are licensed at the city or county level.
Disclaimer: While I try hard to make sure all the information provided on this website is accurate and up-to-date, I do not guarantee that the information posted herein is complete, accurate or up-to-date since laws and regulations, phone numbers and websites are constantly changing. Please verify all information with your state offices or seek professional advice.
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