Contractor license reciprocity and transfer, state by state
Moving with a general contractor license? Here is what each state's board says it accepts from other states, with the partner lists exactly as the boards publish them.
On this page
How general contractor licenses move between states
No license is valid nationwide: the board in the state you move to decides whether it accepts yours. Across the 34 states we cover, the routes boards publish for the main general contractor license are military service members and spouses (10), exam waiver (8), reciprocity agreements (6), temporary license or permit (4), universal license recognition (2) and license by endorsement (2). 5 boards name the states whose licenses they accept; those lists are one-way, so a state on the list does not necessarily accept a license from the listing state. What each route means.
General contractor reciprocity by state
| State | License | Routes the board publishes | States the board lists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Prime Contractor (General Contractor license) | Reciprocity agreements1 Military service members and spouses2 | Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee3 |
| Alaska | General Contractor (without Residential Endorsement) | Military service members and spouses4 | – |
| Arizona | B General Residential Contractor | Exam waiver5 Universal license recognition6 Military service members and spouses7 | – |
| Arkansas | Residential Builders | Reciprocity agreements8 Temporary license or permit9 | Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and North Carolina8 |
| California | B - General Building Contractor | Reciprocity agreements10 Exam waiver11 | Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada and North Carolina12 |
| Colorado | No state license13 | – | – |
| Connecticut | Home Improvement Contractor | No route published | – |
| Delaware | Contractor Registration Certificate | No route published | – |
| Illinois | No state license14 | – | – |
| Indiana | No state license15 | – | – |
| Iowa | Contractor Registration | No route published | – |
| Kansas | No state license16 | – | – |
| Louisiana | Commercial license | Exam waiver17 Military service members and spouses18 | – |
| Maine | No state license19 | – | – |
| Maryland | Contractor (Maryland Home Improvement Commission license) | No reciprocity20 | – |
| Michigan | Individual Residential Builder | No reciprocity21 Military service members and spouses22 | – |
| Minnesota | Residential building contractor | No reciprocity23 | – |
| Nevada | Classification B: General Building | License by endorsement24 Exam waiver25 Military service members and spouses26 | Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia24 |
| New Jersey | Home Improvement Contractor registration (NJHIC#) | No reciprocity27 | – |
| New Mexico | GB-98 General building | Reciprocity agreements28 Exam waiver29 Military service members and spouses29 | No list on the pages cited |
| North Carolina | Unlimited License | Reciprocity agreements30 Military service members and spouses30 Temporary license or permit30 | No list on the pages cited |
| North Dakota | Contractor License, Class A | No reciprocity31 | – |
| Ohio | No state license32 | – | – |
| Oklahoma | No state license33 | – | – |
| Pennsylvania | Home Improvement Contractor Registration | No reciprocity34 | – |
| Rhode Island | Contractors' Registration | No reciprocity35 | – |
| South Carolina | General Contractor (license issued to an entity by the South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board, in license groups 1-5 and classifications such as General Contractors-Building) | Exam waiver36 Military service members and spouses37 | – |
| Texas | No state license38 | – | – |
| Utah | B100 General Building Contractor | Universal license recognition39 | – |
| Vermont | Residential Contractor - Business Registration | No route published | – |
| Virginia | Class A Contractor License | Exam waiver40 Temporary license or permit41 Military service members and spouses40 | States named for the waiver: North Carolina and Ohio40 |
| Washington | General Contractor (Construction Contractor Registration) | No reciprocity42 | – |
| West Virginia | General Building | Reciprocity agreements43 Exam waiver44 Temporary license or permit45 License by endorsement46 | Tennessee44 |
| Wisconsin | Dwelling Contractor Qualifier | No route published | – |
Each state's own board decides whom it accepts. Before you move, read the conditions on the state page and confirm with the board.
Sources
Every number and rule above links to one of these official pages. Select a footnote number to read the board's own words.
- Alabama LBGC reciprocityAlabama Licensing Board for General ContractorsChecked November 5, 2026
- Ala. Admin. Code r. 230-X-1-.45Alabama Legislative Services AgencyDated July 12, 2021Checked November 5, 2026
- 2026-OOS-VerificationAlabama Licensing Board for General ContractorsChecked November 8, 2026
- Centralized Licensing StatsAlaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional LicensingChecked November 5, 2026
- Out-of-State Waiver Request Form RC-L-200GArizona Registrar of ContractorsChecked November 7, 2026
- A.R.S. 32-4302Arizona State LegislatureChecked November 7, 2026
- Service Members and VeteransArizona Registrar of ContractorsChecked November 7, 2026
- Reciprocal form (revised 3/2025)Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board, Arkansas Department of Labor and LicensingChecked November 6, 2026
- Arkansas Residential Contractors Licensing Law, Statutes and Rules (revised 04.2026)Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board, Arkansas Department of Labor and LicensingChecked November 6, 2026
- General Information on ReciprocityContractors State License BoardChecked November 5, 2026
- Reciprocity RequirementsContractors State License BoardChecked November 5, 2026
- Reciprocal Classifications ListContractors State License BoardChecked November 5, 2026
- Home & Repair | Department of Regulatory AgenciesColorado Department of Regulatory AgenciesChecked November 5, 2026
- illinoisattorneygeneral.govIllinois Attorney GeneralChecked November 5, 2026
- IN.gov | Business Owner's GuideState of Indiana (IN.gov)Checked November 5, 2026
- Construction and Contracting Starter KitKansas Business Center (Kansas.gov)Checked November 5, 2026
- lslbc.govLouisiana State Licensing Board for ContractorsDated October 23, 2024Checked November 7, 2026
- lslbc.govLouisiana State Licensing Board for ContractorsDated August 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- maine.govMaine Office of the Attorney GeneralChecked November 5, 2026
- Licensing FAQs for ApplicantsMaryland Department of LaborChecked November 5, 2026
- Occupational Code Article 24 PDFMichigan LegislatureDated February 11, 2025Checked November 6, 2026
- Active Duty Military Personnel, Veterans and Military Spouse InformationMichigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Construction CodesChecked November 6, 2026
- Exam guideMinnesota Department of Labor and IndustryChecked November 6, 2026
- Licensure by EndorsementNevada State Contractors BoardDated February 11, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
- New License ApplicationNevada State Contractors BoardChecked November 7, 2026
- Veterans Assistance ProgramNevada State Contractors BoardDated July 9, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
- L2023c237 legislative history: Home Improvement and Home Elevation Contractor Licensing Act, P.L.2023,…New Jersey State Library (State Law Library legislative history: P.L.2023, c.237 final text)Dated January 8, 2024Checked November 5, 2026
- NMSA 1978 Chapter 60 Business Licenses (unannotated), includes Article 13 Construction Industries…New Mexico Compilation Commission (NMOneSource.com), linked from NMRLD CID Laws and RulesChecked November 5, 2026
- 14.6.3 NMAC Contractor License RequirementsNew Mexico State Records Center and ArchivesDated January 13, 2023Checked November 5, 2026
- 21 NCAC 12 Licensing Board for General Contractors - chapter rulesNorth Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings (North Carolina Administrative Code)Checked November 6, 2026
- ContractorsNorth Dakota Office of the Secretary of StateChecked November 6, 2026
- Ohio Construction Industry Licensing BoardOhio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial ComplianceChecked November 7, 2026
- Construction Industries Board home (Oklahoma General Contractors Statement)Oklahoma Construction Industries BoardChecked November 6, 2026
- Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, Act of Oct. 17, 2008, P.L. 1645, No. 132 (73 P.S. 517.1 et seq.)Pennsylvania General AssemblyChecked November 6, 2026
- Contractor Registration - ApplyRhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing BoardDated December 20, 2024Checked November 6, 2026
- S.C. Code Title 40 Chapter 11 - ContractorsSouth Carolina LegislatureChecked November 7, 2026
- S.C. Code Title 40 Chapter 1 - Professions and Occupations general provisionsSouth Carolina LegislatureChecked November 7, 2026
- New Business Guide (Houston Business Solutions Center)City of Houston Office of Business OpportunityChecked November 6, 2026
- Utah Code 58-1-302 License by endorsement (current version)Utah State LegislatureDated July 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Board for ContractorsVirginia Department of Professional and Occupational RegulationChecked November 6, 2026
- 18VAC50-22 Board for Contractors Regulations (full chapter)Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Information System (Virginia Administrative Code)Checked November 6, 2026
- RCW 18.27 Registration of contractors (full chapter)Washington State Legislature (Revised Code of Washington)Checked November 6, 2026
- Reciprocity Application TennesseeWV Contractor Licensing BoardDated December 1, 2024Checked November 6, 2026
- Frequently Asked QuestionsWV Contractor Licensing BoardChecked November 7, 2026
- Title 28 Legislative Rule Series 2 - WV Contractor Licensing ActWV Contractor Licensing BoardDated May 1, 2022Checked November 7, 2026
- W. Va. Code §30-42-18WV Legislature - West Virginia CodeChecked November 6, 2026