If you are a contractor in one state you may eventually decide that you’d like to engage in business in another state. If so, you are probably wondering if your license can be transferred without you having to go through the entire application process in another state. When a state allows you to transfer your license without making you go through the entire application process this is called contractor reciprocity. Each state has agreements with other states, but not all states have agreements with one another. Scroll down to find your state to see what states you can transfer your license to.
Contractor Reciprocity By State
Alabama: The state of Alabama will recognize licenses in good standing from the following states: Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee.
Alaska: Alaska does not have agreements with any other states at this time. You must complete an entire application to perform contracting services in Alaska.
Arizona: Arizona has agreements with California, Nevada, and Utah. This agreement may allow you to bypass the trade portion of the exam in Arizona, but you will still have to take the Arizona Business Management Exam and meet all other requirements to become a contractor in Arizona before you can be issued a license.
Arkansas: Arkansas has contractor reciprocity with Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. This agreement will only give you an exam waiver – the rest of the contractor application must be filled out in Arkansas. In order to receive the exam waiver you will be required to complete a request for verification of license and an affidavit form.
California: The State of California has agreements with Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. To be eligible for reciprocity in California, you must have had a license in one of the above listed states for at least 5 years. You must also submit a request for verification of your license and complete the contractor license application in California. Last, you may have the trade portion of your exam waived, but you will still be required to take the business portion of the exam in California.
Colorado: The State of Colorado does not license contractors at the state level, but rather at the local level and does not have reciprocity agreements with other states.
Connecticut: They do not currently have contractor reciprocity agreements with any other states.
Delaware: Delaware does not currently have any agreements with other states.
Florida: Florida does not have any reciprocity agreements at this time.
Georgia: Georgia does not currently have agreements with any other states.
Hawaii: No contractor reciprocity at this time.
Idaho: Idaho has reciprocal agreements with Washington, Oregon, and Montana for PLUMBERS only. Idaho also has an agreement with Oregon for Master Electricians and with Oregon and Montana for Journeyman Electricians.
Illinois: Illinois does not require a license to become a general contractor, and therefore has no reciprocity agreements with other states.
Indiana: Indiana does not license contractors statewide and only some counties and cities require contractors to be licensed. Because of this, they do not have agreements with any other state.
Iowa: In the State of Iowa, only electricians, plumbers, and mechanical contractors are required to be licensed with the state. Other contractors must only register. Iowa decides reciprocity on a case-by-case basis but in order to be eligible you must have been licensed in another state in the same field of work for at least a year. Contact the Iowa State Board to determine whether or not you are eligible.
Kansas: Kansas does not require state licensing for general contractors, they must only register with the state, therefore no contractor reciprocity exists in the state.
Kentucky: Only plumbing, electrical, and HVAC contractors must be licensed in Kentucky. They do not have reciprocal agreements with any other states at this time.
Louisiana: They have agreements with Alabama for general contractors, heating and air conditioning contractors, and electrical contractors. They have an agreement with Arkansas and Mississippi for general contractors. They also have an agreement with North Carolina for electrical contractors and Ohio for some classifications. Additionally, they have agreements with South Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah. These agreements do not allow you to bypass the Business and Law Exam in Louisiana and you must contact the state to determine your eligibility.
Maine: Maine does not have reciprocity agreements with any other states.
Maryland: Maryland does not have any contractor reciprocity agreements.
Massachusetts: They only license certain trades in this state. Massachusetts does not license general contractors. They do have reciprocal agreements with Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont for the Master Electrician license.
Michigan: They do not have reciprocity agreements with any other state at this time.
Minnesota: No agreements currently exist.
Mississippi: They have contractor reciprocity agreements with Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, and South Carolina. The contractor must have had a license with one of the above listed states for at least three years and must submit a verification form. In addition, the contractor must still fill out an application in Mississippi and meet all state requirements to be issued a contractors license.
Missouri: They do not license general contractors so no agreements exist.
Montana: They have contractor reciprocity with North Dakota, Oregon, and Idaho for plumbers only. You must provide a letter of verification from the licensing agency in your state and pay a fee.
Nebraska: For electrical contractors only, Nebraska has agreements with Minnesota and South Dakota. If you are an electrical journeyman, Nebraska has agreements with Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
Nevada: They have reciprocity agreements with Arizona, California, and Utah. This agreement only allows you to bypass the trade exam and you will need to meet all other state requirements. Additionally, you must be active in the state you are coming from for at least 5 of the last 7 years. You must be able to prove that you have a license in another state and that you have been active.
New Hampshire: They have agreements with Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maine. You will need four years experience and you will still have to pay the licensing fee. You can NOT get a license via reciprocity if you have EVER failed a New Hampshire electrician’s exam.
New Jersey: They do not have reciprocity for contractors currently.
New Mexico: They have reciprocity with the following states for electricians: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. They are currently working on an agreement with Texas. You must currently hold a license in one of the above listed states and you must still fill out an application in New Mexico.
New York: The State of New York licensed contractors by locality and does not have reciprocal agreements with any other states.
North Carolina: This state has contractor reciprocity agreements with Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. The agreement will allow you to bypass the exam portion of the exam. You will be required to pay the fee and fill out an application.
North Dakota: They have agreements with South Dakota, Minnesota, and Montana.
Ohio: This state has agreements with Kentucky and West Virginia for electricians only.
Oklahoma: They do not have agreements with any other states at this time.
Oregon: There is no reciprocity agreements with other states at this time.
Pennsylvania: They do not currently have any agreements with other states.
Rhode Island: No reciprocity agreements exist.
South Carolina: They have agreements with Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, and Texas. These agreements vary, so check with the licensing board in South Carolina to determine your eligibility.
South Dakota: In South Dakota, if you have an electrician’s license in Minnesota you will have reciprocity. There are also agreements with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Washington and Wyoming for journeyman electricians.
Tennessee: They have contractor reciprocity agreements with Alabama for general contractors, home builders, HVAC contractors, and electrical contractors. They have agreements with Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina for general contractors. You will need to provide license verification.
Texas: No agreements with other states at this time.
Utah: They have agreements with Arizona, California, Louisiana, Nevada, And South Carolina for general contractors. You will have to check with the State of Utah to see what classifications are available for reciprocity. Under the agreement, trade tests can be waived but other requirements must still be met.
Vermont: They have agreements with New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts for electrical contractors. They have an agreement with New Hampshire for plumbers.
Virginia: They may grant a license based on reciprocity on a case-by-case basis. Check with the state to see if you are able to qualify.
Washington: They do not currently have any agreements with other states.
West Virginia: Construction contractors do not need to be licensed in the State of West Virginia, therefore no agreements with other states are in place.
Wisconsin: The State of Wisconsin does not currently have contractor reciprocity agreements with any other state.
Wyoming: They have agreements with Utah, Montana, Washington, Alaska, Colorado, Arkansas, New Mexico, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and New Hampshire for journeyman electricians and with Idaho, South Dakota, and New Hampshire for Master Electricians.
While this list is believed to be comprehensive, always be sure to check with your state contractor’s board to make sure what you need to do to obtain a license.
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Thx for this great information that you are sharing with us!!!