How to Become a Licensed Contractor
Feb 22, 2023
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Licensed Contractors
A licensed contractor is the person or firm that takes on the major roles of building a new home for others. They are the ones who will oversee the project for the homeowner and all the jobs that go along with it. The contractor will come in daily to make sure that all the other trades are doing their jobs. If they aren’t there, the contractor will call to find out why and when they can be expected.
There are many sites that can tell you what you need to do in order to become a licensed contractor. You can just Google “How to get a contractors license” and hundreds of ideas come up. You can even specify which state that you are thinking about getting your contractor’s license from.
This article will give you some general ideas on how to become a contractor. It is only a beginning; you should do more research and not just rely on one article. You can also go to your state’s licensing board and get more information there.
Steps to Becoming a Licensed Contractor
1. Determine Which Type of Contractor You Want to Become
Before you try to get your license, you must first decide which type of contractor you want to be. There are different types, and each has its pros and cons for the jobs. Here is a brief list of some of the different types of contractors:
General Contractor – a general contractor will mostly manage new buildings such as homes and office buildings. They will be in charge of the other trades and make sure all the work is done on time. They also work on home renovations and remodeling of both homes and businesses.
Specialty Contractor – this type of contractor will specialize in one part of the building such as the roofing or the electrical. Some states require you to have a specialty contractor for each aspect of building the home or building.
Mechanical Contractor – this person will work on only the mechanical aspects of the home or building such as the plumbing, heating, or refrigeration. They don’t get to work on the installation of those things, that is for other trades to be working on. Instead, they will work on deciding where everything will go.
2. Educational Requirements
Next you need to think about the educational requirements that you must do before you can become a contractor. This usually requires at least a high school diploma or equivalent and can sometimes require some specialized training. In high school you will want to focus on algebra, geometry, or drafting and other such skills. After high school you will want to focus on some of these skills:
Degree Level and Field – There are many states that require you to have at least a bachelor's degree in a field that covers contracting work. Focus on classes in architecture, engineering, project planning, and construction management. See here to see other classes that you could take for this career: https://www.zippia.com/general-contractor-jobs/education/. There will be more chances for you to further your education if you choose project planning or construction management. These fields offer master’s degrees in the areas that you are wanting to further your education in.
Experience – Sometimes it is not feasible for you to go to college for a variety of reasons. In this case, you can get on the job training by following a journeyman worker. You will need at least three years of experience to begin to get your contractor’s license. You might need more experience so that you can gain knowledge in every aspect of the job. You don’t want to just practice building walls or roofs, you want knowledge in all areas.
Key Skills – You need to know more about just the areas of house building, you will also need to know legal restrictions and regulations as well as how to operate any necessary equipment. You will also need to have awesome communication skills, both written and oral. Analytical skills, supervisory skills, budget skills, and time management are also skills that you will need to have.
3. Go Through Training
To get the extra training that you will need to have that is beyond your formal education and on the job training you will need to contact you local licensing board. This is a board that is a governing body that oversees licensing and exams for the new contractors. There are specific regulations and requirements for each state, so you will need to go to the state that you want to be licensed in.
You will also need to pass an exam successfully in order to become a licensed contractor. If you are going to be working on any project that is over $500, you will need to pass this exam before you are able to. You will not be able to bid on jobs if you have not passed this exam, so don’t skip this step.
4. Create Your Business Plan
You will next need to create a business plan for the business that you want to have. You want to include every aspect of your business that you will want to work on. You will want to identify your differentiation and tell what makes you more special than the next guy. You will need to calculate your finances to be able to have the finances you will need to start your business. This includes every dime that you will need to have to be successful.
Next, plan your marketing to be able to get the name and reputation of your business out there. You will want to have a unique name and logo that is different from anyone else’s business. You will want to market in every aspect that you can including print, radio, television, and word of mouth.
After that you will want to develop your templates for your business, including all contracts that you wish to use, pricing agreements, and payment terms. You want to make sure that you cover all bases to make sure that you won’t get into any legal trouble.
These are just a few of the steps that you need to do before you can become a licensed contractor. These steps will get you started, but there is also more research for you to do. You want to make sure that you cover everything and have everything in order.
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