Indiana Contractor License Courses, Classes & Exam Prep

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Overview & Benefits

Obtaining a Contractor's License in Indiana

Do you want to be a contractor in Indiana? You have come to the right place to learn everything you need to know about contracting licenses in The Hoosier State.
We will go through how to obtain a license in several different cities in Indiana, answer some frequently asked questions, and make sure you know how Contractor Training can help you get to where you want to be as a contractor.

Indiana is one of the few states that do not regulate general contractors directly with any statewide requirements. The only contracting work that does require a state license is plumbing.

However, there always are regulations on the local level. You must check the rules of the county you are operating in before beginning your work as a contractor.

It is important to note that the NASCLA Accredited Commercial Contractor license is not applicable in Indiana. Even if you have this license, you will still be required to obtain the licenses that pertain to the county in which you will be working.

If you have a license from a state other than Indiana, it may be possible to receive reciprocity when you transfer your business to Indiana. However, the local municipality and county regulations control this.
As a whole, Indiana does not require continued education for contractors, but there may be different requirements depending on local regulations.

The Benefits of Having a Contractor's License in Indiana

Having a contracting license will guarantee that you are in line with all laws and will not face any legal repercussions for operating.

Build Trust

A license lets people know that you are qualified and capable of doing a fantastic job. Licenses let the government, your customers, and even yourself know that you are ready to be a contractor.

Licenses also ensure that you are ready to complete work at a high level. Clients will also be more likely to trust you to take on their projects if you can prove that you are licensed.

What's on the Exam?

What You Can Expect From Us

We will be with you through every step of the process and make sure that you know how to acquire the right contracting license for the work you desire to do.
We currently offer a license application fulfillment service that will ensure that you have all the proper paperwork turned in to all the right places.
We will even work with you if your application is denied and ensure that your second time submitting goes smoothly. Think of the Contractor Training Center as your mentor in your journey to become an incredible contractor in Indiana.

Exam Preparation

What you'll need to prepare for the exam

Doing well on a contractor's license exam can make or break your entire career path, making success vital. You will certainly want to prepare for the exam by studying and taking a prep course.

License Requirements

How To Get A Contractor's License In Indiana

Where you plan to work in Indiana will affect how you need to obtain your required license.

As long as you do not plan on becoming a plumber, you must check the county or city regulations where you plan to work.

Since the rules around contracting are so decentralized in Indiana, we're going to share the processes for several different cities below to give you an idea of the requirements you must meet throughout the state.

Step 1: Register The Business Name With The Relevant Department

The specific governmental department you will be working with varies from city to city:

When working within the Consolidated City of Indianapolis and Marion County, you must hold a license from the Department of Business and Neighborhood Services.
In Evansville, you will need to get your license from the County Building Commission.
If you would like to operate a contracting business in Fort Wayne, you must obtain a license from the Building Department.

Step 2: Decide What Type Of License Your Business Needs

The Building Department of Fort Wayne offers two different options for contracting licenses: General Contractors License and General Contractors Superintendent Registration
There are also two different options for contracting licenses in Evansville: Building General Contractor and Residential General Contractor.

Types Of Licenses:

General Contractor License

If you plan to engage in contracting work on a basic level in Fort Wayne, then this license will likely be sufficient.

General Contractor Superintendent Registration

If you want to make crucial decisions and supervise large-scale construction projects in Fort Wayne, you will need to obtain this registration.

Building General Contractor

This license will allow you to work on commercial, industrial, and multi-residential properties in Evansville.

Residential General Contractor

If you obtain this license, you will be able to work on single-family homes and small agricultural structures as long as they are under two stories tall in Evansville.

Step 3: Fill Out The License Application And Send It To The Right Department

Step 4: Provide Proof

To get your Indianapolis contracting license approved, you will need to provide proof of several different things, including:

Surety Bond
Worker's Compensation Insurance
General Liability Insurance
An agent with the ability to obtain project permits
DBA (Doing Business As) registration

Step 5: Pay The Necessary Fees

Be prepared to pay several hundred dollars as you file your application. The exact amount will depend on what license you are getting and where you are getting it.

Step 6: Take The Exam

After the County Building Commission accepts your application, you must get ready for the exam.

Contact Ivy Tech to register for your test and pay the required fee. Whether you are taking the commercial or residential exam, you will need to prepare yourself to answer knowledge-based questions about the general contracting trade.

Each exam is an open book and contains 100 items. You must get 70% of the questions correct to earn a passing score and get your license.

Exam Times And Date

Often, the government will partner with third-party testing agencies through which you must schedule your exam.

For example, in Indianapolis, the Department of Business and Neighborhood Services works with Prometric Testing.

If you have any questions about dates and times for your exam, contact us today. We can help you find details for the exam that you need to take.

Attend The Mandatory Orientation Class Within 60 Days Of Being Granted Your License

This step may not be required in every part of the state, but you do not want to forget to complete it if necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about the licensing process

How can I register my contracting company in Indiana?

All businesses must be registered with the Indiana Secretary of State. The contact information of this entity is as follows:

Indiana Secretary of State
302 West Washington Street, Room E018
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 232-6576

You can visit their website here to find additional information and begin the registration process.

What forms will i need to fill out to get my business registered in Indiana?

As with anything involving the government, there are quite a few forms that you will need to fill out. Luckily, everything you need is located on these two websites:

Click here to see the necessary Indiana business tax forms
Click here to find the forms you will need to set up your business with the Secretary of State of Indiana

How expensive are the licensing fees?

Again, as with everything involving contractor's licenses in Indiana, the answer will differ depending on the county. However, you need to be prepared to spend several hundred dollars on applying for your license.

For reference, the commercial contracting licensing fee in Evansville is $300.

How long are the exams?

While the exact length varies depending on which exam you are taking and where you are taking it, you can expect to spend a few hours on it. It is also important to note that most exams have a time limit.

While you should never rush, you should also be sure not to waste time and dillydally as you go from question to question.

Are the exams open book?

You should definitely check on the requirements for the specific exam you are taking, but for the most part, exams are open book. This designation means that you can bring materials into the testing center to reference while taking the exam.

Bringing the right books is one of the most significant parts of being prepared.

How many questions do I have to get correct?

Again, this number will fluctuate depending on the test, but you should be prepared to answer roughly 70% of the questions correctly. To achieve such a score, you will need to spend some time getting ready. You should not walk into the exam without any preparation and expect to earn a passing score.

Remember that your friends at Contractor Training can help you get ready to pass with flying colors.

What is a sample breakdown of the exam?

Let's take a look at the City of Indianapolis Wrecking A Examination to get an idea of what it is like to take a contracting licensing exam. This test is open, contains 50 questions, and must be completed within two hours. You must get 75% of the answers correct to pass.

Now let's go over what percentage of the test is covered by each subject.

Subject Area and % of Exam Questions:
Safety - 28%
General Knowledge - 6%
Code - 16%
Quantity Take-off Estimating - 24%
Rigging - 26%

Obviously, each exam will be different depending on the license you are trying to get. However, this breakdown lets you know that you need to go into any exam with a diverse set of knowledge.

You must know the necessary safety precautions, required codes, and how to do the job well regardless of which specific exam you are taking.

Contact Contractor Training Today

If you're overwhelmed by the Delaware contractor's license application forms and requirements, you're not the only one. But with the application fulfillment services offered by Contractor Training Company, you can gather your documents and submit your application with no stress at all.