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Kansas Contractor License Exam Prep Courses, Classes, and Webinars
Most states use licensing procedures for certain professions like real estate and medicine. These regulations protect residents against fraud and lack of experience.
The same goes for obtaining a contractor's license. Depending on the state you are in the rules and regulations surrounding contractor's certifications vary.
In some states, obtaining a contractor's license is difficult and requires you to jump through a lot of hoops. On the other hand, some states maintain relatively lax requirements.
Wherever you plan on getting your certification, being prepared for the exam and collecting all of your supplemental materials are essential if you want to have a smooth experience.
At Contractor Training Center, our mission is to help you prepare for the contractor's license exam in your state. Our prep courses set you up not only for passing the exams successfully but also for a long future of working in this business.
Obtaining a Contractor's License in Kansas
To become licensed in the state of Kansas, you must acquire certification at the local level through your city, county, or jurisdiction.
Kansas does not require licenses for general contractors at a state level (except for asbestos abatement & water well drilling). Therefore, you must meet specific local requirements, supply the necessary documentation, and pay any local fees.
Any non-resident contractors and subcontractors have to register with the Department of Revenue if contracts exceed $10,000. Authorized corporations in Kansas do not need to register contracts.
To complete registration, you can contact the Director of Taxation Registration at the Kansas Department of Revenue. Additionally, you should contact your local municipality or county.
What You Can Expect From Us
Contractor Training Center operates with industry leaders who have extensive construction and business experience. Our students learn from experts who have a comprehensive knowledge of contractor licensing.
We use a live, online learning model so you can get the benefits of an interactive learning experience without having to leave your home or office.
When you take one of our courses, you gain access to our application assistance services. With our services, you can be confident in the quality and correctness of your applications. This assistance will save you time and money.
With a pass rate of 98%, we're confident our self-study programs can help you succeed. Our exam prep will give you the guidance and clarity you need to thrive as a general contractor.
If you do not pass the exam on your first try, we'll create a custom study plan tailored to your learning style. This new plan will address any problem areas so that you can shift your focus to the material you may not have understood the first time around.
We're confident that we can meet all of your expectations and even surpass them. We offer a no-fail guarantee so that you can place your trust in us. If our courses do not prevent you from failing your exam after several attempts, you can take our classes for free until you do pass.
Contact usWhy You Should Get a Contractor's License in Kansas
A contractor's license offers several benefits that ultimately help bolster your success as a contractor.
Gives You Credibility
Having a license increases your credibility, allowing you to build trust with your clients. There are other ways you can gain their trust, but this is a big part of establishing yourself and your business, especially if you're working with new customers.
Getting a contractor's license isn't done overnight, and the process of obtaining a license can be considered a significant investment. Customers often feel at ease knowing a contractor has invested their own time and money working to back up their skills with a license to prove it.
Gives You A Higher Earning Potential
Consequently, there are larger projects that you can't perform without a contractor's license. With one, you can take on big assignments, get more jobs, and increase your profit. More times than not, clients will pay a higher price to a licensed contractor as opposed to unlicensed handymen.
With a license, your clients can trust that you have the knowledge and skills to do what they need. It’s an assurance that you’ll follow all applicable laws and regulations. You can build a relationship with your customers and establish trust in other ways, of course. However, a licensed contractor will stand out far more and attract customers easier.
Additionally, many states legally require businesses to hold a contractor's license to work on projects over a certain financial threshold. If you take the initiative and earn your license now, you can get more business, increase profits, and take on more significant assignments right away. Clients will typically pay a higher fee for licensed contractors because they can trust that the contractor knows what to do and how to do it well.
How to Get a Contractor's License in Kansas
If you've decided that you want to pursue a contractor's license, there are specific steps you need to take. Contractor Training Center can help you through the entire process.
1. Contact Your City or County Clerk
Since the state of Kansas doesn't handle licensing directly, you must accomplish this step at a local level. Even though there aren't any statewide licensing requirements, there are still county or city requirements.
For example, to work in Overland, KS, as a contractor, you'll need to register with the Johnson County Contractor Licensing Search System. Through this system, clients can verify your status as a contractor using a name, address, or license type.
In Wichita, you'll need to obtain a license from the Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department. The agency's Permits and Neighborhood Code Violation Reporting online portal lets users verify a contractor, business permit, or building.
To work as a GC in Kansas City and Wyandotte County, you must hold a business license from the City License Administrator.
If you are unsure about what the process is in your city or county, contact the city or county clerk. Application fees, bond amounts, required insurance variability, and experience requirements vary between cities and counties.
2. Create a Business Entity
If you're pursuing your contractor's license, it's likely that you want to make general contracting your full-time profession. If this is the case, you want to create a business entity to establish legitimacy.
You can find out if the name you've chosen for your company is available or already in use by someone else through the Kansas Entity Search.
3. Register Your Business
Registering your business is necessary to ensure that your company pays the taxes required and adheres to local and state laws.
You can find the forms you need to register a new company at the Kansas Department of Revenue website.
To register your company, you will need to contact the Kansas Secretary of State, located at:
Kansas Secretary of State
Memorial Hall, First Floor 120 S. W. 10th Ave
Topeka, KS 66612-1594
You also should contact the local municipality or county. As mentioned above, different counties and cities have different regulatory bodies that oversee construction in Kansas.
4. Decide What Type of License Your Business Needs
The exam and type of license you will apply for depends on the type of work you plan to do and your professional goals. The International Code Council administers these exams. You can find out more information about the content of the exams through their bulletin.
5. Identify a Qualified Individual
Every contractor must select one individual from their company to pass a qualifying exam. This individual operates as the "Qualifying Person."
Sole proprietors and business owners can choose to be their own qualifying person. The qualifying person can also be a company owner or full-time employee (someone who works 30+ hours weekly).
The qualifying person is required to meet at least one of two requirements:
Pass a required exam through an approved administrator. They must receive a score of 75% or higher.
Have a Bachelor of Science Degree in Construction Science, Architecture, or Engineering from an accredited university. The qualifying person must provide their official transcripts or a copy of their degree.
This person must also prove that they have at least five years of experience as a general, building, or residential contractor.
They also will need to obtain general liability and worker's compensation insurance. The policy must be with a licensed company.
If you are obtaining the license, and you do not plan to hire any employees, you must sign a worker's compensation waiver.
6. Take the Exam
Depending on where you are in Kansas, requirements may vary. For Wichita, your license will be under the purview of the Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department.
This license requires you to register for a business license, appoint a qualified individual, present a certificate of good standing, present a notarized certificate of insurance, and pay all application and licensing fees:
$50 application fee
$1000 for two years (A)
$600 for two years (B)
$450 for two years (C)
Which Exam Should You Take?
Type 1: General Contractors License - Class A
The Class A license allows you to build, contract, repair, add onto or demolish any building or structure. With this type of license, you can work on commercial and residential buildings.
Type 2: Building Contractor License - Class B
The Class B license will allow you to erect, build, remodel, demolish, or add on to commercial buildings and single or multi-unit residential buildings that are three stories or less.
Type 3: Residential Contractor - Class C
The Class C license allows you to repair, construct, demolish, or remodel single or two-family homes and accessory buildings.
Note: You can also elect to obtain a specialty contractor's license. These specialties included sign and maintenance, electrical, plumbing, etc.
We offer prep courses and reference materials for these exams:
Kansas 367: This is the exam for the Standard Concrete Contractor
Kansas 550: This is the exam for the Standard General Building Contractor (A)
Kansas 551: This is the exam for the Standard Building Contractor (B)
Kansas 552: This is the exam for the Standard Residential Building Contractor (C)
Preparing for the Contractor's Exam
At Contractor Training Center, we offer many different prep courses to help you ensure that you pass your contractor's licensing exam.
It is our mission to give you all the materials you need to help you study, including tabs for exam books and practice tests. Besides helping you prepare for the licensing exam, we also provide insights about strategic business practices. These insights help you to avoid problems and manage client relationships effectively. All of the information we share is invaluable for a contractor since the profession requires complying with strict regulations and guidelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas does not require continued education at the state level. However, you should check with the local municipality and county regulations.
At this time, Kansas does not accept NASCLA transcripts to fulfill licensing test requirements.
The valid period may vary by municipality. In the city of Wichita, the license will be valid for two years, with the expiration date set for December 31st. A grace period until January 31st is available, during which time contractors will need to renew their license and make sure the insurance is up-to-date. Contractors with expired licenses or insurance may face penalties. Other localities have different rules, so it is important to contact your local regulatory authority to know when your license expires.