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Overview & Benefits

Obtaining a Contractor's License in Nebraska

If you’ve landed on this page, chances are you’re in the process of launching your own contracting business—and we want to congratulate you! Like any other state, Nebraska has requirements that you must meet before you can legally perform work. The most important one is having a valid NE contractor’s license.

General Contractors get licensed at the jurisdictional level in Nebraska and not the state level. If you need to get licensed in more than one jurisdiction then you will still have to fill out the application for that jurisdiction but they will accept the exam that you have already taken if it is appropriate for your license. You still will have to register your business at the state level with the Department of Labor

At Contractors Training Center, we understand that you may not be fully aware of the laws, rules, and regulations. If this happens to be the case, don’t worry. It’s why we are here – to help and support you through this tedious but rewarding process.

You won’t get very far without a Nebraska Contractor’s license. Performing work without one is illegal. Think about it, if anyone could build houses, what would the quality of these homes be like? With our guidance, you will have this license in no time.

Our team of specialists is knowledgeable, experienced, and passionate about the construction industry. We help contractors start their business the right way. We understand this process from top to bottom and hold the best tools, resources, and practice exams to prepare you. So, do you absolutely need a contractor’s license before you can start building homes in NE? The answer is, YES.

The Benefits of Having a Contractor's License in Nebraska

Clients in this business will often ask to see a physical copy of your contractor’s license before they buy your services. This is because it will prove your credibility to them as a professional. A license shows them you have met all of the requirements and NE regulations and rules. 

Gives You Credibility

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.

Gives You A Higher Earning Potential

A contractor’s license significantly increases the earning potential for your business. Not only can you take on bigger projects. A license entails that clients are more willing to pay a higher price for your work and services.

If you decide against getting this valuable documentation, it can have consequences. The most serious is that you can get caught for performing work illegally. This gets you and your business in muddy water. It also discredits you. When clients hear you are not in good legal standing, they will disappear faster than you can blink. You can avoid this by getting your license with the help of our website.

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. 

What's on the Exam?

What You Can Expect From Us

Everything you could need to embark on this learning journey can be found here on this page. We have a collection of high-quality resources, tools, and information. These are the minimum of what you can expect from this experience. Our services will help you in many ways, including:

  • Discuss the various types of exams that you will encounter.
  • Guide you through the different steps for certification.
  • Provide you with additional study resources and helpful tools.
  • Minimize the hassle involved with the exam-taking process and make it simple.
  • Provide you with the necessary materials and books to take the OPEN BOOK exam.
  • Provide you with Tabbing and Highlighting instructions so that answers can be found quickly.
  • Additional services where we will tab and Highlight the books for you.
  • Provide you with hundreds of practice questions.
  • Application fulfillment services that guide you through the application process.
  • Offer support with a friendly customer service team. We are happy to answer any questions that you may have.

At Contractor Training Center, we have the Prep Class, and the books, and the tabs needed for you to pass the many contractor examinations. The exams are OPEN BOOK and Tabbing and Highlighting the books is allowed and part of our curriculum. The books referenced are from the International Code Council (ICC) and we have all of the ICC Books needed for the ICC Prep class. 

It isn’t necessary to study and memorize all the material contained in the reference books, that would likely take you many months of study. The trick to passing these exams is to be able to find answers quickly. This is where our techniques really work for you. We also provide you with many practice questions. This will help you absorb much of the material and also help you learn your way around the various books. We teach you keyword techniques and time-saving techniques and prepare you for the tricky ways that questions are sometimes worded.  We can have you ready and confident to take your test in less than a week. We see our best results when people take the exam within a week of taking the Prep course.   We also keep working with you if you don’t pass the exam on the first attempt. We will ask you to send us your pass/fail report. This will show us the areas in the exam where you struggled. Now we will know how best to prepare you for taking the exam again. Then we will put you in another prep class for free. We are very good at getting our contractors to pass the exams and determined to get you the license you seek.

We have helped over 40,000 contractors obtain their licenses! We are committed to your success and have an extremely high first-pass rate. Everything you need to know about the Nebraska contracting exam can be found on our page. For any questions, we are only a phone call away.

Exam Preparation

What you'll need to prepare for the exam

In almost every state, you will be required to go through the application process so that your business is properly registered with the state.    A technical exam is also required to ensure that you have the skills to perform the type of work you want to be licensed for. There is a wide variety of technical exams. They can range from Brick Mason to Residential or Commercial General Contractor.

Nebraska, contractors are certified through the local city, county, or jurisdiction. All businesses will still be required to register with the Department of Labor, regardless of the jurisdiction. A local application will not be approved without being properly registered with the state. To register your business, go to the Department of Labor:  https://dol.nebraska.gov/conreg/  

Nebraska jurisdictions accept the National standard examinations on information provided by the International Code Council (ICC). There are 3 different levels of Contractor licenses for General Contractors where you will have to take an exam.

  • Class A contractors can do work on all structures up to and including high-rise buildings. W11 National Standard General Building Contractor (A) 90 multiple-choice questions Exam fee: $110 (CBT) Open book—4-hour time limit 
  • Class B contractors can do work on all structures up to and including four stories in height. W12 National Standard Building Contractor (B) 80 multiple-choice questions Exam fee: $110 (CBT) Open book—4-hour time limit
  • Class C contractors are home and duplex builders.W13 National Standard Residential Building Contractor (C) 80 multiple-choice questions Exam fee: $110 (CBT) Open book—4-hour time limit
  • Class D and E licensing are more oriented to subcontractors and in some cases, a test may not be required.
  • Class D contractors are residential remodeling contractors.
  • Class E contractors are roofing, siding, window, and deck installers.

Additional information can be found on the National Contractor/Trades Examination Information Bulletin.

Note: This information has been provided as a service. It is correct and up-to-date to the best of our knowledge; however, it is in no way intended to offer legal advice and you must always consult with local authorities before you make any business decisions. Regulations and requirements may change at any time.

Testing Requirements

Each classification of license has a corresponding license exam. We offer exam prep courses and reference materials for the following exams:

Class A - General Building Contractor

Class A contractor applicants are required to take and pass the ICC National Standard Building Contractor "A" Exam. This is also referred to as the F11 exam.

Class A General Contractors are generally licensed to build or construct any building, structure, or addition including high rises. We have exam prep courses and reference materials to help prepare you to pass the exam with ease! Click the link below to visit our ICC F11 Exam page with more information about the exam and our offerings.

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Class B - Building Contractor

Class B contractor applicants are required to take and pass the ICC National Standard Building Contractor "B" Exam. This is also referred to as the F12 exam.

Class B Contractors are licensed to  We have exam prep courses and reference materials to help prepare you to pass the exam! Click the link below to visit our ICC F12 Exam page with more information about the exam and our offerings.

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Class C - Residential Building Contractor

Class C contractor applicants are required to take and pass the ICC National Standard Building Contractor "C" Exam. This is also referred to as the F13 exam.

Class C Contractors are licensed to build homes and duplexes. We have exam prep courses and reference materials to help prepare you to pass the exam with ease! Click the link below to visit our ICC F13 Exam page with more information about the exam and our offerings.

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Insurance Requirements
  • Class A and B - Minimum of $1,000,000.00
  • Class C - Minimum of $500,000.00
  • Class D and E - Minimum of $300,000.00
Bond Requirements
  • Minimum of $10,000.00 for all license types
  • Building Contractor Licensing Application and Procedures
  • Building Contractor Licensing Bond and Insurance Requirements
  • Building Contractor Class E Acknowledgement of Authorized Activities Form
  • You can Email the Bond and the Insurance certificate to Building@cityofomaha.org

9 hours of Continuing Education is required for contractors and can be completed through ICC approved providers. 

Continuing Education Requirements

Building contractors must show proof of completion of nine contact hours of continuing education from agencies certified through the ICC or college courses related to construction and proof of completion of three classes provided by the city's permits and inspection division prior to license renewal.

*2 $2.00 Renewal Mailing Fee Assessed If Not Renewing In The Office.

License Requirements

Steps to obtaining your license

Nebraska regulates contractors on a municipal level. We offer exam prep courses and materials for the ICC National Standard Exams, required by many cities including Omaha, Nebraska, to obtain a contractor's license.

In Omaha, NE, there are five classes of contractor licenses:

  • Class A contractors can do work on all structures including high rise buildings.
  • Class B contractors can do work on all structures up to and including four stories in height.
  • Class C contractors are home and duplex builders.
  • Class D contractors are residential remodeling contractors.
  • Class E contractors are roofing, siding, window, and deck installers.
License Fees

License fees vary by class, and if an exam is taken or not for some classes.

Class A and B
  • Initial $300.00 - Exam Required or Equivalent License From Another Jurisdiction is Required
  • Renewal $300.00 - See Bottom of Building License Cost Section*1*2
Class C
  • Initial $200.00 - Exam Required or Equivalent License From Another Jurisdiction is Required
  • Renewal $200.00 - See Bottom of Building License Cost Section*1*2
Class D
  • Initial $100.00 - Equivalent License From Another Jurisdiction is Required, The Exam is No Longer Available
  • Renewal $100.00 - See Bottom of Building License Cost Section*1*2
Class E (No ICC Test Required)
  • Initial $200.00 - No ICC Test
  • Renewal $100.00 - See Bottom of Building License Cost Section*1*2
Class E (With Proof Of Passed ICC Test)
  • Initial $100.00 - Passed ICC Test
  • Renewal $100.00 - See Bottom of Building License Cost Section*1*2

Pass Your Exam the First Time

At Contractor Training Center, we have an extremely high first-time pass rate for all of our exam preparation courses. If you do not pass on the first attempt, we will ask for your examination report from the testing center, to show us the categories of material where you struggled. We will use this information to give you supplemental instruction and let you attend another class for free. We are very good at training our contractors to pass this exam.  

We know having this exam under your belt is important for your business, and we take it seriously. Give us a call today to find out more about our prep seminar for the ICC Accredited Contractor Exams. Our goal is your ultimate success!

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about the licensing process

Where do I take the Exam?

The ICC National Standard Building Contractor exams are administered by Pearson VUE.

You can find more information about scheduling and taking the exam on their site, linked here.

Does Nebraska accept the NASCLA exam?

No, Nebraska does not accept the NASCLA exam.

I build sheds and residential garages. Should I take the class A test?

No. The Class A test is a highly specialized test dealing with “heavy” commercial construction such as high-rise buildings. If you have never worked in this type of construction most of the test questions will seem foreign to you

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