General contractors may not be required to have a license in the state of New Hampshire, but having one can prove to be very beneficial. If your business performs a more specialized type of contracting, then you may need a license before going out on service calls. How do you get those licenses?

At Contractor Training Center, we can help. First, here is what you need to know about contracting in New Hampshire. 
 

While general contractors are not required to have a license by the state, specialized contractors like electrical and plumbing do. There also may be local requirements that need to be clarified. However, though the license is not required, it can be a very beneficial thing to have.

Some local communities may have specific requirements for contractors. It could be extra paperwork or certificates, or something else. Specialized contracting jobs like electrical, plumbing, or asbestos abatement do require special licenses. 

As with most states, there are courses and exams one must take in order to become licensed. These usually cover the legal and the skill aspects of these jobs, so there is quite a bit of studying involved. There are different tests and study materials for different certifications, so be sure to do your research before registering for an exam. 

So how do you get a contractor’s license in New Hampshire? How can we help?

The Benefits of Having a Contractor’s License in New Hampshire

Even if a general contractor’s license isn’t require by state laws, having one can reflect well on your business. It shows potential clients that you have a thorough understanding of contracting and laws or regulations in the state. 

Though a New Hampshire license may only be legal within the state boundaries, if you end up moving to a new state, having this license may make it easier to get certified in whatever state you end up moving to. Many of the skills covered by courses and exams for contracting are transferable, so even if you have to take another exam elsewhere, the skills you learned before will aid you in your new locale, as well.

At Contractor Training Center, we offer general contractor’s exams and some of the specialized licenses that New Hampshire requires. Though you don’t need the general contractor’s license in order to do construction business in the state, it can still be a useful thing to have. Simply contact us to learn more about our options for New Hampshire contractors, and what you may or may not need in order to open your business within state guidelines!

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Since state regulations don’t necessarily require a general license, there is not as much information about how to obtain one. New Hampshire residents are best off reviewing their local guidelines from the city/county level for more information.

Review State And Local Guidelines For Contracting 

State guidelines vary according to the type of license you want, but general contractors are not required to have a license in order to open their business. If a business wants to offer specific services, like electrical, plumbing, or asbestos abatement, each one of those licenses has its own requirements and rules that are dictated by different departments at the state level. 
 

Decide What Type Of License Your Business Needs

The type of license you need depends on the type of jobs you wish to perform. You can, ultimately, try to acquire all of them if you choose, to vary your business. However, if you start with general contracting, and then work outwards to more specialized jobs, you may find it a bit easier to expand. 

Again, New Hampshire has no requirements for general contracting licenses, so you could start your business with that while you work towards gaining the other certifications. Decide what you want your business to be, and work from there. 

Electrical, plumbing, lead abatement, and asbestos abatement are all of the focused licenses offered by the state. Each one comes from a different part of the state’s government, and each has specific requirements to be fulfilled. Do not try to achieve multiple licenses at once. Instead, figure out which one you want your business to cover first, and make that your primary goal.  
 

Consider A Degree In Business Or Construction Management

Having a degree in one of these fields will make you a better business owner and a better contractor in the long run. While general fields do not need to have higher education, having the skills that come with it can only make you better at your job and therefore service clients better.

Other, specific licenses like plumbing and electrical may require you to have certificates or degrees in those specific fields. These trade based contracting jobs are more specific, and thus require more training and on-the-job learning. If you get your degree before seeking your license, you will likely have an easier time obtaining it. 
 

Which Exam Should You Take?

The type of exam you should take depends on the type of license you are looking to acquire. For electrical and plumbing, you should have a number of hours accrued and a degree under your belt before you take the exam. For general contracting, these are not required, although having contracting experience will help you garner business when you’re finally ready to start doing projects.

To find out what exams you need to take, you can contact Contractor Training Center, or reach out directly to the specific office in charge of the type of license you would like to have.

Electricians’ Board for electrical contracting
The New Hampshire Department of Safety for plumbing
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services for asbestos abatement
The New Hampshire Employment Security for lead abatement
For general contracting licensure, you will need to look outside of the state level, as it is not required
 

Optional: Take The Exam 

If you decide to pursue specialized licenses for your business, then you will eventually have to take an exam. Contractor Training Center offers courses for certain types of licenses and can help you study and prepare for the exam.

The exams themselves typically cover the business law aspect as well as the technical skills, and these can be different exams. Each type of license is likely to have its own exam or test that you must take in order to qualify. Be sure to check with the New Hampshire state government office that provides the license you are looking to achieve, at least for the specific ones.