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Get Your Contractor License. Pass the Exam First.

Free practice questions on licensing law, contracts and bidding, insurance and liens, safety, and business finance, built from real state licensing-board requirements, plus a multi-state cheat sheet.

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3 statesFL, TX, AZ requirements covered

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Why contractors fail the exam

The Trade Isn't the Hard Part. The Law-and-Business Exam Is.

You can frame a house in your sleep. But the exam that stands between you and bigger jobs is mostly paperwork: lien law, payroll, contracts, and state-specific rules nobody teaches on the jobsite.

Half the Exam Is Business & Finance

Estimating, payroll taxes, overhead, and cash flow questions trip up experienced builders. The trade portion is the part you already know.

Bonding & Insurance Vary by State

Every state sets its own bond amounts, insurance minimums, and lien rules. Studying the wrong state's numbers is a common way to fail.

Every Retake Delays Your Bids

Failing means waiting periods, new fees, and jobs you can't legally bid in the meantime. Passing the first time is the cheapest path.

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The Contractor License Cheat Sheet

CSLB exam structure, a multi-state requirements checklist, and verified fee tables on one page. Print it, keep it on the dash of the truck.

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License Cheat Sheet

PERMIT NO.
GC-2026-FREE

✓ License classifications explained (A / B / specialty)
✓ AZ regulator: ROC · qualifying party required · two exams
✓ Law & business exam structure at a glance
✓ Bond + insurance basics to verify with your state
✓ States covered: FL / TX / AZ

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The GC License Study Guide

State-by-state licensing requirements explained in plain language, no jargon walls.
Core topics: licensing law, contracts & bidding, insurance & liens, safety, payroll & business finance, classifications.
Memory aids for terms and rules that are easy to mix up across states.
A printable quick-reference sheet you can review anywhere.

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Free practice test

Pass Inspection Before Test Day

Work through real exam topics across licensing law, insurance, business finance, contracts and safety. Instant feedback. No email needed to play.

GC License Practice Quiz

Original general-contractor licensing scenarios across licensing law, insurance & liens, payroll & business finance, contracts & bidding, safety, and classifications. Instant feedback, no email needed to play.

· State boards set their own passing scores (CSLB and Arizona's ROC both require 70%) — treat 18 of 25 here as exam-ready

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GC License Hub

Written and reviewed by GC License Hub.

GC License Hub publishes free general contractor license exam-prep resources: practice quizzes and plain-language study guides covering state licensing-board requirements, currently covering Florida, Texas, and Arizona, with more states on the way.

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Straight answers

Licensing FAQ

Which states does GC License Hub cover?+

GC License Hub currently covers Florida, Texas, and Arizona, with more states on the way. General contractor licensing is regulated state by state, not federally. Florida's DBPR/CILB and Arizona's ROC each run their own requirements, exams, and fees, while Texas doesn't issue a statewide general contractor license at all.

Does Texas require a general contractor license?+

Texas does not issue a statewide general "general contractor" license. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation licenses specific trades individually, such as electricians and air conditioning/refrigeration contractors, but general building and remodeling contracting itself is not a state-licensed category. Local city or county registration requirements can still apply.

What does the Florida contractor exam cover?+

Florida's DBPR/CILB contractor exams cover business and finance topics alongside trade-specific content, and typically require proof of experience plus passing scores on both a business/finance exam and a trade exam, depending on the license category.

How much experience do I need for a general contractor license?+

It varies by state. Arizona's ROC and Florida's DBPR/CILB both require documented, verifiable trade experience before you can sit for the exam. Always confirm the current experience and qualifier requirements with the specific state board before applying.

Is the practice quiz on this site the real state licensing exam?+

No. This is an independent practice tool built from publicly described licensing-law concepts across multiple states. It is not produced, administered, or endorsed by the CSLB, DBPR, NCLBGC, Georgia SOS, ROC, PSI, NASCLA, or any other licensing body, and it never reproduces real exam questions.

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Every GC License Hub guide

Alabama General Contractor License Requirements Alabama requires a general contractor license for any project of $50,000 or more, with two separately sealed exams through Block Exams.

Colorado General Contractor License: City by City Colorado has no statewide general contractor license. Licensing is set city by city and county by county, and Denver's system is among the strictest.

Do You Need a General Contractor License? Whether you need a general contractor license depends on your state's dollar threshold. California starts at $1,000; North Carolina at $40,000.

General Contractor Business License vs. Trade License A general contractor business license is a local operating permit, separate from the state trade license or registration that authorizes contracting work itself.

General Contractor Insurance Requirements by State General liability insurance minimums for contractors range from no explicit state mandate to $500,000-plus, separate from the license bond requirement.

What Is a General Contractor License Number? A general contractor license number identifies a specific licensed contractor to their state board and must appear on contracts, ads, and vehicles.

General Contractor License Practice Test Questions Original general contractor license practice test questions covering licensing law, lien law, plan reading, and contract math, with full explanations.

General Contractor License Requirements by State General contractor license requirements by state range from a full trade exam (California) to no statewide license at all (Texas, Colorado).

General Contractor License Training Requirements General contractor license training requirements range from an 8-hour course in Virginia to 60 hours in Michigan, and some states require none.

Arizona General Contractor License (ROC Requirements) Arizona's contractor license runs through the Registrar of Contractors, with a qualifying party, two exams, and fees that scale by classification.

Class A General Contractor License: What It Actually Covers A Class A general contractor license covers fixed engineering works like highways, dams, and utility systems, not ordinary buildings.

Contractor License Application Status: What Each Stage Means Contractor license application status moves through review, correction, exam eligibility, and issuance. Here's what each stage typically means and takes.

Does Texas Require a General Contractor License? Texas has no statewide general contractor license. TDLR licenses specific trades like electricians, and some cities add their own registration rules.

Electrical Contractor License: How Specialty Licensing Works An electrical contractor license is a narrow specialty credential, separate from a general contractor license, with its own trade exam in most states.

Florida General Contractor License Requirements (DBPR/CILB) Florida's certified general contractor license requires passing a three-part DBPR exam, proving financial responsibility, and carrying insurance.

General Contractor B License: The Two-Trade Rule Explained A general contractor B license covers building construction requiring two or more unrelated trades, with specific carve-outs for framing and carpentry.

General Contractor License Bond: What It Covers and Costs A general contractor license bond protects consumers and workers, not the contractor. Most states set a fixed face value, paid as an annual premium.

General Contractor License Exam Prep: Law, Business, Trade General contractor license exam prep splits into two parts almost everywhere: a law and business exam and a trade-specific exam. Here's what each covers.

General Contractor License Cost by State (Verified Fees) General contractor license cost typically runs $500 to $1,500 once you add exam, application, and license fees, but bonding pushes it much higher in some states.

General Contractor License California Requirements (CSLB) California's general contractor license requires 4 years of experience, two exams, and a $25,000 bond through the CSLB. Here's the full breakdown.

General Contractor License Renewal: How It Works by State General contractor license renewal usually means paying a fee and keeping your bond current, on a cycle set by each state, not a fixed anniversary date.

Georgia General Contractor License Requirements Georgia splits general contractor licensing into Residential and General divisions under the Secretary of State, each with its own board and exam.

Home Improvement Contractor License vs. a Full GC License A home improvement contractor license is often a narrower registration than a full general contractor license, common in states like Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

How to Get a General Contractor License (State-by-State) Getting a general contractor license means proving experience, passing a law and trade exam, and posting a bond. Steps vary sharply by state.

HVAC Contractor License: Requirements and How It Differs An HVAC contractor license covers heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning work as its own specialty classification, separate from a general license.

North Carolina General Contractor License Requirements North Carolina licenses general contractors by project value tier through the NCLBGC, with a named qualifier who passes a board-approved exam.

Roofing Contractor License: State Requirements Compared A roofing contractor license is a specialty classification in most states, with its own trade exam, separate from a general contractor's license.

Study Guide for a General Contractor License Exam A general contractor license study guide should mirror your state's actual exam structure: a law/business half and a trade-specific half, studied separately.

Types of General Contractor License, Explained General contractor licenses split into general (A/B) and specialty (C) classes in most states. Here's how the classification systems actually work.

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