Licensing Guides
State Contractor License: How to Become a General Contractor in New Hampshire
Contractor, NH
Table of Contents
Why Do You Need a Contractor License in New Hampshire?
How Can You Get a Contractor License in New Hampshire?
Types of Contractor Licenses in New Hampshire
What Are the Requirements of a New Hampshire Contractor License?
How Long Does It Take to Get a Contractor License in New Hampshire?
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Contractor License in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire Contractor License Training Programs and Schools
Does New Hampshire Reciprocate Contractor Licenses?
Do I Need to Renew my Contractor License in New Hampshire?
Are There Any Penalties for Contracting Without a License in New Hampshire?
We all need a place to live and work, and those buildings require upkeep and repair. They are often the biggest investments we make in our lives, and keeping them in good condition is essential. We count on professionals to know how to fix damage to or wear and tear on our homes and businesses. General contractors are typically the experts we rely on to help us with these repairs, and we need these men and women to know what they’re doing.
Many states require contractors to be licensed. Others simply require solid insurance to back up the essential work they perform. There are 520,900 construction managers and 1,599,800 construction laborers and helpers nationwide according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). New Hampshire employs 840 managers and 3,230 laborers and helpers. The national number for managers is projected to grow 9% from 2023 to 2033 and 8% for laborers and helpers. In New Hampshire, according to CareerOneStop, the U.S. Department of Labor’s job search website, the projected growth rate for laborers is 10%, and for managers it’s 11%. If you’re thinking about becoming a contractor or you want a job in the field, you need to know the licensing requirements in your state or local jurisdiction. This guide will help you determine what you need before you get started.
Why Do You Need a Contractor License in New Hampshire?
The state of New Hampshire doesn’t issue a general contractor license at the state level, and instead leaves most licensing requirements up to each municipality. However, most cities and towns in New Hampshire also lack any type of general contractor license. Instead, contracting businesses typically need to obtain workers’ compensation insurance if they have employees, and in some cases, purchase liability insurance or surety bonds. The only state requirement is all businesses operating in the state must register with the Secretary of State’s office.
New Hampshire does issue state-level licenses for several specialty trades, including plumbers, electricians, asbestos abatement, and lead abatement. A state license is not required for HVAC work. The Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) oversees professional licensing boards across the state, including:
The Office of Professional Licensure and Certification Electricians’ Board issues electrician licenses.
The Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board (formerly the New Hampshire Department of Safety) issues licenses for plumbers.
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services issues licenses for asbestos abatement.
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services issues lead abatement licenses.
The NH OPLC is located at 7 Eagle Square, Concord, NH 03301.
How Can You Get a Contractor License in New Hampshire?
There is no general contractor license in New Hampshire and most municipalities have minimal requirements. Make sure to check local requirements in the city or town where you plan to work. You may find that in general:
You must be at least 18 years of age. You must have either a Social Security number or an individual taxpayer identification number.
You must register with the Secretary of State’s office to legally operate in New Hampshire.
Obtain a business license (if applicable).
Obtain workers’ compensation if you have employees.
Pay all license fees and submit required documentation.
In Manchester, you must obtain a $5,000 surety bond.
Types of Contractor Licenses in New Hampshire
New Hampshire doesn’t require a contractor license at the state level, and local municipalities have few additional requirements. The only state requirements include registering your contracting business with the New Hampshire Secretary of State and obtaining workers’ compensation insurance if you have employees.
Getting a general contractor license
The bottom line is that you need to register with the Secretary of State to do any kind of residential or commercial construction, repair, or maintenance work in the state of New Hampshire. Here’s how you go about getting licensed.
REGISTER YOUR BUSINESS: The first step is to register your business with the New Hampshire Secretary of State. All businesses must register except for businesses that operate under the owner’s exact name. To get started, visit the NH Quickstart portal.
PAY REGISTRATION FEE: The fee to register a business in New Hampshire is $100. You can pay the fee by credit card when you submit your application for registration.
PROVIDE PROOF OF INSURANCE: All contracting businesses with employees in New Hampshire must obtain workers’ compensation insurance.
Getting a specialty license
Unlike with general contractors, New Hampshire does issue trade licenses for electricians, plumbers, and more at the state level. Specialty trades typically require several years of on-the-job experience and classroom training.
For example, the state licenses plumbing contractors, master plumbers, journeyman plumbers, and apprentice plumbers. To become eligible for a journeyman license, apprentice plumbers must obtain a minimum of 3,000 hours of on-the-job training and also pass an exam. To become a master plumber in New Hampshire, you must work as a licensed journeyman for a minimum of six months.
New Hampshire offers several licenses for electrical contractors, including apprentice electrician, journeyman electrician, medium voltage electrician, and master electrician. To qualify for a journeyman electrical license, you must complete four years of field experience under the supervision of a licensed journeyman or master electrician and complete one of the following: complete 600 hours of classroom training, obtain an associate degree from an electrical program, or work 10 or more years as a licensed journeyman or master electrician in another jurisdiction.
You can also consult our guides to getting your HVAC license, plumbing license, or electrical license in New Hampshire.
What Are the Requirements of a New Hampshire Contractor License?
To recap, there is no general contracting license in New Hampshire. The only state requirements include registering your business with the state and purchasing workers’ compensation if you have employees. There are no knowledge or experience requirements at the state level, but there may be in the jurisdictions where you perform work, so check with local entities.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Contractor License in New Hampshire?
Because there are no education or experience requirements or license exams to complete in order to work as a contractor in New Hampshire, you can register your business quickly.
According to the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, “processing times for online filings typically run no more than 10 business days.” For an extra $25 fee, you can request to expedite the application process.
What Business Owners Need to Know
Being efficient in the contracting world, no matter where you are in your licensing journey, takes work. ServiceTitan’s cloud-based, all-in-one contracting software gives workers and business owners in residential field service, commercial contracting, or new construction the technology they need to do the work efficiently, and the data they need to do it effectively.
ServiceTitan features:
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Location-specific service history, including recorded calls, accessible from the mobile app.
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The ability to build multi-option proposals with photos, on-site, in minutes.
Sales presentations that make conversations with customers easier and increase the average ticket.
Mobile payment acceptance, eliminating lost checks and increasing cash flow.
To learn more, schedule a demo with a product expert today.
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Contractor License in New Hampshire?
The licensing process is relatively affordable in New Hampshire. The cost to register a business is $100, or $125 for an expedited registration. Other expenses include purchasing workers’ compensation insurance. Depending where you work, you may need to also obtain a surety bond or liability insurance.
Specialty contractors typically incur higher expenses depending on their license type and the length of training and required classroom instruction to qualify for licensure.
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New Hampshire Contractor License Training Programs and Schools
There are no specific educational or course requirements to get a New Hampshire contractor license. However, there are training programs throughout the state that can help you prepare for a career in construction.
One option is to complete an apprenticeship via the state’s ApprenticeshipNH program. Apprenticeships allow you to earn money while you gain valuable job skills and experience.
According to the program, “ApprenticeshipNH is a workforce training program of the Community College System of NH (CCSNH) that aims to promote high-quality registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs in various leading industries throughout the state. The program is funded by U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration grants, and it offers technical assistance to employers in creating such programs. Additionally, ApprenticeshipNH provides financial support to apprentices and pre-apprentices, as well as coordinates pre-apprenticeship opportunities with employers and high schools. The program has been instrumental in enhancing workforce training opportunities in the state, as evidenced by its successful track record over the past four years.”
If you choose to start your career path at a college or university, you can pursue a degree in construction management or construction engineering. There are a few higher education options throughout the Granite State that offer these types of programs. Each of the following schools offers a Construction Management Bachelor of Science degree.
Does New Hampshire Reciprocate Contractor Licenses?
New Hampshire doesn’t offer reciprocity for general contractors because there is no state-level license. However, New Hampshire does permit license reciprocity for several trades, including electricians.
According to the OPLC, “If you are licensed in another state with ‘substantially similar’ requirements, you may be eligible to obtain a license in New Hampshire through reciprocity.”
To apply for reciprocity, contact the licensing board for your specific trade.
Do I Need to Renew My Contractor License in New Hampshire?
If you hold a specialty license in New Hampshire, you must abide by the license renewal terms. For example, New Hampshire journeyman plumbers must renew their licenses every two years and pay a $180 fee. Master plumbers must also renew every two years for a fee of $300.
New Hampshire electricians must renew their licenses every three years. The fee to renew a journeyman license is $100, and $180 for a master license.
Are There Any Penalties for Contracting Without a License in New Hampshire?
There are serious penalties for contracting without an electrician or plumbing license in the state of New Hampshire. Practicing either trade without a license results in misdemeanor charges. If an injury occurs during unlicensed work, the charge increases to a felony.
National Certifications
Other certifications can help you demonstrate your proficiency to potential employers and clients. There are many professional organizations that offer certification. These certifications are not required but can add to your marketability and therefore increase your opportunity to make more money.
Some of the top construction certifications are:
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Safety Certificate
Construction Management Association of America Certified Construction Manager (CCM)
National Association of Safety Professionals (NASP) Certified Safety Manager (CSM) certification
National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER)
Continuing Education
Though New Hampshire does not require continuing education to perform contracting services, you will want to stay informed about emerging technology in the industry. There are many ways to keep yourself current in regard to the technology put to use in construction, roofing, energy and environmental designs, efficiency standards and more. For example, distributors want you to know about their company’s latest offerings and will often hold training sessions about new and changing equipment and parts. Another option is the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) which provides continuing education courses.
Additionally, electrician licenses require 15 continuing education units every three years, while plumbing license holders must complete three hours of continuing education per year.
Resources
You can stay up to date on contracting industry news several ways:
Check top blogs, including ServiceTitan’s blog.
Read about the latest industry trends, and discover ideas on how to grow your business.
Listen to top podcasts like ServiceTitan’s “Toolbox for the Trades” podcast.
ServiceTitan is a comprehensive business software solution built specifically to help service companies streamline their operations, boost revenue, and achieve growth. Our award-winning, cloud-based platform is trusted by more than 100,000 contractors across the country.
Ready to learn more about what ServiceTitan can do for your business? Contact our team to schedule a demo today.
