The eight questions to ask any qualifier placement company before you sign, what a good answer sounds like, and the warning signs to walk away from.
The best qualifier placement company is the one that can place a licensed qualifier as a real W-2 employee in your state and trade. It shows you the license is active with the board. It tells you in writing what happens if that person leaves. Everything else is sales talk. Use the questions below on any company you call, including us.
A qualifier placement company is also called a qualifying agent or RMO placement service. It connects a contractor who needs a license with a licensed person who joins the company and qualifies it with the state board. The board judges the person and the arrangement. So the company you pick matters only as far as it gets both of those right.
Eight questions to ask before you sign
| Ask this | A good answer | A warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Will the qualifier be my employee? | Yes, a W-2 employee or an officer, with real duties | "They just sign" or "you will never need to talk to them" |
| Can I see the license? | A license number you can check on the board's own site | They will not share it until you pay |
| Does the license cover my trade and state? | They name the exact classification your board requires | "A contractor license works for anything" |
| How many companies does this person qualify now? | A straight count, checked against your state's limit | They do not know or will not say |
| What will the qualifier actually do? | Supervision duties written down, matched to your board's rule | No duties at all |
| What happens if the qualifier leaves? | A written plan and your state's replacement deadline | "That never happens" |
| What will I pay, in total? | A written number or a written formula | Vague fees, or a share of your revenue or company you did not expect |
| Do you guarantee the license? | No. The board decides. They explain what is covered if it goes wrong | A promise that you will be approved |
Why W-2 comes first
Most boards expect a qualifier to be a real employee or officer who takes part in the work. Our W-2 versus 1099 guide covers why a contractor arrangement can fail that test. If a company offers a qualifier who never shows up, you carry the risk. A license built on an arrangement the board will not accept can be lost, and the work done under it can be in question.
Check the license yourself
Do not take anyone's word for it, ours included. Every state board has a public lookup. Search the qualifier's name and confirm the license is active and in good standing. Then confirm the classification matches the work you plan to do. A placement company that hands you the number and tells you to go look is telling you something good about itself.
Ask how many companies they already qualify
States set different limits on this. Some allow one company, some allow more with approval, and a few set rules for what the qualifier must own or hold. Read whether a qualifying agent can qualify more than one company, then ask your candidate company how they check it. If the qualifier is already at the limit, your application can stall.
Plan for the day the qualifier leaves
Qualifiers retire, move and change jobs. Most states give you a short window to name a replacement before the license is at risk, and that window differs by state. Ask how fast a replacement can be found and what the contract says. Read our page on emergency qualifier replacement so you know the steps before you need them.
How The Licensing Company answers these
We built our process to these questions, so here are our answers plainly.
- Employment: qualifying agents we place join your company as full time W-2 employees.
- Verification: we confirm the license is active, in good standing and covers your trade classification.
- Coverage: we work in all 50 states, across the trades.
- Who is behind it: our founders, Marshall Schofield and Jeremiah Jaskulski, are working authorities in contractor licensing. Marshall is one of the nation's leading contractor exam prep instructors. Both hold general contractor, master electrician, master plumber and master mechanical licenses.
- Pricing: we quote each state and trade one at a time, because specialty states are priced differently. Read what drives qualifying agent cost.
- Approval: this is not a promise. The board decides.
If you want to run these questions on us, tell us your state and trade or call 615-219-2110.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best company to hire a contractor qualifier from?
The best one for you can place a licensed qualifier as a real W-2 employee in your state and trade. It can also prove the license is active on the board's own site. Compare them with the eight questions above rather than by who ranks first.
What does a qualifier placement company do?
It finds a licensed person for your state and trade and confirms the license is active. It also helps set up the role so it meets your board's rules. The qualifier then joins your company and qualifies it with the board.
Is using a qualifier placement company legal?
Hiring a licensed qualifier as a real employee or officer with real duties is allowed in most states, and the rules differ by state. An arrangement where someone only signs a form and never works for your company is the kind boards go after.
How do I know a qualifier company is legitimate?
Ask for the qualifier's license number and check it on the board's public lookup. Then get the employment terms, the fees and the replacement plan in writing. Be careful with anyone who promises approval, because only the board can give that.
Can a placement company guarantee my license?
No. The board decides every application. A company can stand behind its own work, but it cannot promise what a board will do.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, licensing guidance, or an offer of services. Licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction. For specific compliance questions, contact The Licensing Company for a confidential consultation.