Contractor Continuing Education Requirements by State (2026 Guide)

Yes. In the states and trades that require continuing education (CE), it is an ongoing requirement: the hours come due again every renewal cycle, and a license cannot be renewed until they are done. Whether it applies to you depends on the state, the license and sometimes the person, because many states put the hours on the qualifying individual rather than on the company.

The rules vary widely. Florida requires 14 hours every two years, North Carolina requires 8 hours every year from a general contractor's qualifier, and California, Nevada and Arizona require none for their contractor licenses. This guide lays out contractor continuing education requirements by state for 2026, checked against each state board, statute or rule on September 26, 2026. For the wider licensing picture, start with our contractor license guide.

At a glance Florida: 14 hours every two years for every CILB certified and registered contractor (F.S. 489.115). North Carolina: 8 hours every year for one qualifier of each Building, Residential or Unclassified license (G.S. 87-10.2). Louisiana: 6 hours every year for residential building contractors; none for commercial licenses. Minnesota and Wisconsin: 14 hours and 12 hours per renewal, completed by the company's qualifying person. California, Nevada and Arizona: no CE to renew a contractor license.

Contractor CE Requirements by State

Hours are the minimum the board or statute sets; the state sections below give topics, exemptions and deadlines.

Continuing Education Is Not Exam Prep

Continuing education is not the same as the exam or the test prep you complete to get licensed in the first place. CE is ongoing coursework completed after you hold the license, as a condition of keeping it. Some states also require a one time course before the first license (Rhode Island requires 5 hours of preregistration education, and Wisconsin requires a 12 hour initial qualifier course), but that is pre-license education, not CE.

Why States Require Continuing Education

Building codes change on a regular cycle. Workplace safety standards, lien law, workers' compensation rules and the licensing statutes themselves get rewritten. States that require CE want licensed contractors to stay current on the rules they are legally responsible for following.

The required topics show that purpose: code changes, workplace safety, business practices, workers' compensation and the state's own laws and rules. For the contractor, CE is a recurring compliance task, tracked the same way you track insurance renewals and your bond.

States That Require CE for Contractor Licenses

Florida

Every contractor certified or registered by the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) must complete 14 hours of approved continuing education every two years to renew, under section 489.115(4) of the Florida Statutes. Each hour is a classroom hour of at least 50 minutes, and the board may accept approved nonclassroom courses hour for hour.

The DBPR renewal table sets the minimum topics. Every license type needs at least 1 hour each of a specialized or advanced building code module, workplace safety, business practices, workers' compensation and laws and rules. Building, general, residential and Structure specialty contractors add 1 hour of wind mitigation and 1 hour of cementitious cladding, stucco, plastering and lath. Roofing contractors and several structural specialty contractors (glass and glazing, tower, structural aluminum or screen enclosures, structural masonry, structural prestressed and precast concrete, structural steel, window and door, garage door and structural carpentry) add 1 hour of wind mitigation, and pool and spa contractors add 1 hour of pool electrical requirements.

Only courses from CILB approved providers count, and the board approves each course before it can be offered for credit. A contractor licensed for less than a full two year cycle does not owe the full 14 hours in that first cycle.

Certified contractors renew by August 31 of even numbered years; the 2026 deadline has passed, so the next one is August 31, 2028. Registered contractors renew by August 31 of odd numbered years, so their next deadline is August 31, 2027. See our Florida contractor license guide and Florida general contractor guide for the full licensing path.

North Carolina

North Carolina requires CE for general contractor licenses in the Building, Residential and Unclassified classifications. Under General Statute 87-10.2, at least one qualifier of the licensee must complete 8 hours of continuing education every year as a condition of renewal. When a company has several qualifiers, one of them completing the hours keeps the license valid.

The 8 hours include a 2 hour mandatory course produced by the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors on changes in the laws and rules, plus 6 hours of board approved electives. A qualifier may carry forward up to 4 elective hours to the next year.

The CE year runs January 1 to November 30, and approved internet courses from approved providers count. The statute gives a 90 day grace period after November 30; if no qualifier has finished the hours by the end of it, the company's license is invalid until the CE and every other licensing requirement are met. See our North Carolina contractor license guide and North Carolina general contractor guide.

Louisiana

Louisiana applies CE narrowly. A residential building contractor must complete a minimum of 6 hours of continuing education every year through a board approved provider and keep each certificate of completion for five years. There are no CE requirements for commercial, mold remediation or home improvement contractors and registrants.

A residential contractor who also holds a valid commercial license in a major classification (Building Construction; Highway, Street and Bridge Construction; Heavy Construction; or Municipal and Public Works Construction) meets the requirement through that commercial license. See our Louisiana contractor license guide.

Georgia (Residential Licenses)

Georgia's State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors requires CE for its residential licenses. Under Rule 553-12-.02, a Residential Basic licensee completes 3 hours every year and a Residential Light Commercial licensee completes 6 hours every year, with each year running July 1 to June 30. Online and correspondence courses may cover no more than 50 percent of the required hours.

The renewal rule for General Contractor Limited Tier and General Contractor Unlimited licenses (Rule 553-12-.05) sets no CE hours. Both divisions renew by June 30 of even numbered years. See our Georgia general contractor guide.

Minnesota

Every Minnesota residential building contractor and remodeler license has a qualifying person (QP) who holds a separate Q registration. The Department of Labor and Industry will not renew the business license unless the QP's Q registration is active, and the Q registration renews when the QP completes 14 hours of DLI approved continuing education. At least 1 hour must cover the energy code and at least 1 hour business management strategies.

The business licenses run on a two year cycle ending March 31, some in odd years and some in even years. The QP's Q registration can expire on a different date than the license. See our Minnesota contractor license guide.

Wisconsin

A Wisconsin dwelling contractor must hold, or employ someone who holds, a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier certification. Under Wis. Stat. 101.654(1m)(b)1, the qualifier completes 12 hours of department approved continuing education every two years, including at least 4 hours in construction laws and codes, contracts, liability and risk management. See our Wisconsin contractor license guide.

Oregon

Unless exempt, every Oregon residential contractor licensed by the Construction Contractors Board completes CE each two year license period: 3 hours of CCB laws, regulations and business practices plus 5 hours of other approved courses if licensed six or more years, or 13 hours if licensed less than six years. The board gives credit for no more than 3 hours of its own classes.

Home services contractors, residential locksmith services contractors and home energy performance score contractors are exempt. A contractor endorsed for both residential and commercial work follows the commercial continuing education program instead. See our Oregon contractor license guide.

Alaska

Alaska's residential contractor endorsement requires 16 contact hours of approved continuing competency activities each licensing period under 12 AAC 21.650. A first renewal requires 8 hours for each complete year the endorsement was held, and business related topics count for no more than 8 hours.

For the 2026 renewal, the hours must fall between October 1, 2024 and September 30, 2026, and an application postmarked by September 30, 2026 is on time.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts requires continuing education for the Construction Supervisor License under 780 CMR 110.R5.4: 12 hours for an unrestricted license, 10 hours for a restricted (one and two family) license and 6 hours for a specialty license each renewal. The 12 and 10 hour programs include 4 hours of code review, 1 hour of workplace safety, 1 hour of business practices and workers' compensation, 1 hour of energy, and 1 hour of lead safe practices on the first renewal. Up to 6 hours may be taken online; the rest must be classroom training.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island registers contractors for one year at a time. Under R.I. Gen. Laws 5-65-5(f), each renewal requires proof of 2.5 hours of continuing education for residential contractors, on top of the 5 hours of preregistration education a new applicant completes.

States Where CE Applies Only to Certain Trades

Several states impose no CE on the general contractor license but require it for individual trade licenses, usually electrical, plumbing and mechanical.

Virginia

Virginia ties CE to its tradesman licenses under the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). Journeyman and master tradesmen must complete 3 hours of continuing education for each plumbing, electrical or HVAC designation they hold, within the two year license term. Gas fitting, natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas designations require 1 hour (DPOR's FAQ counts 1 hour total across those gas licenses), and certified elevator mechanics and water well systems providers require 8 hours.

Backflow prevention device workers are currently exempt. Virginia allows a 30 day grace period after expiration to submit payment and proof of CE, but the license is still expired during that window and you cannot work under it. See our Virginia electrician license guide.

Georgia (Trade Licenses)

Georgia's Construction Industry Licensing Board, administered through the Secretary of State, requires CE for its trade licenses. Electrical contractors complete 4 hours per year (Rule 121-4-.05) and conditioned air contractors complete 4 hours per year (Rule 121-4-.03). Master and journeyman plumbers complete 8 hours within the 24 months before the license expires (Rule 121-4-.04).

These licenses renew every two years. A licensee in the first year is generally not required to complete CE before the first renewal, and one licensed between one and two years owes 4 hours.

Texas

Texas has no statewide general contractor license; the state's residential builder registration ended when the Texas Residential Construction Commission Act expired on September 1, 2009. CE applies to the trades regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR).

Air conditioning and refrigeration contractors complete 8 hours of CE per renewal, including 1 hour of Texas state law and rules. Master, journeyman, residential wireman, maintenance and other individual electrician licenses require 4 hours before each renewal, covering the National Electrical Code, the electrician law and rules and NFPA 70E safety. TDLR states that electrical contractor (business) licenses do not require CE, and residential and general builders are not subject to TDLR CE. See our Texas general contractor guide and Texas electrician license guide.

Washington

Washington's Department of Labor and Industries requires electricians and electrical administrators to complete 24 hours of approved CE in the 3 years between renewals: 8 hours on currently adopted National Electrical Code changes, 4 hours on RCW 19.28 and WAC 296-46B, and 12 hours of other approved courses. Journey level and residential specialty plumbers complete 24 hours per renewal, with at least 12 hours of Uniform Plumbing Code and 4 hours of industry related electrical.

States With No Contractor CE Requirement

California

The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) requires no continuing education to renew a Class A, Class B, Class B-2 or C classification license. Active licenses expire every two years and inactive licenses every four, and the renewal steps cover the application, the fee, bonds, workers' compensation coverage and the qualifying individual, not coursework.

The C-22 asbestos abatement classification is the notable exception on training. CSLB will not issue a C-22 unless the contractor is registered, or has an active application, with the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), and DOSH registration requires Cal/OSHA approved initial training and annual refresher courses for supervisors and abatement workers. That training runs through DOSH, not through the CSLB renewal.

Individual electrician certifications are separate. Certified electricians renew with the Department of Industrial Relations every 3 years by documenting 32 hours of further electrical education and 2,000 hours of work in the industry (8 CCR 291.5). See our California general contractor guide.

Nevada

Nevada does not impose a statewide CE requirement to renew a contractor license. Neither Chapter 624 of the Nevada Revised Statutes nor Chapter 624 of the Nevada Administrative Code contains one, and under NRS 624.283 a license expires two years after issuance, although the board may set shorter or longer periods by regulation to stagger renewals.

Local jurisdictions can add their own rules. Some Nevada building departments issue their own trade cards with separate renewal requirements, so check with the county or city where you work, not just the state board.

Arizona

Arizona does not require continuing education to renew a Registrar of Contractors license. The renewal statute (A.R.S. 32-1125) sets no CE, and the Registrar's rules (A.A.C. R4-9-101 through R4-9-131) contain no CE section. That holds for the electrical classifications (C-11, R-11 and CR-11) too. Some course vendors advertise a 16 hour requirement for Arizona electrical contractors, but neither the statute nor the Registrar's rules contain one; if a provider tells you otherwise, ask for the rule number.

Is Renewing a Construction Trade License an Ongoing Requirement?

Renewal itself is always ongoing: every state license in this guide expires on a fixed cycle, from one year in Rhode Island to three years for Washington electricians, and must be renewed to stay valid. Continuing education is ongoing only where the state requires it, but where it does, the hours reset each cycle. Georgia's rules say hours used to renew during a late period cannot be reused for the next cycle, and Alaska's form says the same for hours used to reinstate.

Missing CE usually means the renewal is refused. Georgia treats failure to complete CE as grounds to deny renewal, and a Georgia residential or general contractor license not renewed by December 31 of the renewal year is treated as revoked.

Which States Have the Lightest CE Rules?

If "flexible" means no CE at all, California (CSLB), Nevada (NSCB) and Arizona (ROC) require none for their contractor licenses, and Texas requires none for the electrical contractor business license. Among states that do require CE, Rhode Island's 2.5 hours per renewal and Georgia's 3 hours a year for a Residential Basic license are small commitments.

Delivery rules matter too. North Carolina accepts approved internet courses. Georgia caps online and correspondence courses at 50 percent of residential hours, and Massachusetts caps online training at 6 hours. Carry forward also varies: North Carolina allows up to 4 elective hours into the next year.

How to Finish Your CE Before the Deadline

The practical risk with CE is not the coursework itself; it is forgetting it until the renewal window is closing.

1. Confirm who owes the hours. In North Carolina, Minnesota and Wisconsin the qualifier completes the CE, not the company. Know which person's hours keep your license alive.
2. Know your cycle. Confirm whether your state runs annual or two year CE and the exact date: August 31 in Florida, November 30 in North Carolina, June 30 for Georgia residential years, September 30, 2026 for the current Alaska endorsement period.
3. Use board approved providers only. Florida, Texas, Virginia and North Carolina count only courses their boards approved. A course from an unapproved provider does not satisfy the requirement.
4. Take the mandatory topics first. North Carolina's 2 hour mandatory course, Florida's laws and rules hour and the Texas air conditioning and refrigeration law and rules hour are required, not electives.
5. Check that the provider reported you. In Texas, reporting is the provider's job, and TDLR lets you look up completed hours online. Check before you renew.
6. Keep your certificates. Louisiana requires five years, Alaska four and Texas one. Keep proof even when providers report electronically, in case of audit.
7. Track it like insurance. Put CE deadlines on the same compliance calendar as your bond and insurance renewals.

For the bigger picture on keeping a license active, see our guides on contractor license renewal by state and what happens when a license expires.

Continuing Education Falls on the Qualifier

In many states the CE obligation belongs to a person, not the company. North Carolina's statute requires at least one qualifier of the licensee to complete the 8 hours. Minnesota will not renew a residential license unless the qualifying person's Q registration is active. Wisconsin requires a dwelling contractor to hold or employ a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier who completes 12 hours every two years.

That means a company's license depends on one person's coursework, and a company expanding into several states inherits several CE cycles at once. When no owner or employee wants to carry a credential, a full time W-2 qualifying agent who actually supervises the work can qualify the company for the classification and complete the CE it requires. Our founders, Marshall Schofield and Jeremiah Jaskulski, are recognized authorities on contractor licensing and qualification, and they built The Licensing Company to match qualified professionals with contracting companies nationwide. Learn how to hire a qualifying agent, or get a tailored plan through our consultation packages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is renewing a construction trade certification an ongoing requirement?

Yes. State contractor and trade licenses expire on a fixed cycle and must be renewed, and in states that require CE the hours come due again every cycle. Florida requires 14 hours every two years and North Carolina 8 hours every year, while California, Nevada and Arizona require none for their contractor licenses.

Which CE courses are accepted by most state boards?

No single course is accepted everywhere. Each board approves its own providers and courses, and Florida, Texas, Virginia and North Carolina count only courses on their approved lists. If you hold licenses in several states, check each board's list before you enroll.

Do North Carolina general contractors need continuing education every year?

Yes, for Building, Residential and Unclassified licenses. At least one qualifier completes 8 hours each year, including the board's 2 hour mandatory course, under G.S. 87-10.2. The CE year ends November 30, and up to 4 elective hours can carry forward.

How many CE hours does a Florida contractor need?

Fourteen hours every two years, with at least 1 hour each of an advanced building code module, workplace safety, business practices, workers' compensation and laws and rules. Building, general, residential and Structure specialty contractors also need wind mitigation and stucco and lath hours, roofing and several structural specialties need a wind mitigation hour, and pool and spa contractors need a pool electrical hour. Certified contractors next renew by August 31, 2028.

Does Louisiana require continuing education for commercial contractors?

No. Louisiana's board states that there are no CE requirements for commercial, mold or home improvement contractors and registrants. Residential building contractors complete 6 hours every year through a board approved provider.

Does Wisconsin require contractor continuing education?

Yes, for the Dwelling Contractor Qualifier. The qualifier completes 12 hours every two years, including at least 4 hours on construction laws and codes, contracts, liability and risk management, under Wis. Stat. 101.654(1m)(b)1.

Keep Your License Current Without Carrying It Alone

If your company is licensed in several states, or your license depends on one qualifier's CE, we can help you plan who carries each credential and when each cycle comes due. Call The Licensing Company at 615-219-2110 or start at hire a qualifying agent to talk through your states and classifications.

Sources

All sources retrieved 2026-09-26.

• Florida Statutes, section 489.115, retrieved 2026-09-26
• Florida DBPR, Construction Industry Licensing Board, retrieved 2026-09-26
• North Carolina General Statute 87-10.2, retrieved 2026-09-26
• NC Licensing Board for General Contractors, Continuing Education, retrieved 2026-09-26
• Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, Continuing Education, retrieved 2026-09-26
• Georgia Rules, Department 553 (Residential and General Contractors), retrieved 2026-09-26
• Georgia Rule 553-12-.02, Continuing Education Residential, retrieved 2026-09-26
• Georgia Rules, Department 121 (Construction Industry Licensing Board), retrieved 2026-09-26
• Minnesota DLI, Contractor and Remodeler License Renewals, retrieved 2026-09-26
• Wisconsin DSPS, Dwelling Contractor Qualifier, retrieved 2026-09-26
• Wisconsin DSPS, Dwelling Contractor Qualifier CE Attestation, retrieved 2026-09-26
• Oregon Construction Contractors Board, Continuing Education, retrieved 2026-09-26
• Alaska Residential Contractor Endorsement Renewal Application and 12 AAC 21.650, retrieved 2026-09-26
• Massachusetts 780 CMR 110.R5.4, Continuing Education, retrieved 2026-09-26
• Rhode Island General Laws 5-65-5, retrieved 2026-09-26
• Rhode Island General Laws 5-65-8, retrieved 2026-09-26
• Virginia DPOR, Tradesmen Program, retrieved 2026-09-26
• Texas TDLR, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor CE, retrieved 2026-09-26
• Texas TDLR, Electrician Continuing Education, retrieved 2026-09-26
• Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, Residential Construction Commission Final Report (2009), retrieved 2026-09-26
• Washington L&I, Electrical Continuing Education, retrieved 2026-09-26
• Washington L&I, Plumbing Continuing Education, retrieved 2026-09-26
• California CSLB, General Renewal Information, retrieved 2026-09-26
• California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 291.5, retrieved 2026-09-26
• California CSLB, C-22 Asbestos Abatement Classification, retrieved 2026-09-26
• Cal/OSHA, Asbestos Registration Frequently Asked Questions, retrieved 2026-09-26
• Nevada Revised Statutes, Chapter 624, retrieved 2026-09-26
• Nevada Administrative Code, Chapter 624, retrieved 2026-09-26
• Arizona Revised Statutes 32-1125, retrieved 2026-09-26
• Arizona Administrative Code, Title 4, Chapter 9, Article 1, retrieved 2026-09-26
• Arizona Administrative Code R4-9-104, Dual Contractor License Classifications, retrieved 2026-09-26

This article reflects continuing education rules as of September 26, 2026 and is for general guidance only. CE requirements change and vary by license type and locality. Always confirm current requirements directly with the relevant state licensing board before your renewal deadline.