North Dakota licenses contractors through the Secretary of State, and the trigger is low: any job where the cost, value, or price exceeds $4,000 requires a contractor license.
Requirements checked against the North Dakota Secretary of State, Contractor Licensing published requirements on October 4, 2026.
| Licensing board | North Dakota Secretary of State (the registrar); no separate contractor licensing board |
|---|---|
| License required when | Single job exceeding $4,000 |
| What the state calls the qualifier | No qualifier concept for the general contractor license; license issued to the business on a sworn statement of experience; electrical trade uses a Contracting Master or Master of Record |
| NASCLA exam accepted | no |
| Reciprocity and endorsement | Not stated |
| Exam waivers | No exam exists for the general contractor license so there is nothing to waive |
| Experience required | No fixed years; applicant swears to own experience and qualifications under oath |
| Application and exam fees | Class A $450, Class B $300, Class C $225, Class D $100 |
| Renewal | Annual, due by March 1; Class A $90, Class B $60, Class C $45, Class D $30; $50 penalty if renewed by June 1, expired after June 1 |
| Time to license | Registrar has fifteen days from application to investigate and determine eligibility once the file is complete; renewals up to 60 days |
| Bond and financial requirements | No bond (repealed 1995); certificate of liability insurance in the license name; Workforce Safety and Insurance certificate if ND resident employees; no net worth or credit requirement |
| Penalty for unlicensed work | Not stated |
| Time to replace a qualifier | Not applicable; no license holder attached to the general contractor license whose departure triggers a replacement clock |
| Companies one qualifier may qualify | Not applicable for the general contractor license; electrical master, Class B, or power limited electrician may exercise the license for no more than one shop or business at a time |
Facts checked on September 5, 2026.
Each line was checked against the state board’s published requirements on the date shown. Not stated means the board material we reviewed did not state it, so we do not guess. Boards change rules; confirm the current figure with the board before you file.
Licenses come in four classes by project size: Class D up to $100,000, Class C up to $300,000, Class B up to $500,000, and Class A for projects over $500,000. There is no licensing exam and no qualifier requirement, which makes North Dakota one of the more straightforward states to enter. Electricians and plumbers are licensed separately by their own state boards.
Confirm directly with North Dakota which agency licenses general contractors, whether a license is required based on job value, and what that license requires before relying on any specific figure. Electrician and plumber licensing, if either exists at the state level, should be confirmed separately with the state as well.
Confirm directly with the state whether an exam applies to the general contractor license, and whether any trade specific boards for electricians or plumbers administer separate exams of their own. Third party exam prep and marketing sites sometimes name a specific testing vendor for a state's trade exams; before relying on a claim like that, confirm directly with the relevant board which vendor, if any, actually administers its exam.
Confirm directly with the state which agency, if any, licenses electricians in North Dakota, and what exam levels, question counts, time limits, passing scores, fees, and retake rules apply before relying on any specific figure.
Confirm directly with the state which agency, if any, licenses plumbers in North Dakota, and what exam levels, question counts, time limits, passing scores, fees, and retake rules apply before relying on any specific figure.
Confirm directly with the state whether North Dakota requires a bond for a general contractor license, and what insurance or workers' compensation style coverage must be in place before a license can issue or renew.
Confirm directly with the state whether North Dakota sets a fixed years of experience requirement, a net worth requirement, or a credit requirement for the general contractor license, and what documentation an applicant must provide to support an application.
Confirm directly with the state how long North Dakota typically takes to review a general contractor license application, and what documentation must be on file before a license can issue.
Confirm directly with the state when a North Dakota general contractor license must be renewed, what the renewal application requires, and whether a penalty fee applies to a late renewal.
Confirm directly with the state whether North Dakota offers reciprocity with other states for a general contractor license, and whether any exam requirement can be waived. Treat any claim of North Dakota reciprocity as unverified until your specific situation has been checked directly with the state.
Electrical: confirm directly with the state whether electricians and electrical contractors are licensed separately from the general contractor license, which agency would issue that license, and what experience, insurance, or single shop requirements might apply before relying on any specific hour count, fee, or insurance minimum.
Plumbing: confirm directly with the state whether plumbers are licensed separately from the general contractor license, which agency would issue that license, and what experience or supervision requirements might apply before relying on any specific hour count or fee.
HVAC and mechanical: confirm directly with the relevant city or state authority whether HVAC and mechanical contractors are licensed at the state level, the city level, or not at all in North Dakota.
Confirm directly with the state which agency licenses general contractors in North Dakota, whether a separate contractor licensing board exists, and whether a license is required once a single job's cost, value, or price passes a certain amount. Do not rely on any specific dollar threshold, agency name, or statute citation for this page until it has been checked directly with the state.
Confirm directly with the state whether North Dakota uses multiple license classes for general contractors, and if so, what the application fee, renewal fee, and maximum job value are for each class. Any table of class names, fees, or dollar limits circulating online, including on third party aggregator sites, should be checked against the state's own current fee schedule before being relied on.
Confirm directly with the state whether North Dakota requires an individual qualifying agent for the general contractor license, the way some other states do, or whether the license can be held by the business itself based on documentation the business provides. Also confirm what happens to the license if a key individual at the company leaves.
Confirm directly with the state whether an exam applies to the general contractor license, and if so, which vendor, if any, administers it.
Official Licensing Authority
All contractor license applications, renewals, and qualifying agent changes must go through this board.
We place a licensed qualifying agent with your company as a full time W-2 employee and prepare the qualifier filing with the North Dakota Secretary of State, Contractor Licensing. Tell us your trade and what you have going on, and pick a time for a discovery call. Or call 615-219-2110.
Provide your information for a compliance assessment.
Contractor licensing and qualifying agent guides from The Licensing Company.
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Get matched with a verified, licensed qualifying agent in your state and trade.
Turn your active contractor license into additional income by qualifying other businesses.
Understand qualifier requirements, the legal process, and how to find one in your state.
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