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General contractor · State license

How to get a general contractor license in Arkansas

State law and licensing-board sources · Last reviewed October 11, 2026

Arkansas licenses construction businesses, not individual workers, through the Contractors Licensing Board and its Residential Committee. You need a commercial license for any project other than a single-family home that costs $50,000 or more. For a single-family home, building or major remodeling over $2,000 needs a residential builder or remodeler license, and specialty work over $2,000 needs a home improvement license. Builder, remodeler and commercial licenses need the PSI (a testing company) business and law exam, references and financial records. [1][2][3]

New to the trade?

Starting from zero in Arkansas

Arkansas doesn't license construction workers or carpenters, so you start by getting hired by a builder or joining a carpentry or construction apprenticeship. The license comes later, when you contract your own jobs; the board then wants references showing years of experience (four for a residential builder), so keep a record of who you worked for and what you built. [1][3][5][7][9]

  • High school diploma or GED

    We found no education requirement in the Arkansas contractor licensing laws The board asks for experience, references, an exam and financial records. ACEF's carpentry page doesn't list one either, so ask when you apply. The state Office of Skills Development notes that registered apprenticeship standards may require a diploma or GED (General Educational Development test). [2][3][9][13]

  • Register before you start work

    No state registration for workers Only contracting businesses are licensed or registered. [1][7]

  • Experience for the license later

    Residential builder: four years of verifiable building experience (commercial or residential), shown by three references. Residential remodeler: two years. The references must be filled out by the people giving them, not you, and be less than 90 days old. [3][5]

  • Classroom options

    ACEF's carpentry apprenticeship is 432 classroom hours over three to four years, one night a week from 5:00 to 9:00 in Little Rock. Experience credit can shorten it. [9]

  • Application windows

    As of October 2026, ACEF (Arkansas Construction Education Foundation) says its fall semester starts the first week of August and its spring semester the first week of January. [9]

  • Pay while you learn

    The Office of Skills Development says registered apprentices are paid for their work and their wages rise as their skills grow. [10]

  • Credit for military service

    Active-duty military, veterans and their spouses who apply as individuals get expedited applications, and those licensed in another state automatically qualify for a similar license. [1]

  • Still in high school?

    Arkansas's Youth Apprenticeship lets 16- to 24-year-olds who are full-time high school or college students join a registered apprenticeship, with paid on-the-job training and a parent's signature if you're under 18. School-district high school career centers let juniors and seniors earn college credit at no cost. Hours from an Arkansas Certified Pre-Apprenticeship count toward a registered apprenticeship, and ACEF runs free pre-apprenticeships for high school students with tool packages and school credit. [13][14][15][16]

Where to apply in ArkansasHow to get an apprenticeshipHelper jobs

Licensing office Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (Department of Labor and Licensing) · (501) 372-4661 [7]

Arkansas contractor license at a glance

When you need a license
Commercial: projects other than single-family homes of $50,000 or more. Residential: single-family work over $2,000 [1][2][3]
License types
Commercial (restricted under $750,000, or unrestricted) Residential builder; residential remodeler; home improvement; subcontractor registration; residential roofer registration [1][4]
Experience
Residential builder 4 years Residential remodeler 2 years; commercial building and other main classifications 5 years (or a passed exam); specialties 1 year [2][3][5]
Exam
Arkansas Business and Law exam from PSI: 50 questions, 2 hours, open book, $84 [4]
Finances
Commercial: CPA (certified public accountant) financial statement and $10,000 contractor's bond Building classification needs $50,000 net worth, half in cash. Residential builder: balance sheet showing positive net worth [2][4][5]
Fees
$100 filing fee Commercial renewal $50 on time [2][4][5]
Workers' compensation
Required if you have one or more employees [4][5]
On this page
  1. At a glance
  2. Starting from zero
  3. The license pathway
  4. Who needs a contractor license
  5. Experience, exam and finances
  6. Fees
  7. If you're licensed in another state
  8. Steps to get licensed
  9. Where to get the hours
  10. Licensed in another state?
  11. Questions people ask

The license pathway in Arkansas

  1. 1

    Construction worker or carpenter apprentice

    No state license for workers. You build experience working for a contractor or in an apprenticeship; that experience is what the board later checks through references when you apply for your own license. [3][5][7]

  2. 2

    Residential Remodeler

    • 2 years of experience
    • Yes, Arkansas Business and Law exam (PSI)
    • $100 filing fee; $84 exam

    For major structural changes or additions to a single-family home when the project is over $2,000. You show two years of remodeling experience or pass the appropriate exam, plus three references. [1][3][4]

  3. 3

    Residential Builder

    • 4 years of experience
    • Yes, Arkansas Business and Law exam (PSI), 50 questions, 2 hours, open book
    • $100 filing fee; $84 exam

    To build a single-family home costing more than $2,000; it also covers remodeling. You need references showing four years of construction experience, a balance sheet with positive net worth, and the exam. [1][3][5]

  4. 4

    Commercial contractor

    • 5 years of experience
    • Yes, Arkansas Business and Law exam (PSI), 50 questions, 2 hours, open book
    • $100 filing fee; $84 exam
    • $50 on time; $100 if late

    For any non-single-family project of $50,000 or more. A restricted license covers projects under $750,000; an unrestricted license has no limit. The building classification needs five years of experience or a passed exam, a $10,000 bond and $50,000 net worth. [1][2][4]

Who needs a contractor license

Splitting a project into separate contracts under $2,000 doesn't avoid the residential license requirement. [1][2][3][4]

Experience, exam and finances

The board asks for experience shown by three references from people who saw your work, on its forms; it won't take references more than 90 days old.

Builder, remodeler and commercial applicants pass the Arkansas Business and Law exam from PSI: 50 multiple-choice questions, open book, 2 hours, $84. The study book is the "Arkansas Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management." [2][3][4][5]

Fees

Each new application has a $100 nonrefundable filing fee, and the exam is $84. A commercial license renewal filed before it expires costs $50; within 30 days after it expires, $100. The board waives the initial license fee for individuals and sole proprietors who receive Medicaid, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children), TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) or Lifeline, were approved for unemployment in the last 12 months, or earn no more than 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. [1][2][4][5]

If you're licensed in another state

The board offers 90-day temporary commercial, residential builder, remodeler and home improvement licenses if you hold a current out-of-state contractor license or can provide references; you can get only one temporary license. Applicants who hold a substantially equivalent license from another jurisdiction don't have to prove experience.

Act 457 of 2023 gives automatic licensure to new Arkansas residents who have held a similar license in good standing for one year. Active-duty members, veterans and spouses with an out-of-state contractor license skip the Business and Law exam and references. See license reciprocity for how this works across states. [1][2][3][4][6]

Steps to get licensed in Arkansas

  1. Build construction experience

    Work for a builder or in an apprenticeship and keep records of your projects, dollar amounts and dates; the board's reference forms ask for them. [3][5]

  2. Pick the license you need

    Commercial for non-single-family projects of $50,000 or more; residential builder, remodeler or home improvement for single-family work over $2,000. See the board's license types. [1]

  3. Pass the Business and Law exam

    Register with PSI for the Arkansas Contractor Business and Law Exam ($84). It's open book, 50 questions, with a 2-hour limit. [4]

  4. Gather references and financial records

    Get three references on the board's forms. Residential builders add a balance sheet showing positive net worth; commercial applicants add a CPA financial statement and a $10,000 contractor's bond. [4][5]

  5. Apply

    Mail the application with the $100 filing fee at least three weeks before a board or committee meeting, plus workers' compensation proof if you have employees. [4][5]

Where to get the hours

Programs that train general contractors in or for Arkansas, from their own official pages. Listed by type, not ranked.

Licensed in another state?

  • Any license (new Arkansas residents)

    Act 457 of 2023 grants automatic licensure to a new Arkansas resident who has held a license with a similar scope of practice in good standing for one year in another state. The board may require an exam on Arkansas law. The contractor laws and rules don't mention the act, so confirm with the board. [6][8]

  • Military members, veterans and spouses

    If you or your spouse is on active duty or a veteran and you hold a current contractor license from another state, the commercial application says you skip the Business and Law exam and the reference forms for the same classifications. [1][4]

Also listed by: Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Utah (their own boards list Arkansas as a partner; check both sides before you move).

Open the reciprocity map · How reciprocity works

AlaskaAK MaineME VermontVT New HampshireNH WashingtonWA IdahoID MontanaMT North DakotaND MinnesotaMN IllinoisIL WisconsinWI MichiganMI New YorkNY Rhode IslandRI MassachusettsMA OregonOR NevadaNV WyomingWY South DakotaSD IowaIA IndianaIN OhioOH PennsylvaniaPA New JerseyNJ ConnecticutCT CaliforniaCA UtahUT ColoradoCO NebraskaNE MissouriMO KentuckyKY West VirginiaWV VirginiaVA MarylandMD DelawareDE ArizonaAZ New MexicoNM KansasKS ArkansasAR TennesseeTN North CarolinaNC South CarolinaSC District of ColumbiaDC OklahomaOK LouisianaLA MississippiMS AlabamaAL GeorgiaGA HawaiiHI TexasTX FloridaFL
AR Listed here (agreement or endorsement) Lists AR

Questions people ask

Do I need a contractor license to remodel a house in Arkansas?

Yes, if the project is over $2,000. Major structural changes or additions need a residential remodeler (or builder) license; specialty work like painting, windows or flooring needs a home improvement license. [1]

How many years of experience do I need for an Arkansas residential builder license?

Four years of verifiable experience in the building industry, shown by three references on the board's forms, or a passed exam. You also need the Business and Law exam and a balance sheet with positive net worth. [3][5]

Is the Arkansas contractor exam open book?

Yes. The PSI Business and Law exam is open book, multiple choice, 50 questions with a 2-hour limit, and costs $84. [4]

Sources (16)
  1. Apply for Contractors License/Registration, Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  2. Arkansas Commercial Contractors Licensing Law (revised April 2026), Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  3. Arkansas Residential Contractor Licensing Law (revised April 2026), Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  4. Commercial New Application (effective 10/2026), Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  5. Residential Builders New Application (effective 10/2026), Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  6. Act 457 of 2023 (SB90): Automatic Occupational Licensure for Out-of-State Licensure Act, Arkansas General Assembly. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  7. Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board, Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  8. Out-of-State Licensure (Ark. Code 17-7-104), Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  9. Carpentry Apprenticeship, Arkansas Construction Education Foundation. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  10. Apprenticeship in Arkansas, Arkansas Office of Skills Development. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  11. Find an Apprenticeship Program Near You, Arkansas Office of Skills Development. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  12. Act 695 of 2025 (SB390): An Act to Establish the State Apprenticeship Agency, Arkansas General Assembly. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  13. Youth Apprenticeship in Arkansas, Arkansas Office of Skills Development. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  14. High School Career Centers, Arkansas Office of Skills Development. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  15. Arkansas Certified Pre-Apprenticeship, Arkansas Office of Skills Development. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  16. Education: Pre-Apprenticeships, Arkansas Construction Education Foundation. Accessed October 11, 2026.