General contractor · Local (city/county) licenses
How to get a general contractor license in Colorado
State law and licensing-board sources · Last reviewed October 11, 2026
Journeyman level Licensed by cities or counties, not the state What's a journeyman?
Colorado's Legislative Council staff list of state-regulated occupations (January 2026) doesn't include a general contractor license. Cities and counties license building contractors. Denver uses a two-step system: first a supervisor certificate (Class A, B or C, based on years of experience and an ICC exam), then a contractor license. In the Colorado Springs area, the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department licenses building contractors in classes A through E. Electrical and plumbing work need state licenses. [1][2][3][4][5]
New to the trade?
Starting from zero in Colorado
Colorado's January 2026 list of state-regulated occupations doesn't include general contractors, and we found no state card for general building work. To start, get hired by a builder or apply for a carpentry apprenticeship, such as the programs offered through the Construction Industry Training Council of Colorado (CITC) or Emily Griffith Technical College. Local contractor licenses come years later: Denver's residential (Class C) certificate needs 2 years as a journeyman carpenter or construction foreman. [1][3][8][9][13]
High school diploma or GED
No state rule was found General contracting isn't on Colorado's January 2026 list of state-regulated occupations. Program rules vary: Emily Griffith Technical College's carpenter apprenticeship lists age 18 and a valid Social Security number, with no diploma listed. Confirm any education rule with the program or employer. [1][9]
Minimum age
No state minimum for general building work was found. Emily Griffith's carpenter apprenticeship requires age 18. [9]
State cards for trade work
Electrical and plumbing work are licensed by the state. Anyone employed in the electrical or plumbing trade without a Colorado license is an apprentice and must be registered with the State Electrical Board or State Plumbing Board. [1][5]
Classes while you work
CITC's carpentry apprenticeship requires 576 hours of classroom instruction and 8,000 hours of on-the-job training, with class once a week for 3 to 4 years CITC helps you find an employer to sponsor you. [8][13]
Pay while you learn
Registered apprentices are employed from day one and earn a paycheck while they learn, according to Apprenticeship Colorado. [14]
Still in high school?
General contracting isn't on Colorado's list of state-regulated occupations, so we found no state license hours for high school courses to count toward. Apprenticeship Colorado has a page for students and youth ages 16 to 24, and Colorado's career and technical education (CTE) programs are listed on the Colorado CTE site. Under a 2024 law (Senate Bill 24-104), Apprenticeship Colorado and Colorado CTE are aligning high school CTE with registered apprenticeships, and the first advisory group focuses on the building and construction trades. Through Concurrent Enrollment, high school students can take college courses, including career and technical courses, at no tuition cost to them. [1][15][16][17][18]
Where to apply in ColoradoHow to get an apprenticeshipHelper jobs
Colorado contractor license at a glance
- Denver building (Class B)
- 4 years building commercial buildings ICC exam F12 [3]
- Denver general (Class A)
- 7 years building commercial buildings, including high-rise work ICC exam F11 [3]
- Denver fees
- Supervisor certificate $60 Contractor license $250; both renewed every 3 years [6]
- Colorado Springs area
- Pikes Peak Regional Building Department licenses Building Contractors A to E Plus F for solar [4]
On this page
The license pathway in Colorado
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1
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2
Residential Contractor Class C supervisor certificate (Denver)
- 2 years of experience
- ICC F13 National Standard Residential Building Contractor C
- $60 certificate; $250 contractor license
- Every 3 years
Covers one- and two-family homes and IRC (International Residential Code) townhouses. You need 2 years of field work as a journeyman carpenter or construction foreman with hands-on foundation, framing and roofing experience; up to 1 year of design work can count. [3][6]
-
3
Class B supervisor certificate (Denver)
- 4 years of experience
- ICC F12 National Standard Building (B)
- $60 certificate; $250 contractor license
- Every 3 years
Covers buildings below high-rise. You need 4 years of notarized experience building commercial buildings, including ground-up work on buildings 55 to 75 feet high, as superintendent or project engineer. A Class B-2 version covers buildings up to 30 feet. [3][6]
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4
Class A supervisor certificate (Denver)
- 7 years of experience
- ICC F11 National Standard General Building Contractor A
- $60 certificate; $250 contractor license
- Every 3 years
Covers any building. You need 7 years of notarized experience building commercial buildings, including ground-up work on a high-rise over 75 feet, as superintendent or project engineer. [3][6]
Who licenses general contractors in Colorado
The Colorado Legislative Council staff's January 2026 list of state-regulated professions and occupations includes electricians and plumbers but no general contractor license. Building contractors are licensed by local building departments, such as Denver's Community Planning and Development and the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department. [1][2][4]
Denver
Denver's contractor licensing is a two-step process. First you get a supervisor certificate, or employ someone who holds one; then you apply for a contractor license. Denver doesn't accept licenses or certificates from other counties or states.
- Residential Contractor Class C: one- and two-family homes and IRC townhouses. 2 years as a journeyman carpenter or construction foreman with foundation, framing and roofing experience; ICC exam F13.
- Class B-2: buildings up to 30 feet. 4 years building commercial buildings; ICC exam F12.
- Class B: buildings below high-rise. 4 years building commercial buildings, including ground-up work on buildings 55 to 75 feet high; ICC exam F12.
- Class A: any building. 7 years building commercial buildings, including high-rise work over 75 feet; ICC exam F11.
For Classes A and B, project manager or construction manager experience or a project management diploma can count for 1 year, and an accredited bachelor's degree in structural engineering or architecture can replace some field years. Applications take about 14 to 20 business days to review. Fees: supervisor certificate $60 and contractor license $250, both renewed every 3 years. [2][3][6]
Colorado Springs and El Paso County
The Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD) licenses Building Contractors A (general commercial), B (limited commercial), C (home builder), D (specialty trades such as roofing, siding and masonry), E (maintenance and remodeling, such as decks, fences and interior nonstructural remodeling) and F (solar energy). PPRBD doesn't reciprocate licenses from other building departments, but it accepts ICC national standardized exams passed on or after January 1, 2017. Licensing takes about 6 to 8 weeks. [4][7]
Electrical and plumbing work
Colorado licenses electricians and plumbers statewide. Anyone employed in the electrical or plumbing trade without a Colorado license counts as an apprentice and must be registered with the State Electrical Board or State Plumbing Board. See the Colorado electrician license and Colorado plumber license pages. [1][5]
Apprenticeships
Most general contractors start in a craft such as carpentry. The CITC carpentry program combines 576 classroom hours with 8,000 hours of paid work, and Emily Griffith Technical College offers a carpenter registered apprenticeship with partners. The Apprenticeship Colorado directory lists every registered program. See also our carpenter apprenticeship guide. [8][9][10]
Steps to get licensed in Colorado
Get construction experience
Work for a builder or join a registered carpentry apprenticeship listed in the Apprenticeship Colorado directory. [10]
Document your experience
Denver requires notarized letters from employers or clients who hired you, listing projects, addresses, duties and start and end dates. You can't be your own reference. [3][11]
Pass the ICC exam and get a supervisor certificate
Apply to Denver for the certificate that matches your experience. Once approved, you have 90 days to submit your ICC pass letter and pay the fee; supervisor certificates renew every 3 years. [3]
Get the contractor license
Hold a supervisor certificate (or employ someone who does), then apply for the Denver contractor license. Other cities and counties have their own licenses. [2][12]
Where to get the hours
Programs that train general contractors in or for Colorado, from their own official pages. Listed by type, not ranked.
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Other
The Construction Industry Training Council of Colorado's carpentry program: 576 classroom hours and 8,000 on-the-job hours, with class once a week. CITC helps you find a sponsoring employer. [8][13]
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School
Emily Griffith Technical College carpenter registered apprenticeship
A Denver technical college that offers a carpenter registered apprenticeship with partners including CITC. It requires age 18 and a valid Social Security number; programs typically last four years. [9]
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State program
Apprenticeship Colorado (state apprenticeship agency)
Colorado's State Apprenticeship Agency. Its directory lists every registered apprenticeship program in Colorado, with length, qualifications and selection criteria. [10]
Licensed in another state?
We didn't find a reciprocity agreement published by the licensing office for this license. Ask the office how it treats an out-of-state license or experience before you apply.
Questions people ask
Sources (18)
- Regulation of Professions and Occupations in Colorado (memorandum, January 5, 2026), Colorado Legislative Council Staff. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- Contractor Licensing, City and County of Denver, Community Planning and Development. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- Construction Certificates, City and County of Denver, Community Planning and Development. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- License Types, Pikes Peak Regional Building Department. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- Electrical & Plumbing Apprenticeships Quick Information Guide (October 2025), Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations (DORA). Accessed October 11, 2026.
- Contractor Licensing Fees, City and County of Denver, Community Planning and Development. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- Licensing FAQ, Pikes Peak Regional Building Department. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- Carpenters, Construction Industry Training Council of Colorado (CITC). Accessed October 11, 2026.
- Carpenter Registered Apprenticeship, Emily Griffith Technical College. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- Apprenticeship for Career Seekers, Apprenticeship Colorado, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- Mechanical Certificates, City and County of Denver, Community Planning and Development. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- Contractor Licenses, City and County of Denver, Community Planning and Development. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- Apprenticeships, Construction Industry Training Council of Colorado (CITC). Accessed October 11, 2026.
- Apprenticeship for School Districts, Apprenticeship Colorado, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- Apprenticeship for Students & Youth, Apprenticeship Colorado, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- Colorado Career & Technical Education, Colorado CTE (Colorado Community College System). Accessed October 11, 2026.
- CTE/RAP Advisory Board, Apprenticeship Colorado, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- Concurrent Enrollment, Colorado Department of Education. Accessed October 11, 2026.