How to become a general contractor in Kansas

Journeyman level Licensed by cities or counties, not the state What's a journeyman?

The license pathway in Kansas

1. 1

   Construction worker or apprentice (no license)

   • Registered apprenticeships include classroom instruction

   You don't need a license to work for a contractor. Contractor licenses go to the business and its qualifying person; you learn the trade on the job or in an apprenticeship such as carpentry. [1][5][21]

2. 2

   Class C residential contractor (local)

   • ICC 552 Kansas Standard Residential Building Contractor (or an accepted equivalent); 75% to pass
   • Wichita/Sedgwick County $450 for 2 years; Johnson County $100 + $225 a year
   • Wichita: every 2 years; Johnson County and Topeka: yearly with 8 CE (continuing education) hours

   Lets the company build, remodel, repair and demolish one- and two-family homes and their accessory buildings. [1][4][5][6][10][13]

3. 3

   Class B building contractor (local)

   • ICC 551 Kansas Standard Building Contractor (or an accepted equivalent); 75% to pass
   • Wichita/Sedgwick County $600 for 2 years; Johnson County $100 + $225 a year
   • Wichita: every 2 years; Johnson County and Topeka: yearly with 8 CE hours

   Covers building, remodeling, repairing and demolishing structures up to three stories tall. [1][4][5][6][10][13]

4. 4

   Class A general contractor (local)

   • ICC 550 Kansas Standard General Building Contractor (or an accepted equivalent); 75% to pass
   • Wichita/Sedgwick County $1,000 for 2 years; Johnson County $100 + $225 a year
   • Wichita: every 2 years; Johnson County and Topeka: yearly with 8 CE hours

   Covers any structure, regardless of height or occupancy. It doesn't include HVAC, plumbing, electrical or fire protection work. [1][4][5][6][10][13]

Who licenses contractors in Kansas

Kansas has no state general contractor license. State law (K.S.A. 12-1540) defines three kinds of contractor: a general contractor, who plans and supervises unlimited building work; a building contractor, limited to buildings up to three stories plus nonstructural remodeling; and a residential contractor, limited to one- and two-family homes.

Any county or city that requires licensing of these contractors may use the standard exams designated in K.S.A. 12-1556, must set a 75% passing score, and must accept a certificate of competency from those exams without another exam. A city or county may use other exams, but a license based on them is good only there unless local governments have a reciprocal agreement. [1][2][3][8]

Wichita and Sedgwick County (MABCD)

The Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department (MABCD) licenses contractors for unincorporated Sedgwick County, the City of Wichita and smaller cities in its jurisdiction. General contractor licenses come in Class A, B, C (residential) and D (residential maintenance), plus specialty licenses such as roofing, siding and swimming pools. The qualified person must pass an accepted ICC exam with 75% or better: Kansas Standard 550, 551 or 552 (or the matching national exams) for Classes A, B and C.

Two-year license fees are $1,000 (Class A), $600 (Class B), $450 (Class C) and $360 (Class D), plus a $50 application fee for a new license. You also need at least $300,000 in general liability insurance, auto and workers' compensation insurance (or notarized waivers), and a certificate of good standing from the Kansas Secretary of State unless you're a sole proprietor. General contractor licenses expire Dec. 31 of every even year. MABCD says it doesn't reciprocate with other jurisdictions. Questions: (316) 660-1840. [4][9][10]

Johnson County

Johnson County Contractor Licensing issues 11 types of contractor licenses. Class A covers any structure regardless of height; Class B covers structures up to three stories; Class C covers single-family and duplex homes. None of them covers HVAC, plumbing, electrical or fire protection work.

The company names a qualifying individual who scored 75% or higher on an approved ICC or Prometric exam, or holds a bachelor's degree in architecture, relevant engineering, construction science or construction management from an accredited program. Fees are a $100 application fee plus $225 a year per license type, and you need at least $1,000,000 in general liability insurance and workers' compensation if you have employees. Licenses last one year, and the qualifying individual needs 8 hours of continuing education per license classification each year. [5][11][12][13]

Topeka and Kansas City, Kansas

Topeka's Development Services Division licenses general contractors in Class A (ICC exam 550, unlimited stories), Class B (551, up to 3 stories) and Class C (552, residential only), each with a 75% passing score. Instead of an exam, Topeka accepts an official transcript showing at least 30 hours of coursework from an accredited school in construction science, engineering or architecture; that person must work for your company full time. Class A, B and C licensees need 8 hours of continuing education a year, and licenses renew by December 14.

In Kansas City, Kansas, the Unified Government says general contractors and subcontractors working in Wyandotte County need a city occupational tax license (business license). [6][14]

Roofing registration with the Attorney General

Under the Kansas Roofing Registration Act, no one may work as a roofing contractor in Kansas without a registration certificate from the Kansas Attorney General. You must be at least 18 and file proof of at least $500,000 in liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage (or an exemption). The Attorney General's fee schedule lists $250 for an initial registration ($125 if you apply between Jan. 1 and Apr. 30) and $250 to renew; the law caps the fee at $500. Registrations expire June 30 each year.

Employees and day laborers working under a roofing contractor's direct supervision don't register. Some general contractors are exempt, for example when roofing is no more than 50% of the project cost and they meet the Act's other conditions. Wichita/Sedgwick County and Topeka also require the state roofing registration number before they license a roofer. [6][7][9][15][16][17][18][19]

Electrical, plumbing and HVAC work

General contractor licenses don't cover the trades. Johnson County's Class A, B and C licenses exclude HVAC, plumbing, electrical and fire protection work, and MABCD requires journeymen and masters in those trades to hold trade certificates. See the Kansas electrician, Kansas plumber and Kansas HVAC pages. [5][20]

Steps to get licensed in Kansas

1. Learn the work

   Get hired by a contractor or join a construction apprenticeship. You don't need a license to work for a licensed contractor. [5][21]

2. Check the license where you'll build

   Kansas leaves contractor licensing to counties and cities. Wichita and Sedgwick County (MABCD), Johnson County and Topeka each license contractors; ask the building department where your jobs will be. [3][6][9][11]

3. Pass the ICC contractor exam for your class

   Take ICC exam 550 (Class A), 551 (Class B) or 552 (Class C) and score at least 75%. Topeka says these exams are scheduled through ICC's Pearson VUE site. [3][6][10]

4. Set up the business and insurance

   Get a certificate of good standing from the Kansas Secretary of State (MABCD doesn't require one from sole proprietors), and get general liability insurance: at least $300,000 for MABCD and $1,000,000 for Johnson County, plus workers' compensation or a notarized waiver. [9][12]

5. Apply and renew

   Submit the application, exam results and insurance certificates and pay the fees. Johnson County and Topeka licenses renew every year with 8 hours of continuing education; MABCD general contractor licenses expire Dec. 31 of even years. [5][6][9][13]

6. Register with the Attorney General if you roof

   Roofing contractors must hold a Kansas Attorney General roofing registration, renewed every year by June 30. [7][17][18]

Where to get the hours

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

• Open shop

  ABC Heart of America carpentry apprenticeship

  Non-union (open-shop) carpentry apprenticeship with training at its Kansas City, Missouri facility. [21][22]

• State program

  Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship

  The state office in the Kansas Department of Commerce that supports registered apprenticeship programs; it doesn't place people, so you apply to a sponsor or employer. [23][24]

• Other

  U.S. Department of Labor Apprenticeship Job Finder

  Search registered carpentry and construction apprenticeships by location anywhere in Kansas. [25]

Licensed in another state?

Questions people ask