Contractor licensing by state
How to Get a Contractor License in Arkansas
Arkansas requires a state license for every trade we track. The main contractor license is the Residential Remodeler License or Residential Builders License, which costs $50 to start and needs the AR Contractor Business and Law exam. Of the 7 trades we could rate, concrete flatwork is the easiest to get licensed for and plumbing the hardest.
The Arkansas contractor license
| License | Residential Remodeler License or Residential Builders License (Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board) |
|---|---|
| Covers | Foundation repair and general contracting |
| Fee | $50 (nonrefundable filing fee (license fee beyond this not shown on the application)) |
| Exam | AR Contractor Business and Law Examination. Given by PSI. Exam fee $84. $84. |
| Experience | Three references verifying work experience. |
| Insurance | Workers compensation certificate if you have employees. Source |
| Processing time | Reviewed at monthly committee meetings; file 3 weeks ahead. |
| Renewal | Annual. |
How to apply
- Choose limited (projects under $50,000) or unlimited.
- Pass the AR Contractor Business and Law exam through PSI ($84).
- Collect 3 references and a positive net worth balance sheet.
- Mail the application with the $50 filing fee 3 weeks before a committee meeting.
Residential Remodeler covers major structural changes or additions to a single-family home over $2,000. Residential Builder covers new homes and remodeling. Commercial work of $50,000 or more needs a Commercial license.
State license requirements for each trade in Arkansas
| Foundation repair | Home Improvement License, specialty Foundation Construction or Drilling, Pile Dr | $50 | AR Contractor Business and Law Examination | None listed | Moderate · 29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General contracting | Residential Remodeler License | $50 | AR Contractor Business and Law Examination | None listed | Moderate · 29 |
| Roofing | Residential Roofing Registration | $20 | None listed | None listed | Easy · 13 |
| Plumbing | Master Plumber License | $200 | Arkansas Master Plumber examination | 5 years | Moderate · 46 |
| Electrical | Master Electrician or Residential Master Electrician license | None listed | None listed | Not rated | |
| HVAC | HVAC/R Contractor License | Arkansas HVAC/R contractor examination | None listed | Not rated | |
| Irrigation | Home Improvement License, specialty Landscaping, Irrigation, Lawn Sprinkler, Str | $50 | None listed | None listed | Not rated |
| Concrete flatwork | Home Improvement License, specialty Concrete | $50 | None listed | None listed | Easy · 12 |
| Drainage and detention | Home Improvement License, specialty Grading and Drainage, Excavating | $50 | None listed | None listed | Easy · 12 |
| Demolition | Home Improvement License, specialty Demolition | $50 | None listed | None listed | Easy · 12 |
Tap a column to sort. Difficulty covers the state license only. Checked October 18, 2026.
Trades ranked from easiest to hardest in Arkansas
- Concrete flatwork, easy (12)
- Demolition, easy (12)
- Drainage and detention, easy (12)
- Roofing, easy (13)
- Foundation repair, moderate (29)
- General contracting, moderate (29)
- Plumbing, moderate (46)
Electrical work, HVAC work, and landscape irrigation are not rated because their rules are not fully published.
Details for each trade
Foundation repair
| License | Home Improvement License, specialty Foundation Construction or Drilling, Pile Driving, Stabilization (specialty 15) |
|---|---|
| Board | Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (Residential Contractors Committee) |
| Fee | $50 (nonrefundable filing fee; license fee beyond this not confirmed) |
| Experience | Project references for each specialty requested. |
| Insurance | Workers compensation if you have employees. |
| Background check | Required. Application authorizes a criminal background check. |
| Processing time | File 3 weeks before a committee meeting. |
| Renewal | Annual; $50 late fee if incomplete by expiration. |
Needed for specialty work on a single-family home over $2,000 (labor and material). A limited license is capped at projects under $50,000. No Business and Law exam is listed on the Home Improvement application; you prove experience with references for each specialty. Non-single-family work of $50,000 or more needs a Commercial license.
Ask the city or county building department whether the repair needs a permit and an engineer letter or sealed design.
- Pick the specialty on the Home Improvement application and gather project references for it.
- Prepare a balance sheet showing positive net worth.
- Mail the application with the $50 filing fee at least 3 weeks before a committee meeting.
- Pull the city permit where one is required.
- If the job is part of a larger structural remodel, the Residential Remodeler license (Business and Law exam) applies instead.
Difficulty 29, moderate (exams 15, fees 3, insurance 5, background check 4, processing time 2).
Checked October 18, 2026 against ACLB, Apply for contractors license/registration; ACLB Home Improvement application (specialty list, $50 fee); ACLB Residential Remodeler application ($50 fee, PSI exam $84).
General contracting (residential remodels, additions and home improvement)
| License | Residential Remodeler License (structural changes and additions) or Residential Builders License |
|---|---|
| Board | Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board |
| Fee | $50 (nonrefundable filing fee) |
| Exam | AR Contractor Business and Law Examination. Given by PSI. Exam fee $84. $84. |
| Experience | Three references verifying work. |
| Insurance | Workers compensation if you have employees. |
| Background check | Required. Criminal background check authorized on application. |
| Processing time | File 3 weeks before a committee meeting. |
| Renewal | Annual. |
Needed for major structural changes or additions to a single-family home over $2,000. Limited licenses cap projects under $50,000.
Ask the city or county building department about building permits for remodels and additions.
- Pass the AR Business and Law exam through PSI.
- File the Remodeler or Builder application with references, financial statement and $50 fee.
Difficulty 29, moderate (exams 15, fees 3, insurance 5, background check 4, processing time 2).
Checked October 18, 2026 against ACLB, Apply for contractors license/registration; ACLB Residential Remodeler application ($50 fee, PSI exam $84); ACLB Residential Builder application; ACLB renewal page.
Roofing
| License | Residential Roofing Registration |
|---|---|
| Board | Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board |
| Fee | $20 (filing fee) |
| Insurance | Workers compensation if you have employees. |
| Bond | $15,000 Residential Roofing Registrant Surety Bond. |
Since January 1, 2022 residential roofing, roof decks and roofing sheet metal require the separate Residential Roofing Registration rather than a Home Improvement specialty.
Ask the city or county building department whether a reroof needs a permit.
- Buy the $15,000 Residential Roofing Registrant surety bond.
- Mail the registration with the $20 filing fee.
Difficulty 13, easy (bond 8, insurance 5).
Checked October 18, 2026 against ACLB Residential Roofing Registration application; ACLB Home Improvement application (specialty list, $50 fee).
Plumbing
| License | Master Plumber License |
|---|---|
| Board | Arkansas Department of Health, Committee of Plumbing Examiners |
| Fee | $200 (annual license fee, expires Dec 31 (plus $125 application/exam fee)) |
| Exam | Arkansas Master Plumber examination. Exam fee $125. $125 application fee. |
| Experience | 5 years of experience, and a journeyman license held 1 full year. |
| Processing time | Monthly committee review. |
| Renewal | Annual, Dec 31. |
Applications are reviewed monthly by the Committee of Plumbing Examiners before an exam is scheduled.
Ask the city or county building department who may pull plumbing permits.
- Hold a journeyman license for 1 year.
- Apply for the master exam with $125.
- Pass the exam and pay the $200 license fee.
Difficulty 46, moderate (exams 15, experience 25, fees 6).
Checked October 18, 2026 against ADH Plumber exam application instructions 2026 (fee table); ADH Plumbing Licensing Rules.
Electrical
| License | Master Electrician or Residential Master Electrician license |
|---|---|
| Board | Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners |
The Board licenses master, journeyman, residential master and residential journeyman electricians and registers apprentices. Fees, experience and exam provider is not confirmed here.
Ask the city or county building department who may pull electrical permits.
- Apply online to take the electrical exam.
- Pass the exam and apply for the license.
Checked October 18, 2026 against Arkansas Electrical Inspection and Licensing.
HVAC
| License | HVAC/R Contractor License (Class A, B, C or D) |
|---|---|
| Board | Arkansas HVAC/R Licensing Board (Department of Labor and Licensing) |
| Exam | Arkansas HVAC/R contractor examination. Given by Prov. |
Applicants must be pre-approved by the Board, then test with Prov. No reciprocity with other states. Fees not confirmed here.
Ask the city or county building department who may pull mechanical permits.
- Mail a notarized HVAC/R Contractor Application for exam approval.
- Pass the Prov exam.
- Receive the license class you qualified for.
Checked October 18, 2026 against Arkansas HVAC-R program.
Irrigation
| License | Home Improvement License, specialty Landscaping, Irrigation, Lawn Sprinkler, Streams (specialty 21) |
|---|---|
| Board | Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (Residential Contractors Committee) |
| Fee | $50 (nonrefundable filing fee; license fee beyond this not confirmed) |
| Experience | Project references for each specialty requested. |
| Insurance | Workers compensation if you have employees. |
| Background check | Required. Application authorizes a criminal background check. |
| Processing time | File 3 weeks before a committee meeting. |
| Renewal | Annual; $50 late fee if incomplete by expiration. |
Ask the city or county building department and the water utility about permits and backflow devices for the water connection.
- Pick the specialty on the Home Improvement application and gather project references for it.
- Prepare a balance sheet showing positive net worth.
- Mail the application with the $50 filing fee at least 3 weeks before a committee meeting.
- Pull the city permit where one is required.
- Ask the Department of Health whether the potable water tie-in needs a licensed plumber.
Checked October 18, 2026 against ACLB, Apply for contractors license/registration; ACLB Home Improvement application (specialty list, $50 fee).
Concrete flatwork (driveways, sidewalks and work in the public right-of-way)
| License | Home Improvement License, specialty Concrete (specialty 9) or Asphalt / Concrete Paving surface treatment |
|---|---|
| Board | Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (Residential Contractors Committee) |
| Fee | $50 (nonrefundable filing fee; license fee beyond this not confirmed) |
| Experience | Project references for each specialty requested. |
| Insurance | Workers compensation if you have employees. |
| Background check | Required. Application authorizes a criminal background check. |
| Processing time | File 3 weeks before a committee meeting. |
| Renewal | Annual; $50 late fee if incomplete by expiration. |
Ask the city or county building department about driveway, sidewalk and right-of-way permits.
- Pick the specialty on the Home Improvement application and gather project references for it.
- Prepare a balance sheet showing positive net worth.
- Mail the application with the $50 filing fee at least 3 weeks before a committee meeting.
- Pull the city permit where one is required.
Difficulty 12, easy (fees 1, insurance 5, background check 4, processing time 2).
Checked October 18, 2026 against ACLB, Apply for contractors license/registration; ACLB Home Improvement application (specialty list, $50 fee).
Drainage and detention (grading, drainage, stormwater and detention ponds)
| License | Home Improvement License, specialty Grading and Drainage, Excavating (specialty 17, includes pipe and structures, culverts, clearing, grubbing, rip rap) |
|---|---|
| Board | Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (Residential Contractors Committee) |
| Fee | $50 (nonrefundable filing fee; license fee beyond this not confirmed) |
| Experience | Project references for each specialty requested. |
| Insurance | Workers compensation if you have employees. |
| Background check | Required. Application authorizes a criminal background check. |
| Processing time | File 3 weeks before a committee meeting. |
| Renewal | Annual; $50 late fee if incomplete by expiration. |
Ask the city or county building department about grading, drainage and stormwater approvals.
- Pick the specialty on the Home Improvement application and gather project references for it.
- Prepare a balance sheet showing positive net worth.
- Mail the application with the $50 filing fee at least 3 weeks before a committee meeting.
- Pull the city permit where one is required.
Difficulty 12, easy (fees 1, insurance 5, background check 4, processing time 2).
Checked October 18, 2026 against ACLB, Apply for contractors license/registration; ACLB Home Improvement application (specialty list, $50 fee).
Demolition
| License | Home Improvement License, specialty Demolition (specialty 10) |
|---|---|
| Board | Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (Residential Contractors Committee) |
| Fee | $50 (nonrefundable filing fee; license fee beyond this not confirmed) |
| Experience | Project references for each specialty requested. |
| Insurance | Workers compensation if you have employees. |
| Background check | Required. Application authorizes a criminal background check. |
| Processing time | File 3 weeks before a committee meeting. |
| Renewal | Annual; $50 late fee if incomplete by expiration. |
Ask the city or county building department about demolition permits.
- Pick the specialty on the Home Improvement application and gather project references for it.
- Prepare a balance sheet showing positive net worth.
- Mail the application with the $50 filing fee at least 3 weeks before a committee meeting.
- Pull the city permit where one is required.
Difficulty 12, easy (fees 1, insurance 5, background check 4, processing time 2).
Checked October 18, 2026 against ACLB, Apply for contractors license/registration; ACLB Home Improvement application (specialty list, $50 fee).
Exams for a Arkansas license
| Arkansas Contractor Business and Law | PSI, for the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board | $84 | $84 | Open book | 50 | 120 minutes | 35 correct |
|---|
Tap a column to sort. Each exam name opens the provider's bulletin or exam page. A blank cell is a fact not confirmed from the provider, and the linked bulletin has the full rules.
- Study references for Arkansas Contractor Business and Law are NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Arkansas 8th edition.
Checked October 18, 2026 against PSI Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board Candidate Information Bulletin.
Official sources
- Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board
- Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners
- Arkansas HVAC/R Board
- Arkansas Department of Health, Plumbing licensing
Licensing pages for nearby states cover Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.
Rules and fees change, and this is not legal advice. Confirm with the licensing board before you apply or bid.