Contractor licensing by state
How to Get a Contractor License in Ohio
Ohio requires a state license for plumbing, electrical work, and HVAC work. It has no state license for foundation repair, general contracting, roofing, landscape irrigation, and concrete flatwork, so cities and counties set any rules for that work. The official sources do not settle the state rule for drainage and detention work and demolition. All 3 trades we could rate score the same, 49 of 100.
State license requirements for each trade in Ohio
| Foundation repair | No state license | Not rated | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General contracting | No state license | Not rated | |||
| Roofing | No state license | Not rated | |||
| Plumbing | Plumbing contractor license | $25 | OCILB plumbing contractor exam | 5 years | Moderate · 49 |
| Electrical | Electrical contractor license | $25 | OCILB electrical contractor exam | 5 years | Moderate · 49 |
| HVAC | Heating, ventilating and air conditioning contractor license | $25 | OCILB HVAC contractor exam | 5 years | Moderate · 49 |
| Irrigation | No state license | Not rated | |||
| Concrete flatwork | No state license | Not rated | |||
| Drainage and detention | Not settled | Not rated | |||
| Demolition | Not settled | Not rated |
Tap a column to sort. Difficulty covers the state license only. Checked October 18, 2026.
Foundation repair, general contracting, roofing, landscape irrigation, concrete flatwork, drainage and detention work, and demolition are not rated because their rules are not fully published.
Details for each trade
Foundation repair
No state license covers foundation repair. Cities and counties that run building departments set contractor registration and permit rules.
Ask the city or county building department whether the repair needs a permit and engineered drawings.
- Check the local contractor registration rules.
- Pull the local permit.
Checked October 18, 2026 against OCILB.
General contracting (residential remodels, additions and home improvement)
No state general contractor license; OCILB licenses only the five commercial trades.
Permits come from the city or county building department.
- Check local contractor registration.
- Pull local permits.
Checked October 18, 2026 against OCILB.
Roofing
No state roofing license.
Reroof permit rules are set by the city or county.
Check local registration and permit rules.
Checked October 18, 2026 against OCILB.
Plumbing
| License | Plumbing contractor license (commercial work) |
|---|---|
| Board | Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board |
| Fee | $25 (application fee, plus a $25 license fee after passing) |
| Exam | OCILB plumbing contractor exam (two sections). Given by PSI. |
| Experience | Five years as a tradesperson in the trade immediately before applying, or an Ohio registered engineer with three years of construction business experience, or five years as an Ohio government inspector in the trade. |
| Insurance | At least $500,000 contractor liability insurance, assigned with the license to a contracting company. |
| Background check | Required |
A BCI and FBI background check is required after board approval and before the exam. Residential plumbing licensing is handled by cities and counties.
Commercial plumbing permits come from the local or state certified building department; residential rules are local.
- Document five years in the trade.
- Apply to OCILB ($25), get approved and complete the BCI and FBI check.
- Pass both PSI exam sections.
- Send the $25 license fee and the $500,000 liability certificate.
Difficulty 49, moderate (exams 15, experience 25, insurance 5, background check 4).
Checked October 18, 2026 against OCILB testing application.
Electrical
| License | Electrical contractor license (commercial work) |
|---|---|
| Board | Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board |
| Fee | $25 (application fee, plus a $25 license fee after passing) |
| Exam | OCILB electrical contractor exam (two sections). Given by PSI. |
| Experience | Five years as a tradesperson in the trade immediately before applying (or the engineer or inspector alternatives). |
| Insurance | At least $500,000 contractor liability insurance. |
| Background check | Required |
Work on systems under 50 volts, such as alarm, communication, landscape lighting and irrigation controls, is exempt from the electrical license. Residential electrical licensing is local.
Commercial electrical permits come from the certified building department; residential rules are local.
- Document five years in the trade.
- Apply, pass the background check and both PSI exam sections.
- Send the license fee and insurance certificate.
Difficulty 49, moderate (exams 15, experience 25, insurance 5, background check 4).
Checked October 18, 2026 against OCILB testing application; ORC 4740.13.
HVAC
| License | Heating, ventilating and air conditioning contractor license (commercial work) |
|---|---|
| Board | Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board |
| Fee | $25 (application fee, plus a $25 license fee after passing) |
| Exam | OCILB HVAC contractor exam (two sections). Given by PSI. |
| Experience | Five years as a tradesperson in the trade immediately before applying (or the engineer or inspector alternatives). |
| Insurance | At least $500,000 contractor liability insurance. |
| Background check | Required |
Refrigeration and hydronics are separate OCILB licenses. Residential HVAC licensing is local.
Commercial mechanical permits come from the certified building department; residential rules are local.
- Document five years in the trade.
- Apply, pass the background check and both PSI exam sections.
- Send the license fee and insurance certificate.
Difficulty 49, moderate (exams 15, experience 25, insurance 5, background check 4).
Checked October 18, 2026 against OCILB testing application.
Irrigation
No state irrigation contractor license was found. Low voltage irrigation controls are exempt from the state electrical license. Backflow and connection rules come from the local water system.
Ask the water system and local building department about irrigation and backflow rules.
Ask the water system about backflow requirements.
Checked October 18, 2026 against ORC 4740.13.
Concrete flatwork (driveways, sidewalks and work in the public right-of-way)
No state concrete license. Ask the city about sidewalk and right of way permits.
Ask the city or road owner what permit work at the street needs.
Ask the city about a right of way permit.
Checked October 18, 2026 against OCILB.
Drainage and detention (grading, drainage, stormwater and detention ponds)
We could not confirm from official sources whether Ohio requires a state license for drainage and detention work.
Grading and stormwater approvals come from the city or county and the state environmental agency; they are not covered here.
Ask the local building and engineering offices which approvals apply.
Checked October 18, 2026 against OCILB.
Demolition
We could not confirm from official sources whether Ohio requires a state license for demolition.
Demolition permits come from the local building department; state asbestos notice rules are not covered here.
Ask the local building department and Ohio EPA about demolition and asbestos notice rules.
Checked October 18, 2026 against OCILB.
Exams for a Ohio license
| Ohio OCILB Plumbing Contractor (trade and business and law) | PSI, for the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board | $138 for both sections ($69 each) | $69 for each section you retake; wait 60 days after a failed section, up to five retests a year | Open book | 100 (trade) and 50 (business and law), plus unscored pretest items | 240 minutes and 120 minutes | 70% on each section |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio OCILB Electrical Contractor (trade and business and law) | PSI, for the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board | $138 for both sections ($69 each) | $69 for each section you retake; wait 60 days after a failed section, up to five retests a year | Open book | 100 (trade) and 50 (business and law), plus unscored pretest items | 240 minutes and 120 minutes | 70% on each section |
| Ohio OCILB HVAC Contractor (trade and business and law) | PSI, for the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board | $138 for both sections ($69 each) | $69 for each section you retake; wait 60 days after a failed section, up to five retests a year | Open book | 100 (trade) and 50 (business and law), plus unscored pretest items | 240 minutes and 120 minutes | 70% on each section |
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 Ohio OCILB Plumbing Contractor (trade and business and law) are Ohio Plumbing Code 2024, International Fuel Gas Code 2024 and the other listed references, plus the Contractor's Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Ohio 4th edition.
- Study references for Ohio OCILB Electrical Contractor (trade and business and law) are National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), plus the Contractor's Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Ohio 4th edition.
- Study references for Ohio OCILB HVAC Contractor (trade and business and law) are Ohio Mechanical Code 2024, International Fuel Gas Code 2021 and the other listed references, plus the Contractor's Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Ohio 4th edition.
Checked October 18, 2026 against PSI Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board Candidate Information Bulletin, updated February 7, 2024; OCILB examination application.
Official sources
- Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB)
- OCILB testing application
- Ohio Revised Code 4740.01, definitions
- Ohio Revised Code 4740.13, license required
Licensing pages for nearby states cover Michigan and Pennsylvania.
Rules and fees change, and this is not legal advice. Confirm with the licensing board before you apply or bid.