Contractor licensing by state
How to Get a Contractor License in Rhode Island
Rhode Island requires a state license for every trade we track. The main contractor license is the Contractor registration, Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board, which costs $150 to start. All 3 trades we could rate score the same, 12 of 100.
The Rhode Island contractor license
| License | Contractor registration, Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board (CRLB) |
|---|---|
| Covers | Foundation repair, general contracting, roofing, concrete flatwork, drainage and detention work, and demolition |
| Fee | $150 (original registration or renewal (two year registration cycle)) |
| Insurance | Public liability and property damage insurance of at least $500,000 combined single limit, plus workers' compensation as required by law. Source |
| Continuing education | Five hours of in-person pre-registration education within 24 months before applying, then five hours of approved continuing education each two year cycle. |
| Renewal | Every two years, $150, with five hours of continuing education. |
How to apply
- Take five hours of in-person pre-registration education from an approved provider.
- Get $500,000 combined single limit liability insurance and workers' compensation.
- Register with the CRLB and pay $150.
- Renew every two years with five hours of continuing education.
Registration is required for residential and commercial construction, remodeling and repair. Starting January 1, 2028, a new CRLB license (with an exam and continuing education) will be required to supervise construction of new one to four family homes or to structurally remodel existing ones; the Board was to adopt the rules by January 1, 2027. This is based on the statutes and rules.
State license requirements for each trade in Rhode Island
| Foundation repair | Contractor registration now | $150 | None listed | None listed | Easy · 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General contracting | Contractor registration | $150 | None listed | None listed | Easy · 12 |
| Roofing | Contractor registration for residential roofing | $150 | None listed | None listed | Not rated |
| Plumbing | Master Plumber license | $75 | Master Plumber exam | None listed | Not rated |
| Electrical | Electrical Contractor | Electrical Contractor | None listed | Not rated | |
| HVAC | Contractor Master Refrigeration or Contractor Master Pipefitter license | $75 | Contractor Master Refrigeration or Pipefitter exam | None listed | Not rated |
| Irrigation | Master Irrigator license | Master Irrigator exam | None listed | Not rated | |
| Concrete flatwork | Contractor registration | $150 | None listed | None listed | Easy · 12 |
| Drainage and detention | Contractor registration | $150 | None listed | None listed | Not rated |
| Demolition | Contractor registration | $150 | None listed | None listed | Not rated |
Tap a column to sort. Difficulty covers the state license only. Checked October 18, 2026.
Roofing, plumbing, electrical work, HVAC work, landscape irrigation, drainage and detention work, and demolition are not rated because their rules are not fully published.
Details for each trade
Foundation repair
| License | Contractor registration now; from January 1, 2028 a residential contractor license for structural remodeling of existing residential structures |
|---|---|
| Board | Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board |
Foundation repair is structural work on an existing home, so it is the kind of work the 2028 license targets; the Board decides by rule what counts as structural. The license requires passing a Board approved exam and continuing education, and the statute bars a grandfather clause based only on registration.
The city or town building official issues the permit and decides whether engineered drawings are needed.
- Register with the CRLB now.
- Watch for the Board's residential contractor license rules and pass the exam before January 1, 2028.
- Pull the local building permit.
Difficulty 12, easy (fees 3, insurance 5, continuing education 4).
Checked October 18, 2026 against R.I. Gen. Laws 5-65.4-3; 440-RICR-10-00-2.
General contracting (residential remodels, additions and home improvement)
| License | Contractor registration; from January 1, 2028 a license to supervise new home construction or structural remodeling |
|---|---|
| Board | Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board |
Nonstructural home improvement stays under the existing registration.
Permits come from the city or town building official.
- Complete pre-registration education and register.
- Plan for the 2028 license if you do structural work or new homes.
Difficulty 12, easy (fees 3, insurance 5, continuing education 4).
Checked October 18, 2026 against 440-RICR-10-00-2; R.I. Gen. Laws 5-65.4-3.
Roofing
| License | Contractor registration for residential roofing; a separate Commercial Roofing license (R.I. Gen. Laws chapter 5-73) for commercial roofs |
|---|---|
| Board | Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board |
The commercial license fee and insurance amounts are not confirmed here.
Reroof permit rules are set by the city or town.
- Register with the CRLB.
- Add the Commercial Roofing license for commercial roofs.
Checked October 18, 2026 against CRLB.
Plumbing
| License | Master Plumber license (Contractor Master for businesses) |
|---|---|
| Board | RI Department of Labor and Training, Board of Examiners for Plumbers |
| Fee | $75 (nonrefundable exam application processing fee; license fees vary by category) |
| Exam | Master Plumber exam. |
Requirements are confirmed only from the application forms.
Plumbing permits come from the city or town.
- Earn the journeyperson license.
- Apply to DLT for the master exam.
- Pass and pay the license fee.
Checked October 18, 2026 against RI DLT, trade license exam information.
Electrical
| License | Electrical Contractor (Class A) license; corporations need a corporate certificate with a Class A officer |
|---|---|
| Board | RI Department of Labor and Training, Board of Examiners of Electricians |
| Exam | Electrical Contractor (Class A) exam. |
| Insurance | At least $500,000 public liability, property damage and bodily injury coverage for contractors, filed with DLT. |
| Renewal | Annual, in the licensee's birth month. |
Experience requirements and license fees were not confirmed.
Electrical permits come from the city or town.
- Pass the Class A exam.
- File the $500,000 insurance certificate.
- Get the corporate certificate if operating as a corporation.
Checked October 18, 2026 against RI DLT, electrical contractor corporation application.
HVAC
| License | Contractor Master Refrigeration or Contractor Master Pipefitter license (by type of system) |
|---|---|
| Board | RI Department of Labor and Training, mechanical trades |
| Fee | $75 (nonrefundable exam application processing fee) |
| Exam | Contractor Master Refrigeration or Pipefitter exam. |
Which mechanical license fits depends on the system; experience requirements and license fees were not confirmed.
Mechanical permits come from the city or town.
- Apply to DLT for the mechanical exam ($75 processing).
- Pass and pay the license fee.
Checked October 18, 2026 against RI DLT, mechanical trades exam application.
Irrigation
| License | Master Irrigator license |
|---|---|
| Board | RI Department of Labor and Training, Board of Examiners for Plumbers |
| Exam | Master Irrigator exam. |
Rhode Island licenses irrigators through its plumbing board, with master and journeyperson irrigator categories listed on DLT's plumbing exam application. Details are not confirmed here; ask DLT.
Irrigation and backflow work is permitted by the city or town.
- Apply to DLT for the irrigator exam.
- Pass and pay the license fee.
Checked October 18, 2026 against RI DLT, trade license exam information.
Concrete flatwork (driveways, sidewalks and work in the public right-of-way)
| License | Contractor registration |
|---|---|
| Board | Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board |
No concrete specific license; the general registration applies.
Ask the city or town what permit work at the street needs.
- Register with the CRLB.
- Ask the locality about a right of way permit.
Difficulty 12, easy (fees 3, insurance 5, continuing education 4).
Checked October 18, 2026 against 440-RICR-10-00-2.
Drainage and detention (grading, drainage, stormwater and detention ponds)
| License | Contractor registration (the Board also issues an Underground Utility license for utility work) |
|---|---|
| Board | Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board |
Stormwater permit rules are not covered here.
Grading and drainage approvals come from the city or town.
- Register with the CRLB.
- Check local grading and stormwater rules.
Checked October 18, 2026 against 440-RICR-10-00-2.
Demolition
| License | Contractor registration |
|---|---|
| Board | Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board |
No separate demolition license found. Asbestos notice rules are not covered here.
Demolition permits come from the city or town.
- Register with the CRLB.
- Check asbestos and local demolition permit rules.
Checked October 18, 2026 against 440-RICR-10-00-2.
Official sources
- R.I. Gen. Laws 5-65-7, contractor insurance
- R.I. Gen. Laws 5-65-9, registration fee
- 440-RICR-10-00-2, registration of contractors
- R.I. Gen. Laws 5-65.4-3, residential contractor licensing from 2028
- Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board (CRLB)
- RI DLT, mechanical trades exam application
Licensing pages for nearby states cover Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Rules and fees change, and this is not legal advice. Confirm with the licensing board before you apply or bid.