Every state regulates construction differently, but the qualifier concept appears wherever a state issues a contractor license to a business. Here is the landscape in four groups. Our state pages have the detail for each.
1. State contractor license qualified by an individual
These states license general, building and residential contractors at the state level, and every company license names a qualifier: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. These are the states where a qualifier brokerage matters most.
2. Statewide trade licenses only
Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Texas license electrical, plumbing, HVAC or similar trades at the state level, each through a master or qualifying individual, while general contracting is licensed locally or not at all.
3. Registration states
Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington register contractors with the state, usually with bonding and insurance, and run qualifier-style licensing at the trade level.
4. Local licensing
Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, New York and Wyoming leave contractor licensing to counties and cities, many of which require a qualifying individual who passed the local exam.
Wherever you are, if the license is issued through a person, a qualifier relationship can exist, and it should be documented. Rules change often; always confirm the current requirement with the board, and ask us if you are unsure.