New Hampshire Contractor License Requirements & Application Help | Contractor Licensing Inc
Get step-by-step help with the New Hampshire contractor licensing process—classifications, experience, insurance, and bonds. Contractor Licensing Inc handles filings, and compliance.
New Hampshire takes a genuinely light-touch approach to construction licensing: there is no statewide general contractor license, no home improvement contractor registration, and no statewide contractor bond. The only trades New Hampshire licenses directly are electrical and plumbing, both through the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC).
New Hampshire Contractor License Requirements & Application Help
Contractor Licensing Inc. helps you sort out which OPLC trade license actually applies to your work, and handles the exam prep and application if you're an electrician or plumber.
Quick Answer
- No state license for general contractors, roofers, siding installers, or remodelers — none.
- No statewide home improvement contractor registration (despite what some other guides claim — see the note below).
- Electricians and plumbers are the two real state-licensed trades, both through OPLC.
- Home improvement contracts over $500 must be in writing under RSA 359-G — a consumer-protection rule, not a license.
- No statewide contractor bond requirement of any kind.
- Electrician license reciprocity exists with Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maine.
No General Contractor License — At All
New Hampshire is unusual even in the Northeast, where neighboring states like Massachusetts (CSL) and Connecticut (HIC registration) both require some form of state credential for residential work. In New Hampshire, general carpentry, framing, roofing, siding, painting, and remodeling carry no state license, exam, bond, or fee at all. There's no business-and-law test, no trade test, nothing to sit for as a general contractor.
Instead, accountability runs through three channels: the State Building Code (RSA 155-A, incorporating the IBC, IRC, and NEC by reference), municipal building departments that issue local permits, and civil contract law if a dispute arises. Some cities, like Manchester and Nashua, may require their own local contractor registration through the building department — always check locally.
Electricians & Plumbers — The Real State Licenses
Electrician (RSA 319-C)
Classifications: Apprentice, Journeyman, Master, and Electrical Contractor. Licensed by the Electricians' Board within OPLC.
Plumber (RSA 329-A)
Classifications: Apprentice, Journeyman, Master. Licensed by the Board of Mechanical Safety and Licensing within OPLC.
Gas Fitters
Fuel gas piping work falls under the Gas Fitters Board, also within OPLC's mechanical safety umbrella.
HVAC / Ductwork
Pure HVAC ductwork is not separately state-licensed — only the gas-fitting and mechanical components that intersect it.
Becoming a Licensed Electrician
- Journeyman: 8,000 hours of practical experience as a registered apprentice under a licensed journeyman or master, plus 576 hours of approved electrical schooling (144 hours per year over 4 years), and a passing exam
- Master: can own or operate an electrical business and supervise journeymen and apprentices
- New Hampshire adopted the 2023 National Electrical Code, effective July 1, 2025, with state-specific amendments
Becoming a Licensed Plumber
- Journeyman: a Board-approved apprenticeship including 4 years of work experience and 4 years of education, plus a passing exam
- Master: must have worked as a licensed journeyman for at least 6 months
- A journeyman license held in another state can let the holder apply directly for the New Hampshire journeyman exam, skipping the apprenticeship program — a credit-for-experience path, not full reciprocity
New Hampshire Electrician Reciprocity
Licensees from Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maine can apply for a New Hampshire electrician license by reciprocity — a notably short, geographically-clustered list compared to states in the National Electrical Reciprocal Alliance (NERA), of which New Hampshire is not a member.
There's no reciprocity concept for general contracting, since there's no New Hampshire general contractor license to reciprocate with in the first place.
What Still Applies to Every Contractor
Regardless of trade, every New Hampshire contracting business must register with the Secretary of State and obtain a federal EIN, set up state tax accounts with the Department of Revenue Administration, and carry workers' compensation insurance for any employees. Sole proprietors without employees are generally exempt from workers' comp, though a general contractor may still require subcontractors to carry it.
New Hampshire Contractor License FAQ
Does New Hampshire issue a general contractor license?
No — none at all. Carpentry, roofing, siding, and remodeling have no state credential.
Do home improvement contractors need to register?
No statewide registration exists — despite conflicting claims elsewhere online. Only a written-contract requirement over $500 applies (RSA 359-G).
Which trades does New Hampshire license?
Electricians and plumbers, both through OPLC — plus gas fitting under the mechanical safety umbrella.
What does it take to become a licensed electrician?
Journeyman: 8,000 hours of experience plus 576 hours of schooling and a passing exam. Master: builds on Journeyman status and allows owning/operating an electrical business.
Does New Hampshire have electrician reciprocity?
Yes — with Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maine only.
Does New Hampshire require a contractor bond?
No — no statewide bond requirement for any trade.
OPLC Contact
New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification
7 Eagle Square, Concord, NH 03301
New Hampshire Contractor Bonds
New Hampshire has no statewide contractor license bond requirement, and we don't currently have any New Hampshire bonds in our database — consistent with the state's minimal-regulation approach. Individual municipalities, lenders, or private clients may still request a project-specific bond.
Need a bond for a specific New Hampshire project or municipality? Reach out and we'll help you figure out if one applies and get it sourced through Artisan Insurance.
Ready to Get Licensed in New Hampshire?
If you're an electrician or plumber, we help you prepare for the OPLC exam and application. If you're a general contractor, we can help you confirm exactly what — if anything — your local jurisdiction requires.
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