Getting a New Hampshire contractor license starts with knowing that New Hampshire doesn’t license general contractors at all — no exam, no registration, no bond. Carpentry, roofing, siding, and remodeling work fall entirely outside state licensing. The only trades New Hampshire regulates directly are electricians and plumbers, both through the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification.
Contractor Licensing Inc. has helped New Hampshire tradespeople navigate OPLC’s requirements for years — from the 8,000-hour experience path to becoming a licensed Journeyman electrician, to the apprenticeship route for plumbers, to understanding reciprocity if you’re already licensed in Massachusetts, Vermont, or Maine. Whether you’re an electrician, plumber, or general contractor sorting out what your local jurisdiction actually requires, we help you get it right.
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).
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.
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.
Classifications: Apprentice, Journeyman, Master, and Electrical Contractor. Licensed by the Electricians' Board within OPLC.
Classifications: Apprentice, Journeyman, Master. Licensed by the Board of Mechanical Safety and Licensing within OPLC.
Fuel gas piping work falls under the Gas Fitters Board, also within OPLC's mechanical safety umbrella.
Pure HVAC ductwork is not separately state-licensed — only the gas-fitting and mechanical components that intersect it.
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.
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.
No — none at all. Carpentry, roofing, siding, and remodeling have no state credential.
No statewide registration exists — despite conflicting claims elsewhere online. Only a written-contract requirement over $500 applies (RSA 359-G).
Electricians and plumbers, both through OPLC — plus gas fitting under the mechanical safety umbrella.
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.
Yes — with Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maine only.
No — no statewide bond requirement for any trade.
New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification
7 Eagle Square, Concord, NH 03301
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.
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.
Call 239-394-2300 Email UsNew Hampshire’s Office of Professional Licensure & Certification (OPLC) actively reviews out-of-state licenses and may grant licensure by reciprocity or endorsement. This option applies when another state’s standards are substantially equivalent to those of New Hampshire. However, each professional board sets its own criteria, so requirements may differ depending on the trade.
If you hold a valid Journeyman or Master license from a state with comparable rules, you can request reciprocity. The Board requires license verification, proof of training hours, and work experience. In many cases, you must also pass a short law or business exam. See: OPLC – Electricians
For plumbing, gas fitting, fuel oil, and mechanical trades, New Hampshire may grant reciprocity if your state’s licensing standards align with its own. To qualify, you must show license verification, education records, and work history. Insurance proof and fees are also required, and exams may still apply. See: OPLC – Mechanical Safety & Licensing
Important: Even with reciprocity, contractors must still follow local city or town permitting rules for construction projects.
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