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Frequently Asked Questions

Get Licensed

General Licensing Questions

Is the NASCLA Accredited Commercial Contractor license accepted in Alaska?

No.

Does Alaska offer contractor reciprocity?

No.

Do I need an Alaska construction contractor license?

Professional Licensing Section:The only way to evaluate whether you need a license is to become familiar with the laws governing your profession. The statutes and regulations regarding contractors cover all circumstances in which you need a contractor license and provides for certain exemptions.

You may need a construction contractor or mechanical/electrical administrator license if:

  • Your business name, signage, or advertising potentially indicates to the public that you are either a builder or contractor, or that you are qualified to engage in the contracting business.
  • If you plan to submit bids to work as a contractor.
  • If you work for a contractor, work as a subcontractor on smaller jobs for a general contractor, or subcontract work to a licensed contractor.
  • If you perform mechanical or electrical installation.
  • If you perform mechanical or electrical repairs or maintenance. The The Department of Labor (Anchorage: 269-4925, Juneau: 465-4871, Fairbanks: 451-2894) may also require that certain electrical and mechanical work be performed by a licensed journeyman.

Corporations Section: If your business structure is an entity (i.e. corporation, LLC, etc.), per Alaska Statute Title 10, you must register your entity; for more information go to: Corporations Section

Business Licensing Section: Prior to engaging in business activity, per AS 43.70, you must obtain an Alaskan Business License; for more information go to: Business Licensing Section

I’m a handyman, do I need a professional license?

Business Licensing Section: Prior to engaging in business activity, per AS 43.70, you must obtain an Alaskan Business License; for more information go to: Business Licensing Section

What are the amounts of bonding required of contractors?

Effective January 1, 2015, bonding requirements for existing contractor and home inspector license types have increased:

  • General contractor: $25,000
  • General contractor with residential endorsement, performing exclusively residential work: $20,000
  • Mechanical or specialty contractor: $10,000
  • Home inspector: $10,000
  • Handyman (Contractor whose work on one project with an aggregate contract price of $10,000 or less, including all labor, materials, and other items, when the work is not part of a larger or major operation or otherwise divided into contracts of less than $10,000 to evade a higher bonding requirement): $5,000

License Types

What types of construction licenses are there in Alaska?

General Contractors

General Contractors may perform new home construction, commercial work, and residential remodel work. General contractors that oversee new home construction or perform residential work greater than 25% of the value of a structure being altered must obtain a Residential Contractor license and/or a Residential Contractor Endorsement.

Residential Contractors

Residential Contractors are contractors who have a Residential Contractor Endorsement or have assigned to them an individual(s) who has a residential contractor endorsement. Residential Contractors may undertake construction of a privately owned residential structure of one to four units and residential work greater than 25% the value of the structure being altered.

Residential Contractor Endorsement

This endorsement may be obtained after an individual has completed a 16-hour cold climate course and passed the residential contractors endorsement exam. A holder of a residential contractor endorsement is not permitted to perform work under this license unless they are assigned to a Residential Contractor or hold a Residential Contractor’s license themselves in addition to this endorsement.

Specialty Contractors

Specialty contractors may perform work that requires the use of not more than three trades. If your work falls under more than three trades you will need to apply as a General or Residential Contractor.

Electrical Contractors

Electrical contractors are licensed Specialty Contractors who have Electrical Contractor or Communications Contractor listed as one of their trades. In order to qualify as an electrical contractor an Electrical Administrator license must be assigned to the Specialty Contractor as an additional license, or an individual who holds an electrical administrator license must be assigned to the specialty contractor. Please see the Electrical Administrator’s license page for more information regarding this additional license type required.

Mechanical Contractors

Mechanical contractors may perform any of the mechanical disciplines for which their Mechanical Administrator license allows (plumbing, heating, sheet metal, or refrigeration). A mechanical administrator license is required in addition to the Mechanical Contractors license in order to perform work. A Mechanical Contractor may hold the mechanical administrator license themselves as an additional license, or have an individual(s) assigned to their license who holds the Mechanical Administrator license. Please see the Mechanical Administrator’s license page for more information regarding this additional license type required. Please note a mechanical contractor may only perform mechanical work; the installation of mechanical controls requires both an Electrical Administrators license and a Mechanical Administrators license.

Handyman Contractors

Handyman contractors may perform work on projects with an aggregate contract of $10,000 or less for each project. This aggregate total is to include all labor, materials and other items for that project.

Getting Licensed

Preparation:

  • Select your business structure: (i.e. sole proprietorship, corporation, LLC, etc.)
  • Determine your line of business and NAICS code:
  • Research and select your business name:
  • If an entity (i.e. corporation, LLC, LLP, LP, etc.) select your Registered Agent:
  • For additional resources go to: BusinessLicense.Alaska.Gov, and scroll down to RESOURCES.
  • Further assistance: you are advised to seek the services of an attorney or other qualified professional.

Step 1 (if applicable) Professional License Section:

If applicable, apply to the State of Alaska Professional License Section for an entity professional license for corporations, LLCs, LLPs, LPs, or apply for an individual professional license.

Step 2 (if applicable) Corporations Section:

Register your corporation/entity with the State of Alaska Corporations Section to receive an Alaska entity number.

Step 3 Business License Section:

Apply to the State of Alaska Business License Section for a business license.

Step 4 IMPORTANT — Check with other agencies:

After you have met the above requirements (Step 1-3) with this Division there will be other agencies you need to work with to ensure compliance with local, state and federal government requirements.

For more information go to: Business Structure FAQs.

Renew your Alaska Contractor License

Is continuing education required for an Alaska contractor license?

Yes – 16 Hours for renewal of a residential contractor endorsement. (An applicant for renewal of a residential contractor endorsement for the first time shall document 8 hours of acceptable continued education if you have been licensed for more than 1 year – if you’ve been licensed less than a year, no hours are required.) Renewal of Endorsement will coincide with the renewal of the General Contractor registration.

When do I need to submit biennial reports to the Alaska Corporations Section?

For-Profit Corporations, Professional Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, and Limited Liability Partnerships:

Biennial reports are due by January 2, reports post marked after February 1 incur late fee penalties. Early filing available October 2nd prior to your filing year (even/odd).

When does my Alaska Business License expire?

Business licenses are purchased for a one or two year period and expire on December 31 of the one or two year period purchased. Business license renewal period starts October 1 in the year your business license expires.

When does my Alaska Professional License expire?

General & Residential Endorsement: December 31st of even numbered years
Specialty & Mechanical: December 31st of odd numbered years

How do I renew my Alaska contractor license?

  1. Visit the MY LICENSE customer home page at: ProfessionalLicense.Alaska.Gov/MYLICENSE
  2. If you have an existing myAlaska account, enter your account information. If not, please create an account. You will be redirected to the MY LICENSE customer home page.
  3. Under Access an Existing License, enter your license number and Web Authorization Code, if one has been provided. This information is on your renewal notice.
  4. To renew your license, simply select the license you wish to renew from the Professional Licensing section.

ICC Certification Renewal

How do I renew my ICC Certification?

  1. Complete the required CEUs
  2. Login to your myICC account
  3. Input your completed CEUs
  4. Pay the appropriate fees

When is my ICC Certification due for renewal?

You must renew your certification every three years. Certificates must be renewed on or before the expiration date to remain current. Prior to the expiration date, a courtesy renewal notice will be sent to the contact information in your myICC account. If for any reason you do not receive this notice, you may obtain renewal information specific to your certification from www.iccsafe.org/ renewals.

How much continuing education do I need to renew my ICC Certificate?

Your continuing education requirement depends on how many active certifications you have.

  • 1 certification – 1.5 CEUs required
  • 2-5 certifications – 3.0 CEUs required
  • 6-10 certifications – 4.5 CEUs required
  • 11+ certifications – 6.0 CEUs required
  • Master Code Professional, CBO, CFM – 6.0 CEUs required.

You must complete half of your continuing education through the ICC or a Preferred Provider – Builders License Training Institute is a Preferred Provider of Education.

What are the fees to renew my ICC Certificate?

  • 1 certification – $90 for members – $115 for nonmembers
  • 2-5 certifications – $100 for members – $125 for nonmembers
  • 6-10 certifications – $120 for members – $135 for nonmembers
  • 11+ – $130 for members – $155 for nonmembers
  • Reinstatement Fee – $115 for members – $160 for nonmembers

What are the ICC certifications?

Residential Inspection
B1 Residential Building Inspector
E1 Residential Electrical Inspector
P1 Residential Plumbing Inspector
M1 Residential Mechanical Inspector
R5 Residential Combination Inspector

Commercial Inspection
B2 Commercial Building Inspector
E2 Commercial Electrical Inspector
P2 Commercial Plumbing Inspector
M2 Commercial Mechanical Inspector
C5 Commercial Combination Inspector

Plans Examiner
B3 Building Plans Examiner
E3 Electrical Plans Examiner
P3 Plumbing Plans Examiner
M3 Mechanical Plans Examiner
R3 Residential Plans Examiner
RF Residential Fire Sprinkler Inspector/PE
C3 Combination Plans Examiner

Energy Inspection/Plans Examiner
77 Commercial Energy Inspector
78 Commercial Energy Plans Examiner
79 Residential Energy Inspector/Plans Examiner
CE Commercial Energy Inspector/Plans Examiner
with ASHRAE 90.1

Green
GC IgCC Inspector/Plans Examiner w/ ASHRAE 189
G1 Green Building—Residential Examiner

Fire
66 Fire Inspector I
67 Fire Inspector II
F3 Fire Plans Examiner
FM Certified Fire Marshal (CFM) [6.0 CEUs]
CA Commercial Fire Alarm Inspector
CN Commercial Fire Alarm Plan Examiner I
CR Commercial Fire Alarm Plans Examiner II
CF Commercial Fire Sprinkler Inspector
CP Commercial Fire Sprinkler Plans Examiner

Special Inspector
49 Reinforced Concrete Special Inspector
48 Reinforced Concrete Special Inspector Associate
NOTE: ACI Field Technician Grade 1 must be current for 48 or 49
92 Prestressed Concrete Special Inspector
S1 Structural Steel and Bolting Special Inspector
S2 Structural Welding Special Inspector
86 Spray-applied Fireproofing Special Inspector
84 Structural Masonry Special Inspector
EC Soils Special Inspector
MI Master of Special Inspection

Code Enforcement
14 Permit Technician
21 Accessibility Inspector/Plans Examiner
75 Zoning Inspector
64 Property Maintenance and Housing Inspector
C1 Coastal and Floodplain Construction Inspector
DR Disaster Response Inspector
FG Fuel Gas Inspector

General Inspection
B5 Building Inspector
E5 Electrical Inspector
P5 Plumbing Inspector
M5 Mechanical Inspector
C8 Combination Inspector (Bldg, Elect, Plbg, Mech)

State-Specific & Specialty
FR Florida Roofing Inspector
I1 California Commercial Building Inspector
I2 California Commercial Electrical Inspector
I3 California Commercial Plumbing Inspector
I4 California Commercial Mechanical Inspector
I5 California Commercial Combination Inspector
I6 California Building Plans Examiner
I8 Combination Inspector—California Codes
J1 California Residential Building Inspector
J2 California Residential Electrical Inspector
J3 California Residential Plumbing Inspector
J4 California Residential Mechanical Inspector
J5 California Residential Combination Inspector
CT CALGreen Inspector/Plans Examiner
76 ICC/AACE Code Enforcement Administrator
73 ICC/AACE Code Enforcement Officer

Code Official & Code Specialist
CB Certified Building Official (CBO) [6.0 CEUs]
B8 Building Code Specialist
CSP Certified Sustainability Professional
ECS IECC/HERS Compliance Specialist
E8 Electrical Code Specialist
P8 Plumbing Code Specialist
M8 Mechanical Code Specialist
H8 Housing and Zoning Code Specialist
FA Fire Code Specialist
G8 Energy Code Specialist

Legacy
34 Plumbing Inspector UPC
44 Mechanical Inspector UMC
50 Combination Inspector—Uniform Codes
56 Combination Dwelling Inspector—Uniform Codes
57 Light Commercial Combination Inspector – Uniform

Codes
CX CAL Green Plans Examiner
CG CAL Green Inspector
F1 Fire Prevention Inspector I—NFPC
F2 Fire Prevention Inspector II—NFPC
L1 Louisiana Residential Plumbing Inspector
L2 Louisiana Commercial Plumbing Inspector
L3 Louisiana Plumbing Plans Examiner
N7 Building Fire Protection Inspector
N8 Building Fire Protection Plans Examiner
97 Elevator Inspector
85 Structural Steel & Welding Special Inspector
88 Reinforced Concrete Special Inspector—Legacy
89 Prestressed Concrete Special Inspector—Legacy
EA Commercial Energy Inspector w/ASHRAE 90.1
EB Commercial Energy PE w/ASHRAE 90.1
G2 IgCC Commercial Inspector
G3 IgCC Commercial Inspector w/ASHRAE 189.1
G4 IgCC Plans Examiner
G5 IgCC Plans Examiner w/ASHRAE 189.1
B6 Certified Building Code Official (CBCO)
E6 Certified Electrical Code Official (CECO)
P6 Certified Plumbing Code Official (CPCO)
M6 Certified Mechanical Code Official (CMCO)
H6 Certified Housing Code Official (CHCO)
F6 Certified Fire Code Official (CFCO)
N2 New Jersey Commercial Plumbing Inspector
N3 New Jersey Plumbing Plans Examiner
MR Minnesota Residential Plumbing Inspector
MC Minnesota Commercial Plumbing Inspector

About the Courses

Once I order the course, how long before I can start?

You may begin immediately! Simply click the Login button in the upper right-hand corner on your desktop or in the upper-right menu on mobile. Once you’ve entered your login and password, you will be taken to your courses. Follow the instructions and enjoy!

Once I start an online course, will I be able to start and stop at anytime?

Our courses are available online 24/7 and you are able to log in and log out at any time during the course. If you are going to be away from your computer for more than 10-15 minutes, simply log out. When you log back in, you will be able to re-enter the lesson you were last in.

How long do your continuing education courses take to complete?

Continuing education requirements vary by state. Each course lists a minimum number of credit hours required to complete the course.

How long do your exam prep courses take to complete?

Each course lists the total amount of hours for the course. However, we cover materials quickly and many contractors like to re-watch materials. In other words, this question really depends on your learning style. We recommend that you go through the course as many times as you need to be comfortable with the material and any applicable reference books. The more familiar you are with the materials, the better you will do on your exam!

How long do I have the courses?

We allow up to 6 months for you to complete the courses. During the six months you have unlimited, 24/7 access. If you need additional time, please contact our offices to arrange an extension (please note: a fee may apply).

Are there tests in the courses?

This varies depending on whether the course is continuing education or exam prep.

There are no quizzes for continuing education courses in Michigan. All other states with continuing education require quizzes to check completion progress.

In exam prep courses there will be a short quiz at the end of each lesson and there is also a longer practice test at the end of each course. These quizzes and tests will help you practice taking an exam and identify areas you may wish to study more.

If I fail a practice test, do I have to take it again?

Practice tests are just that: for practice. You will have the opportunity to retake the practice tests until you do pass. The practice tests are there to help you get used to the process of using your reference materials and finding the correct answers during an exam. If you don’t pass on the first try, take the time to note what sections of the material you need to review.

Once I complete a course, can I still go back and review the lessons and quizzes?

You are able to review the lessons and quizzes at any time during the six months you’ll have access to the courses.

State & Testing Contact Info

Professional Licensing Division for Contractors

Division of Corporations, Business and Professional LicensingAnchorage
550 W. 7th Ave, Ste 1500
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 269-8160

Division of Corporations, Business and Professional LicensingJuneau
Mailing:
PO Box 110806
Juneau, AK 99811

Physical:
State Office Building
333 Willoughby Ave, 9th FL
Juneau, AK 99801
(907) 465-2550

Licensing Examiners

Contact PSI for information regarding the Alaska Residential Contractors exam
PSI Services
3210 East Tropicana
Las Vegas, NV 89121
https://psiexams.com/