Indianapolis Contractor Licensing Exams
To become a licensed contractor, candidates need to have the know-how, background knowledge, and necessary training to obtain their specialized contractor's license. This can be anything from building a new residential property to providing plumbing services to designing the HVAC for a new office building. Although licensed contractors require mastery level knowledge in their specialties, they must also pass an examination covering their expertise and overall business management skills. Some other requirements include:
Criminal background check
No open contracting grievances
Carry worker's compensation insurance
Obtain liability insurance
In this blog post, we will explore the licensure requirements for General Contractors, Electrical Contractors, and HVACR contractors within the city of Indianapolis.
General Contractors
Before we dive into the licensure requirements for a General Contractor, let’s first define what a General Contractor is. In general terms, a General Contractor oversees all aspects of a construction project. General Contractor’s enter into a Prime Contract with Owners to provide:
Schedule Management
Fiscal Management
Worksite Management
To better understand what a General Contractor is, let’s look at two real-world examples.
Oscar Owner is looking for a roofer to repair an existing roof. Oscar Owner visits Licensed Contractors @ indy.gov to find a licensed roofer. Ronald Roofer meets with Oscar Owner and develops a cost estimate outlining the work it will take to repair his roof. In this example, Ronald Roofer is a specialized license contractor.
Now, let’s say Oscar Owner purchased an empty plot of land and wants to put a new housing development on it. Not only does Oscar Owner need new roofs but also needs someone to create his vision. For this, Oscar Owner will need to work with George General Contractor who will provide schedule, fiscal, and worksite management for Oscar Owner’s new housing estates along the Kohala Coast. In this example, George General Contractor is a licensed General Contractor who can provide a wide variety of functions on a construction job.
In order for George General Contractor to be an Indianapolis licensed General Contractor, George and his firm must do the following:
Navigate to indy.gov and visit the Contractor Licenses section which can be found here - Contractor Licenses
Download the General Contractor License Requirments (revised October 2020) document and review
Must have Business Name registration
Must have New Business registration fee - $247
Must have General Liability Insurance, Surety Bond, and Worker's Compensation Insurance
Navigate to the ICC website and download the National Contractor/Trades Examination Information Bulletin
George General Contractor will need to make an appointment at the PRONTO web portal or at Pearson VUE to take the W11 National Standard General Building Contractor (A) exam which is based on the 2012 International Codes.
Once all this is complete, George General Contractor can apply for his license at indy.gov and become an Indianapolis Licensed General Contractor.
Electrical Contractors
Eddy Electric has decided to start an electrical contractor business. As an electrical contractor, Eddy Electric and his firm will perform specialized electrical work. This usually follows the following lifecycle:
Design
Installation
Maintenance
Eddy Electric will be responsible for ensuring the electrical system he installs work effectively, safely, and are environmentally friendly. Like George General Contractor, Eddy Electric needs to be licensed as well.
In order for Eddy Electric to be an Indianapolis licensed Electrical Contractor, Eddy and his firm must do the following:
Navigate to indy.gov and visit the Contractor Licenses section which can be found here - Contractor Licenses
Download the Craft License Requirements document and review
Must have Business Name registration
Must have New Business registration fee - $247
Must have General Liability Insurance, Surety Bond, and Worker's Compensation Insurance
Navigate to the ICC website and download the National Contractor/Trades Examination Information Bulletin
Eddy Electric will need to make an appointment at the PRONTO web portal or at Pearson VUE to take the W49 Electrical Contractor exam which is based on the 2011 National Electric Code
Once all this is complete, Eddy Electric can apply for his license at indy.gov and become an Indianapolis Licensed Electrical Contractor.
Once all this is complete, George General Contractor can apply for his license at indy.gov and become an Indianapolis Licensed General Contractor.
HVACR Contractors
Henry Heating wants to become a licensed HVACR contractor in the state of Indianapolis. Before we look at the requirements for licensure, let's first define what HVACR means. HVACR stands for Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration. HVACR contractors are responsible for the mechanical systems in a residence, building, or any other indoor environment. These contractors are responsible for installing new systems and maintaining existing ones.
In order for Henry Heating to be an Indianapolis licensed HVACR Contractor, Henry and his firm must do the following:
Navigate to indy.gov and visit the Contractor Licenses section which can be found here - Contractor Licenses
Download the Craft License Requirements document and review
Must have Business Name registration
Must have New Business registration fee - $247
Must have General Liability Insurance, Surety Bond, and Worker's Compensation Insurance
Determine what type of license Henry Heating wants:
Air Conditioning A
Air Conditioning B
Air Conditioning D
Refrigeration
High-Pressure Steam
Navigate to the ICC website and download the National Contractor/Trades Examination Information Bulletin
Henry Heating will need to make an appointment at the PRONTO web portal or at Pearson VUE to take the G29 Master Mechanical exam which is based on the 2018 International Mechanical Code and the 2018 International Fuel Gas Code.
Wrap-up
As you can see, becoming a licensed contractor of any kind in Indianapolis is not just as simple as taking a test. One must submit an application, pay the required fees, and pass the associated exam. If you're thinking of becoming a licensed contractor of any kind, please visit these sites for licensure requirements and exam info.
Until we talk again, keep constructing connections!