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Alabama |
The state of Alabama requires any general contractor working on a commercial or industrial project costing $50,000 or more to get a license. If you're the general contractor on a residential project that costs $10,000 or more, you need a license.
To find out if a commercial general contractor is licensed in
Alabama, call (334) 242-2839 or click http://www.genconbd.state.al.us/DATABASE-LIVE/roster.asp. To find out if an electrical contractor is licensed in
Alabama, call (334) 269-9990 or click http://www.aecb.state.al.us/Search/new_search.asp. To find out if an HVAC contractor is licensed in Alabama,
call (334) 242-5550 or click http://www.hvacboard.state.al.us/Lic_Search/searchform.asp. To find out if a plumber or gas fitter is licensed in Alabama, call
(205) 945-4857.
Commercial General Contractor's License
To get a commercial general contractor's license, ask for an application packet from:
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State Licensing Board for General
Contractors 2525 Fairlane Drive Montgomery, AL 36116 (334) 272-5030 Fax: (334) 395-5336 http://www.genconbd.state.al.us/ |
On the application you must give the Board:
On the application you need to say which of these types of construction work you want to be licensed in:
Specialty construction includes work such as:
| Mechanical | Landscaping |
| Electrical | Construction manager |
| Sheet metal | Fire protection systems |
| Masonry | Golf courses |
| Painting | Tennis courts, running tracks and recreational areas |
| Roofing and siding | Sprinkler systems |
| Heating and air conditioning | Asbestos material handling and removing |
| Bridges | POL dispensing systems |
| Swimming pools | Outdoor advertising signs |
| Demolition |
General Contractor applicants will have to take an Exam. The Business and Project Management for Contractors - Alabama General Contractor Edition Exam is administered by PSI. For information on the exam, contact:
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PSI Examination
Services 100 West Broadway, Suite 1100 Glendale, CA 91210 http://www.psiexams.com |
Exam content:
| Subject Area | # of Items |
| Licensing | 8 |
| Estimating and bidding | 5 |
| Liens | 2 |
| Financial | 5 |
| Payroll and taxes | 6 |
| Personnel and labor | 5 |
| Project management | 3 |
| Contracts | 6 |
| Business organization | 2 |
| Risk management | 4 |
| Safety recordkeeping and environmental | 4 |
Commercial general contractor's license fees:
It will cost you
$300 to file an application for a Prime Contractor license. All licenses expire December 31 each year.
The Business and Project Management exam will cost $96. The Subcontractor
application will cost $150.
Alabama doesn't accept a license in another state for this type of license.
| Recommended Reading for
the General Contractor's Exam
ALCO NASCLA Business and Project Management for Contractors, AL Edition 2004 |
Residential General/Homebuilder Contractor's License
If you want to bid and work on residential projects, you need to be licensed by a different agency. It's called the:
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Homebuilders Licensure Board 400 South Union Street, Suite 195 Montgomery, AL 36130-3605 (334) 242-2230 Fax: (334) 263-1397 http://www.hblb.state.al.us/ |
You can get an application package from the board or apply online.
When you apply to this Board you must provide:
To get the residential contractor's license, you have to pass an exam given by PSI Examination Services. For information on the exam, contact:
|
PSI Examination
Services 100 West Broadway, Suite 1100 Glendale, CA 91210 http://www.psiexams.com |
Content Outline:
| Subject Area | # of Items |
| Sitework, footings and foundation | 8 |
| Concrete and concrete reinforcement | 5 |
| Masonry | 5 |
| Carpentry | 8 |
| Associated Trades and drywall | 6 |
| Roofing | 3 |
| OSHA safety | 3 |
| Licensing | 6 |
| Estimating and bidding | 3 |
| Liens | 1 |
| Financial | 3 |
| Payroll and taxes | 3 |
| Personnel and labor | 3 |
| Project management | 2 |
| Contracts | 4 |
| Business organization | 1 |
| Risk management | 2 |
| Safety recordkeeping and environmental | 2 |
| Estimating, plan reading and general code requirements | 12 |
Residential general contractor's license fees:
The exam will cost $98. The license costs
$205 and
it expires December 31.
| Recommended Reading for
the Residential Contractor's Exam Business and Project Management for Alabama Home Builders, NASCLA Code of Federal Regulations, Title 29, Part 1926 (OSHA), Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954 or Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 Selections as of 2003 by PSI Carpentry and Building Construction, John L. Feirer et al., Glencoe Order Services, McGraw-Hill Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 545, Blacklick, OH 43004-0545 Pipe and Excavation Contracting, http://www.craftsman-book.com |
Electrician's Licenses
To do electrical work throughout the state of Alabama you need a license. To apply for an electrician's license, contact:
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Alabama Electrical Contractors Board 610 S. McDonough St. Montgomery, AL 36104 (364) 269-9990 http://www.aecb.state.al.us |
The Board issues electrical contractor's and journeyman's licenses.
Electrical Contractor's License
To qualify for a contractor's license you need four years' work experience in designing, planning, laying out and supervising electrical construction, and installing electrical components. You can substitute up to two years of education in a Board-approved electrical curriculum at the rate of one year of education for a half year of work.
Alabama requires you to pass an exam to get a license. Exams are given by:
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PSI Examination
Services 100 West Broadway, Suite 1100 Glendale, CA 91210 http://www.psiexams.com |
The exam is 5 hours long with 110 questions. Here's the content of the exam:
| Subject | Number of questions | |
| General electrical knowledge | 10 | |
| Service, feeders and branch circuits | 10 | |
| Grounding and bonding | 9 | |
| Conductors and cables | 10 | |
| Raceways and boxes | 8 | |
| Special occupancies and equipment | 4 | |
| Electrical power | 3 | |
| Motors | 6 | |
| Low voltage | 2 | |
| Lighting | 3 | |
| Illuminated signs | 2 | |
| Fire detection and alarm systems | 2 | |
| Safety information | 5 | |
| Overcurrent protection | 6 | |
| Business organization | 1 | |
| Risk management | 2 | |
| Project management | 2 | |
| Estimating | 4 | |
| Safety and environmental | 2 | |
| Labor | 3 | |
| Payroll and employment taxes | 4 | |
| Financial management | 4 | |
| Contracts | 3 | |
| Liens | 1 | |
| Licensing | 4 | |
Electrical contractor's license fees: It will cost you
$165 nonrefundable for the application and exam, and another $200 for the contractor's license.
If you have an unrestricted electrical contractor's license from Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Virginia, you can get a license from the Board by reciprocity. You must have passed their exam with a grade of at least 70 to get the license and hold it in good standing. You will still have to pay the $365 fee for the Alabama license.
Journeyman Electrician's License
To get a journeyman's license you have to pass the Alabama journeyman's exam. To qualify for the exam you need four years of electrical work experience. You can substitute up to two years of education in electrical studies for one year of the work experience.
The exam has 70 and is 4 hours long. Here's the content of the exam:
| Subject | Number of questions | |
| General electrical knowledge | 10 | |
| Service, feeders and branch circuits | 6 | |
| Grounding and bonding | 7 | |
| Conductors and cables | 9 | |
| Raceways and boxes | 7 | |
| Special occupancies and equipment | 4 | |
| Electrical power | 2 | |
| Motors | 6 | |
| Low voltage | 2 | |
| Lighting | 3 | |
| Illuminated signs | 2 | |
| Fire detection and alarm systems | 2 | |
| Safety information | 5 | |
| Overcurrent protection | 5 | |
Journeyman's license fee: It will cost you
$115 nonrefundable for application and exam, and $35 for the journeyman's license.
| Recommended Reading for the Electrical
Exams Electrical contractor's exam: Alabama Unemployment Compensation Employer Handbook, Chapters 1, 2 and 7 Alabama New Hire, Alabama Department of Industrial Relations New Hire Unit Alabama Worker's Compensation Law and Handbook, Articles 1, 2, 13 and Article 3 section 25-5-50 Alabama Lien Law, Code of Alabama, Division 8 Mechanics and Materialmen, Alabama Legislative Reference Service Alabama Electrical Contractor's Board Laws, Rules and Regulations, Alabama Electrical Contractor's Board NFPA 70 - National Electrical Code, 2002 edition, National Fire Protection Association, 11 Tracey Ave., Avon, MA 02322 American Electrician's Handbook, 14th edition Ugly's Electrical References Code of Federal Regulations, 29 CFR part 1926 Basic Business and Project Management for Contractors, NASCLA Journeyman exam: NFPA 70 - National Electrical Code, 2002 edition, National Fire Protection Association, 11 Tracey Ave., Avon, MA 02322 American Electrician's Handbook, 14th edition Ugly's Electrical References Code of Federal Regulations, 29 CFR part 1926 You can get these books from: Builders' Book Depot |
HVAC Contractor's Certification
To protect the public and identify knowledgeable and capable contractors, Alabama has a state board that certifies HVAC contractors. To apply for a certificate, contact:
|
Board of Heating and Air Conditioning
Contractors 100 North Union Street Montgomery, AL 36130 (334) 242-5550 http://www.hvacboard.state.al.us |
You'll have to pass an exam to be certified. The exam is administered by:
|
PSI Examination
Services 100 West Broadway, Suite 1100 Glendale, CA 91210 http://www.psiexams.com |
Here's the content of the exam:
| Subject | Number of questions | |
| Insulation | 3 | |
| Hangers and supports | 1 | |
| Sound, vibration and seismic control | 1 | |
| Heating and cooling principles | 8 | |
| Refrigerants | 3 | |
| Load calculations, commercial | 3 | |
| Testing, adjusting and balancing | 3 | |
| Controls | 4 | |
| Air conditioning and heat pump systems | 8 | |
| Furnaces and heaters | 4 | |
| Chimneys, flues and vents | 4 | |
| Combustion air | 4 | |
| Ducts | 12 | |
| Ventilation and exhaust | 4 | |
| Safety | 4 | |
| Piping | 5 | |
| Load calculations, residential | 9 |
HVAC contractors certification fees: It will cost you
$125 nonrefundable
to file an application for certification. The Board may also require you to post a $5,000
bond.
Certification is good for one year but you must renew it within 90 days after October 1 each year.
| Recommended Reading for HVAC Certification
International Fuel Gas Code, American Gas Association, 400 N. Capitol Street, NW Washington, DC 20001, www.aga.org International Mechanical Code, 1-892395-33-9, International Code Council, 5203 Leesburg Pike, Suite 600, Falls Church, VA 22041, www.intlcode.org ACCA Ductulator, Air Conditioning Contractors of America, 2800 Shirlington Road, Suite 300, Arlingon, VA 22206, www.acca.org Code of Federal Regulations, Title 29, Part 1926, 2002, Superintendant of Documents, POB 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250 29 CFR Part 1926, Selections, PSI 100 W. Broadway, Suite 1100, Glendale, CA 91210 Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Althouse/Turnquist/Bracciano, Really Goodheart-Wilcox HVAC Duct Construction Standards, Metal and Flexible - 2nd Edition, SMACNA, 4201 Lafayette Center Drive, Chantilly, VA 20151 Fibrous Glass Duct Construction Standards, North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) Manual J - Residential Load Calcs, Manual J, Air Conditioning Contractors of America, 2800 Shirlington Road, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22206, www.acca.org Manual N - Load Calculation for Commercial Summer and Winter Air Conditioning, 4th Edition, ACCALoad Calculation - Air Conditioning Contractors of America, 2800 Shirlington Road, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22206, www.acca.org Manual D, Air Conditioning Contractors of America, 2800 Shirlington Road, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22206, www.acca.org |
Plumber's Licenses
You need a license to do plumbing work in Alabama. To get an application for a license, contact:
|
Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining
Board 11 West Oxmoor Road, Suite 104 Birmingham, AL 35209 (205) 945-4857 http://www.pgfb.state.al.us/ |
Alabama also registers apprentice plumbers. The fee is $25. Apprentices can only work under the supervision of journeymen or masters.
Master Plumber's License
The Board issues master and journeyman licenses and each requires you to pass an exam. You need one year of work experience as a journeyman plumber to qualify for the master plumber's exam.
The exam is administered by:
|
International Code Council 900 Montclair Road Birmingham, AL 35213 (877) STD-EXAM Fax: (205) 599-9884 http://www.iccsafe.org/certification/ |
Check with the Council for exam details.
Journeyman Plumber's License
To take the journeyman plumber's exam you need to complete a Board-approved apprenticeship program or work two years as an apprentice.
Master's and journeyman plumber's exam fees: The master plumber's exam
costs $160, the journeyman's $110, and both are nonrefundable. If you pass the exam, the
exam fee covers your license fee for one year. Renewal is $125 for masters and
$30 for
journeymen. Licenses expire on December 31.
| Recommended Reading for
the Plumbing Exams
International Plumbing Code International Fuel Gas Code |
Gas Fitter's Licenses
You need a license to do gas fitting work in Alabama. To get an application for a license, contact:
|
Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining
Board 11 West Oxmoor Road, Suite 104 Birmingham, AL 35209 (205) 945-4857 http://www.pgfb.state.al.us/ |
The Board issues master's and journeyman's licenses and each requires you to pass an exam. You need one year of work experience as a journeyman gas fitter to qualify for the master gas fitter exam.
|
International Code Council 900 Montclair Road Birmingham, AL 35213 (877) STD-EXAM Fax: (205) 599-9884 http://www.iccsafe.org/certification/ |
Check the Council's website for details on the exam.
Master and journeyman gas fitter's license fees: The master gas fitter's
exam costs $160, the journeyman $110, and both are nonrefundable. If you pass the exam, the
exam fee covers your license fee for one year. Renewal is $125 for master gas fitters and
$30 for journeymen gas fitters. Licenses expire on December 31.
Alabama also registers apprentice gas fitters. The fee is $25. Apprentices can only work under the supervision of journeymen or masters.
| Recommended Reading for
the Gas Fitter's Exams Uniform Plumbing Code, IAPMO - International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, 20001 E. Walnut Drive South, Walnut, CA 91789 NFPA 54 - National Fuel Gas Code, National Fire Protection Association, 11 Tracey Ave., Quincy, MA 02322 NFPA 58 - Standard for Storage and Handling of Liquified Petroleum Gas, 2001, National Fire Protection Association, 11 Tracey Ave., Quincy, MA 02322 |
Department of Transportation (DOT)
To bid on Alabama Department of Transportation projects you have to be prequalified by the Department. To get an application for prequalification, contact:
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Alabama Department of Transportation Prequalification Engineer, Room E-101 1409 Coliseum Blvd. Montgomery, AL 36130-3050 (334) 242-6059 http://www.dot.state.al.us |
Some of the details the Department will ask you about are your organization, personnel, financial condition, equipment, and experience. You'll be asked what type of work you want to be qualified for. Here are the types of work the Department uses:
The following types of work are included under the category of Specialty work:
Unless the Alabama State Licensing Board for General Contractors exempts you, you need a license from them to bid on state projects. On any project with federal participation you'll need the license before you can be awarded the contract. If you want to do any mowing work for the Department you need to get a license from the Board first.
Prequalification is good for one year, but the Department reserves the right to ask you for another prequalification statement at any time.
Out-of-State Corporations
All corporations must register to do business in Alabama with the Office of the Secretary of State. Their address is:
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Office of the Secretary of State P.O. Box 5616 Montgomery, AL 36103 (334) 242-5324 Fax: (334) 240-3138 http://www.sos.state.al.us/index.aspx |
You can get the Foreign Corporation form online at http://www.sos.state.al.us/downloads/dl1.cfm.
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