Iowa

All construction contractors doing business in Iowa must be registered with the state. Electricians, plumbers and mechanical professionals must be licensed with the state. Asbestos workers, contractors and supervisors must obtain licenses for all asbestos projects. 

To find out if an electrician is licensed in Iowa, click http://www.dps.state.ia.us/fm/electrician/license_verification.shtml. The find out if a plumber is licensed in Iowa, click https://eservices.iowa.gov/licensediniowa/index.php?pgname=pubsearch. For a list of licensed asbestos abatement workers, click http://www1.iwd.state.ia.us/LaborServices/LabrAsbs.nsf. 

• Electrician's Licenses
   
• Plumber's Licenses
   
• Asbestos Abatement License
    
• Department of Transportation

• Out-of-State Corporations

Iowa requires you to register to do business in the state. You don't have to take an exam to register. To get an application, contact:

Iowa Division of Labor 1000 East Grand Avenue Des Moines, IA 50319-0209 (515) 242-5871 Fax: (515) 281-7995 http://www.iowaworkforce.org/labor/contractor.htm

It will cost $50 to register.

Electrician's Licenses

If you perform electrical contracting or are self-employed in the state of Iowa you must be licensed.

Iowa Department of Public Safety Electrical Examining Board 502 East 9th Street Des Moines, IA 50319 (515) 725-6147 http://www.dps.state.ia.us/fm/electrician/index.shtml

The Board issues the following licenses:

Electrical contractor
Class A master electrician
Class A journeyman electrician
Class B master electrician
Class B journeyman electrician
Apprentice electrician
Special electrician
Unclassified person

You must submit an application and application fee to the Board. Once you are notified that the Board has approved your application, you will need to register and schedule an exam. Exams are given by:

Prometric Attn: Iowa Electrical Program 1260 Energy Lane St. Paul, MN 55108 (800) 897-2046 Fax: (800) 347-9242 http://www.prometric.com

Electrican's license fees: It will cost $375 to apply for the license. The exam will cost either $60 or $55, depending on license category. The license fee is prorated by month the license is purchased. Check with the Board for your particular license fee.

Reciprocity with other states will be determined by the Examining Board. The Board my grant licenses, without examination, of the same grade and class to an electrician who has been licensed with another state for at least one year. Contact the Board to find out if you qualify for a reciprocal license.

Plumber's Licenses

Iowa Department of Health Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board 321 East 12th Street Des Moines, IA 50319 (866) 280-1521  http://www.idph.state.ia.us

The Board issues the following licenses:

Apprentice
Journey Person
Master
Medical Gas
Contractor
Specialty

You must submit an application and application fee to the Board. Once you are notified that the Board has approved your application, you will need to register and schedule an exam. Exams are given by:

Prometric Attn: Iowa Plumbing Program 1260 Energy Lane St. Paul, MN 55108 (800) 341-2170 Fax: (800) 347-9242 http://www.prometric.com

Plumber's license fees: It will cost $35 to apply for the license. The exam will cost either $70 or $60, depending on license category. The apprentice license is $50. The journeyperson license is $100 per trade. The master license is $250 per trade. The medical gas license is $50. All licenses are good for two years.

Asbestos Abatement License

Asbestos workers, contractors and supervisors must obtain licenses for all asbestos projects. Asbestos inspectors and project designers must obtain licenses for asbestos projects in school, public, or commercial buildings. Asbestos management planners must obtain licenses for projects in school buildings.

Iowa Division of Labor 1000 East Grand Avenue Des Moines, IA 50319-0209 (515) 281-6175 http://www.iowaworkforce.org/labor/asbestos.htm

The license applicant shall submit a copy of the training certificate from a trainer approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The training certificate shall state the name of the course successfully completed, the name of the training provider, and the dates of the training.

Five types of licenses are offered:

Worker

• 4-day initial training and most recent refresher training certificate
• passage of a respirator fit test and physical examination in accordance with OSHA provisions

Supervisor/Contractor

• 5-day initial training and most recent refresher training certificate
• passage of a respirator fit test and physical examination in accordance with OSHA provisions

Inspector

• day initial training and most recent refresher training certificate

Management Planner

• 3-day initial training and most recent refresher training certificate

Project Designer

• 3-day initial training and most recent refresher training certificate

	License	Application Fee
	Worker	$20
	Supervisor/Contractor	$50
	Inspector	$20
	Management Planner	$20
	Project Designer	$50

Department of Transportation (DOT)

To bid on any Iowa Department of Transportation construction project, you must be prequalified by the Department. To get a Contractor's Financial-Experience-Equipment Statement, contact:

Office of Contracts Iowa Department of Transportation 800 Lincoln Way Ames, IA 50010 (515) 239-1414 Fax: (515) 239-1325 http://www.iowadot.gov/contracts/index.htm http://www.iowadot.gov/

The form is available online at http://www.iadotforms.dot.state.ia.us/iowadotforms/Library.aspx. 

The Transportation Department will ask you for these items:

• financial statement
• your current and past work projects
• what equipment your firm owns

To qualify to bid on projects costing more than $100,000 you must have a CPA fill out the contractor's statement. The Department will use this information to give your company a prequalification rating. The formula they use for your maximum prequalification amount is:

current assets ­ current liabilities + non-current assets ­ non-current liabilities
                                                                                2

They multiply this amount times a factor from 1 to 10, based on your experience. Also you have to have completed contracts in the following total quantities to be awarded projects for more than these quantities:

Prequalification is good for one year but the Department may ask you for another contractor's statement at any time.

You must also be registered with the Division of Labor Services. You can contact them at:

Iowa Division of Labor 1000 East Grand Avenue Des Moines, IA 50319-0209 (515) 281-5387 Fax: (515) 281-7995 http://www.iowaworkforce.org/labor/

Out-of-State Corporations

An out-of-state contractor must also satisfy a special bond requirement. The Division of Labor Services also has information on this. An out-of-state corporation needs a Certificate of Authority from the Iowa Secretary of State. For information, contact:

Corporations Division Iowa Secretary of State Hoover Building Des Moines, IA 50319 (515) 281-5204 http://www.sos.state.ia.us

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