New Hampshire

Contractor licensing thresholds, regulator routing, requirements, reciprocity, and license types for New Hampshire’s trade-based construction regulation model.

New Hampshire does not license general contractors at the state level. Instead, it regulates specific trades — electrical, plumbing, gas, asbestos abatement, and lead abatement — through separate boards, and requires DOT prequalification for highway and public works.

Always verify statutes, fees, and application details with the live regulator before making bidding, licensing, or legal decisions.

At a glance

The fastest way to orient yourself in New Hampshire is to understand that regulation is trade-based, not project-value-based.

Signal	Value
General contractor license	Not required at state level
Electrical work	Journeyman and master licensing required
Plumbing and gas work	Journeyman and master licensing required
Asbestos and lead abatement	Separate state licensing programs
Highway and public works	DOT prequalification required
Public works bonds	100% performance and payment bond + 5% bid guaranty
Reciprocity model	Board-specific; strongest for electrical (22+ states)

Frequently asked questions

Pick the tab that matches your situation. Each FAQ gives a direct answer and points you to the full detail below.

Contractors

Does New Hampshire require a state license for general contractors?

No. New Hampshire does not license general contractors at the state level. General residential and commercial construction is unregulated by the state. If your work involves only general construction with no regulated trade, no state credential is needed. See Construction work regulated.

What trades require a state license in New Hampshire?

Electrical, plumbing, and gas work all require state licensing through separate boards. Asbestos and lead abatement have their own licensing programs with training and exam requirements. See Construction work regulated.

Where do I go to get an electrical license?

Route to the Electricians Board under the NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) at 7 Eagle Square, Concord, NH 03301. Phone: [phone]. See Who regulates construction.

How much does it cost to get an electrical license?

Master: $50 application + $270 license fee (triennial). Journeyman: $50 application + $150 license fee (triennial). Apprentice ID: $30 (annual). License fees are pro-rated according to birth month. See Requirements for the complete fee table.

What are the bonding requirements for public works?

Public works contracts require a 100% performance and payment bond plus a 5% bid guaranty. Highway and public works also require DOT prequalification with financial statements — compiled for projects up to $1,000,000, reviewed up to $5,000,000, or audited above $5,000,000. See Requirements.

Can I use my out-of-state electrical license in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire has extensive electrical reciprocity — 22 states for master and journeyman, plus 11 additional states for journeyman only. Check the Reciprocal agreements table to see if your state is listed. Asbestos and lead reciprocity exist but require equivalency review on a case-by-case basis.

What are the requirements for a plumbing or gas license?

Journeyman plumbing requires a 70% exam score, 576 hours of schooling, and 4 years of apprentice experience. Master plumbing requires a 75% exam score and at least 6 months as a journeyman. Biennial renewal with continuing education. See Requirements.

What is required for asbestos abatement work?

Contractors need approved training course completion and a list of projects completed within the last year. Must be registered with the NH Secretary of State. Contractor license fee is $1,000 with $750 renewal. Worker certification is $50. See Requirements.

What is required for lead abatement work?

Contractors need 32-hour training, EPA and NH proficiency exams (70% minimum on both), and at least 2 years of related work experience. Annual meeting attendance and annual renewal are required. Contractor fee is $300. See Requirements.

Does New Hampshire require a license for roofing work?

No. Roofing falls under general construction, which New Hampshire does not regulate at the state level. However, if the project involves electrical, plumbing, or gas components, those trade licenses are still required. Check local requirements separately.

What is the prequalification process for highway work?

Submit experience documentation, completed project list, equipment listing, bonding capacity, and financial statements to NH DOT. There is no filing fee. Processing takes 2-4 weeks. Prequalification expires 15 months after the financial statement date. See Requirements.

Regulators

How does New Hampshire's licensing model compare to states with general contractor boards?

New Hampshire is a trade-licensing-only state with no general contractor board. Five separate agencies cover specific work lanes. This contrasts with states like Connecticut (single department with 10 boards) or Alabama (8 separate agencies with a general contractor board). See Who regulates construction.

How does New Hampshire's electrical reciprocity compare to other states?

New Hampshire has some of the broadest electrical reciprocity in the country — 22 states at the master and journeyman level, plus 11 additional states for journeyman only. This far exceeds most states. Maine, for example, has reciprocity with only 2-5 states for electrical. See Reciprocal agreements.

What types of construction work are regulated at the state vs. local level?

New Hampshire regulates electrical, plumbing, gas, asbestos abatement, and lead abatement at the state level. Highway work requires DOT prequalification. General commercial and residential construction is not regulated at the state level and falls to local jurisdictions. See Construction work regulated.

What agency differences exist across trade boards?

The Electricians Board and Mechanical Licensing and Safety Board both sit under OPLC. Asbestos is under the Department of Environmental Services. Lead is under the Department of Health and Human Services. DOT handles highway prequalification. Each agency has its own application, fee, and renewal structure. See Who regulates construction.

What are the fees across trades?

Electrical: $50 application + $150-$270 license (triennial). Plumbing: $190-$310 license (biennial). Asbestos contractor: $1,000 (annual). Lead contractor: $300 (annual). No filing fee for highway prequalification. See Requirements for complete fee tables.

What license classifications does New Hampshire use?

Electrical offers Master, Journeyman, Apprentice, Corporation/Partnership, and High-Medium Voltage tiers. Plumbing offers Master, Journeyman, Apprentice, and Corporation. Gas offers Trainee, Installer, Piper, and Service Corporation. Asbestos and lead each have multiple tiers. See Types of licenses.

How does reciprocity work across boards?

Electrical reciprocity is the broadest (22+ states). Asbestos reciprocity is case-by-case based on equivalent certification requirements. Lead reciprocity requires passing both EPA and NH proficiency exams plus application review. No general contractor reciprocity exists since there is no general contractor license. See Reciprocal agreements.

What exam requirements exist across the different boards?

Electricians: open code book exam, 70% minimum. Plumbing journeyman: 70% minimum. Plumbing master: 75% minimum. Lead: EPA proficiency (100 questions) + NH proficiency (25 questions), 70% on both. Asbestos ADS workers must pass the state exam. See Requirements.

What are the renewal cycles across boards?

Electrical: triennial, due on last day of birth month. Plumbing: biennial. Asbestos: annual. Lead: annual with 8-hour refresher and exams every 3 years. Highway prequalification: 15 months from financial statement date. See Requirements.

How does New Hampshire compare to other New England states?

New Hampshire is a trade-licensing-only state like Maine and Vermont. It stands out for having the broadest electrical reciprocity in the region. Compare with Massachusetts (6 agencies with CSL and HIC requirements) or Connecticut (single department, 10 boards). See the Northeast region guide.

Start with your goal

Pick the card that matches what you need right now. Each one links to the relevant section on this page.

Is licensure triggered?

Start with the type of work — New Hampshire regulates trades, not general contracting.

Find the right regulator

Use the regulator directory to route your question to the correct New Hampshire agency.

Application and renewal details

Exams, fees, bonds, continuing education, and renewal cycles for each trade.

Reciprocity direction

Find out which boards or agencies recognize out-of-state credentials.

Special considerations

Different roles need different things from a New Hampshire page. Use the tab that matches your situation to see what matters most before you read the full detail below.

Contractors

New Hampshire has no general contractor license. Start by asking whether your trade requires state licensing.

• Electrical, plumbing, and gas work all require state licensing through separate boards.
• Asbestos and lead abatement have their own licensing programs with training and exam requirements.
• Highway and public works require DOT prequalification — no filing fee, but financial statements must be compiled (up to $1,000,000), reviewed (up to $5,000,000), or audited (above $5,000,000).
• Public works contracts require a 100% performance and payment bond plus a 5% bid guaranty.
• General residential and commercial construction is not licensed at the state level.

Regulators

New Hampshire is best understood as a trade-licensing state with no general contractor board — five separate agencies cover specific work lanes.

• The state operates 5 separate regulatory agencies covering distinct trade lanes.
• Electrical reciprocity is extensive — 22 states for master and journeyman, plus 11 additional states for journeyman only.
• Asbestos and lead reciprocity is case-by-case, based on equivalency review.
• Compare with other trade-licensing-only states (such as Vermont) when benchmarking regulatory models.

Readiness checklist

Four things you need to confirm before you can treat New Hampshire as “ready” for a bid or an application. If any of these are unclear, you are not ready yet.

1. Identify the work type

   Determine whether the project involves a regulated trade (electrical, plumbing, gas, asbestos, lead) or highway / public works. General contracting does not require a state license.

2. Confirm whether a state license is needed

   If the work falls in a regulated trade lane, licensing is required regardless of contract value. For DOT work, prequalification requires financial statements at the $1,000,000, $5,000,000, and above tiers.

3. Route to the correct agency

   Use the regulator directory below. New Hampshire has 5 separate agencies — do not assume one board handles all trades.

4. Confirm the requirement set

   Confirm exams, experience, fees, bonds, continuing education, renewal cycle, and reciprocity rules for the specific board before filing.

If you can identify work type, licensing requirement, regulator, and requirement set, you have the minimum package needed for a New Hampshire readiness check.

Navigation

Use these links to jump to related cross-state comparisons and workflows.

• New state evaluation if you are screening New Hampshire for the first time.
• Multi-state bid readiness if you need to compare New Hampshire with nearby jurisdictions.
• Licensing thresholds or prequalification patterns for cross-state context.

Construction work regulated

New Hampshire does not use a dollar threshold to trigger general contractor licensing. Instead, regulation is trade-based — certain types of work require licensing regardless of contract size.

Work lane	What triggers regulation
Electrical work	All electrical installation, alteration, or repair requires licensing
Plumbing and gas work	All plumbing and gas fitting requires licensing
Asbestos abatement	All asbestos-related work requires state licensing
Lead abatement	All lead hazard reduction activities require licensing or certification
Highway and public works	DOT prequalification required for state highway contracts
General contracting	Not regulated at state level

Even though general contracting is unlicensed, trade-specific credentials are still required for any electrical, plumbing, gas, asbestos, or lead work within a larger project.

Common determination scenarios

If you are trying to figure out where to start, expand the scenario that is closest to your situation.

Electrical installation or repair

All electrical work requires licensing. Route to the Electricians Board under the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. Journeyman and master exams require a minimum score of 70% on an open code book exam.

Plumbing or gas fitting

All plumbing and gas work requires licensing. Route to the Mechanical Licensing and Safety Board. Journeyman plumbing requires 576 hours of schooling and 4 years of apprentice experience; master requires 6 months as a journeyman.

Asbestos abatement project

Route to the Department of Environmental Services, Asbestos Management and Control Program. Contractors need approved training course completion and a list of projects completed within the last year.

Lead abatement project

Route to the Department of Health and Human Services, Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. Contractors need 32-hour training, EPA and NH proficiency exams, and at least 2 years of related work experience.

Highway or public works bid

Route to NH DOT Prequalification. Submit experience documentation, project lists, equipment listing, bonding capacity, and financial statements. There is no filing fee, and processing takes 2-4 weeks.

Who regulates construction

New Hampshire splits construction regulation across 5 separate agencies. There is no single statewide contractor board. Use this directory to find the agency that owns the lane you need.

Highway prequalification — Department of Transportation

John O. Morton Building, Room 131, 7 Hazen Drive, PO Box 483, Concord, NH 03302-0483

Phone: [phone] | Fax: [phone]

Website: dot.nh.gov

Electrical contractors — Electricians Board (OPLC)

NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, 7 Eagle Square, Concord, NH 03301

Phone: [phone]

Website: oplc.nh.gov/electricians

Plumbing and gas — Mechanical Licensing and Safety Board

7 Eagle Square, Concord, NH 03301

Phone: [phone]

Website: oplc.nh.gov

Asbestos abatement — Department of Environmental Services

Asbestos Management and Control Program, 29 Hazen Drive, PO Box 95, Concord, NH 03302-0095

Phone: [phone] | Fax: [phone]

Website: des.nh.gov/waste/asbestos/license-and-certifications

Lead abatement — Department of Health and Human Services

Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, 29 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301-6504

Phone: [phone] | Fax: [phone]

Website: dhhs.nh.gov/lead-poisoning-prevention

Requirements

New Hampshire has separate application inputs, exams, fees, and renewal cycles for each regulated trade. Expand the trade that applies to your situation.

Electricians

Requirement	Detail
Exam	Open code book trade exam with minimum 70% score for journeyman and master
Experience (master)	2,000 hours as a journeyman working for a master
Experience (journeyman)	600 hours of electrical schooling and 8,000 hours as an apprentice
Continuing education	15 hours on each new code edition in the first year of each 3-year code cycle
High-medium voltage	Completion of a Board-approved state, federal, or employer certification program

License Type	Application Fee	License Fee	Renewal Fee
Master	$50	$270	$270 (every 3 years)
Journeyman	$50	$150	$150 (every 3 years)
Apprentice ID	N/A	$30	$30 (annual)
Corporation / Partnership	$50	$125	$125 (annual, May)
High-Medium Voltage Electrician	$50	$270	$270 (every 3 years)
High-Medium Voltage Trainee	N/A	$30	$30 (annual)

License fees are pro-rated according to birth month. Triennial renewals are due on the last day of the birth month.

Plumbers and Gas Fitters

Requirement	Detail
Exam (journeyman)	Trade examination with minimum 70% score
Exam (master)	Trade examination with minimum 75% score
Experience (journeyman)	576 hours of schooling and 4 years as an apprentice
Experience (master)	Must hold a journeyman license for at least 6 months
Continuing education	Required for biennial renewal
Renewal cycle	Every 2 years

License Type	License Fee	Renewal Fee
Master	$310	$300
Journeyman	$190	$180
Apprentice	$90	$80

Asbestos Abatement

Role	What is required
Contractor	Approved training course + list of completed projects in the last year; must be registered with NH Secretary of State
Supervisor	Approved training course + at least 1 year of asbestos abatement experience
Worker	Completion of an approved asbestos abatement worker or contractor/supervisor training course
ADS Contractor	At least one responsible person must be certified as an ADS Worker or Worker-in-Training; must be registered with Secretary of State
ADS Worker	Must pass state Asbestos Disposal Site Examination; 40 hours of ADS experience qualifies for experienced ADS Worker certification

License Type	License Fee	Renewal Fee
Contractor	$1,000	$750
Supervisor	$200	$200
Worker	$50	$50
ADS Contractor	$250	$250
ADS Worker	$50	$50

Lead Abatement

Requirement	Detail
Exam	EPA proficiency exam (100 questions) + NH proficiency exam (25 questions); minimum 70% on both
Contractor	32-hour training program + at least 2 years in asbestos, lead, environmental remediation, or building trades
Supervisor	32-hour training program + 12 months as certified worker + 12 months in environmental remediation or building trades
Worker	24-hour worker educational program with 70% minimum score
Inspector	Educational program + proficiency exams + 15 full inspections and 10 clearance inspections under a licensed risk assessor
Risk assessor	Must be a licensed NH lead inspector for at least 1 year, plus risk assessor training and 5 supervised risk assessments
Refresher	8-hour refresher course and EPA / NH exams required every 3 years
Annual requirements	Licensed lead professionals must attend an annual meeting and renew annually

License Type	Application and Renewal Fee
Lead Abatement Worker	$75
Lead Abatement Supervisor	$125
Lead Abatement Contractor	$300
Lead Inspector	$100
Risk Assessor	$250
Owner-Contractor (4-6 dwelling units)	$150
Owner-Contractor (fewer than 4 units)	No fee
Duplicate License	$15

Individuals applying for more than one discipline pay the highest applicable fee plus $25 per additional discipline.

Highway and Public Works Prequalification

Requirement	Detail
Documentation	Experience documentation, completed project list, equipment listing, bonding capacity, and financial statements
Financial statements	Compiled for projects up to $1,000,000; reviewed for projects up to $5,000,000; audited above $5,000,000
Prequalification period	Expires 15 months after the date of the financial statements
Processing time	2-4 weeks
Filing fee	None
Bonds	100% performance and payment bond + 5% bid guaranty required for public works contracts

Simple-scope projects common to the industry (such as simple carpentry or painting) may be exempt from prequalification to broaden the bidding field.

Reciprocal agreements

New Hampshire’s reciprocity is strongest for electrical licenses. Asbestos and lead reciprocity exist but require equivalency review. There is no general contractor reciprocity because New Hampshire does not license general contractors.

Electrical reciprocity is the broadest — 22 states at the master and journeyman level, plus 11 additional states for journeyman only.

Board	Reciprocal states	Coverage
Electrical (master + journeyman)	Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia	22 states
Electrical (journeyman only)	Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming	11 states
Asbestos	States with substantially equivalent certification requirements	Case-by-case
Lead	Licensed professionals from other states, Tribal Nations, or EPA with passing EPA and NH exams	Case-by-case

Lead reciprocity detail

Any lead professional currently licensed or certified in another state, Tribal Nation, or by the EPA can apply for reciprocity. Requirements include a completed application, current license copy, refresher course completion certificate, and passing scores on the EPA proficiency examination and either the NH proficiency examination or the reciprocity educational program examination. The department may request the applicant’s home-state licensing requirements to confirm equivalency.

Types of licenses

New Hampshire issues credentials across five regulated trade families. Use this section to confirm the exact license name for an application or comparison.

Electrical

• Apprentice (Registration)
• Journeyman
• Master
• Corporation / Partnership
• High-Medium Voltage Trainee (Registration)
• High-Medium Voltage Electrician

Plumbing

• Apprentice (Registration)
• Journeyman
• Master
• Corporation

Gas

• Trainee (Registration)
• Installer
• Piper
• Service Corporation
• Domestic Appliance Technician

Asbestos

• Entity License
• Supervisor
• Worker
• Inspector
• Management Planner
• Project Designer
• Disposal Site Contractor
• Disposal Site Worker / Worker-in-Training

Lead

• Lead Training Provider
• Lead Abatement Contractor
• Lead Abatement Supervisor
• Lead Abatement Worker
• Lead Inspector
• Risk Assessor

See also

Northeast region guide

Browse all Northeast jurisdictions for comparison.

Contractors guide

Cross-state guidance for contractors evaluating new jurisdictions.

Regulators guide

Cross-state guidance for comparing regulatory models and agency structures.

Neighboring jurisdictions with reciprocity ties:

Maine

Electrical master and journeyman reciprocity with New Hampshire.

Vermont

Electrical master and journeyman reciprocity with New Hampshire.

Massachusetts

Electrical master and journeyman reciprocity with New Hampshire.

Connecticut

Electrical master, journeyman, and electrical contractor reciprocity with New Hampshire.