- Jobs of $10,000 or less that are not part of a larger job can be done under a handyman registration with a smaller bond.
- Residential endorsement: complete the Alaska Craftsman Home Program or an equivalent, or a postsecondary arctic engineering course, within two years before you apply. Check with the board for basic registration.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- $25,000 for a general contractor, or $20,000 for a general contractor with a residential endorsement who does only residential work.
- Every two years. The residential endorsement needs 16 contact hours of approved continuing education per period.
Do you need a state license in Alaska?
Alaska licenses general contractor work at the state level through the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, Construction Contractors. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Jobs of $10,000 or less that are not part of a larger job can be done under a handyman registration with a smaller bond.
A city or borough cannot make a state-registered contractor post another bond to get a similar local license.
Alaska license types for general contractor work
Alaska splits the work into 4 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| General contractor | Registration for general contracting, $25,000 bond |
| General contractor with residential endorsement | Needed to build one to four unit homes, or to alter them by more than 25 percent of the structure value |
| Specialty contractor | A single trade, $10,000 bond |
| Handyman contractor | Jobs of $10,000 or less, $5,000 bond |
Steps to get licensed in Alaska
- Buy a $25,000 bond ($20,000 if you will do only residential work with an endorsement).
- Get liability insurance at the state minimums, and workers' comp if you have employees.
- Apply for general contractor registration and pay the $100 application and $250 registration fees.
- For home building, finish the Craftsman Home Program or equivalent and pass the residential contractor exam.
- Apply for the residential endorsement within 12 months of the exam and pay $250.
- Renew every two years with 16 hours of continuing education for the endorsement.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Residential endorsement: complete the Alaska Craftsman Home Program or an equivalent, or a postsecondary arctic engineering course, within two years before you apply. Check with the board for basic registration.
The license to apply for. General contractor registration, with Residential Contractor Endorsement for home work.
Alaska general contractor exams
Trade exam. Residential endorsement: pass the residential contractor exam and apply within 12 months after passing it. Check with the board for basic registration.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Alaska
The board lists 3 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee, registration or endorsement (nonrefundable) | $100 |
| Registration and enforcement fee, two years | $250 |
| Residential endorsement fee, two years | $250 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Public liability and property damage insurance of at least $20,000 property, $50,000 injury to one person and $100,000 injury to more than one person, plus workers' comp as required by state law.
Bond. $25,000 for a general contractor, or $20,000 for a general contractor with a residential endorsement who does only residential work.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every two years. The residential endorsement needs 16 contact hours of approved continuing education per period.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Alaska
- Registration is suspended if your insurance lapses and revoked if your bonding company cancels.
- An unregistered contractor cannot sue in Alaska court to collect payment.
- Electrical and mechanical work need a licensed electrical or mechanical administrator, and a handyman registration cannot cover that work.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for a contractor near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, Construction Contractors and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.