- Registration is required for residential construction estimated at $10,000 or more, counting labor and materials.
- Every two years, with proof of insurance at each renewal. Renewal opens six weeks before expiration.
Do you need a state license in Vermont?
Vermont licenses some general contractor work at the state level and leaves the rest alone. Which side of that line a job falls on decides whether you need the state license.
Registration is required for residential construction estimated at $10,000 or more, counting labor and materials.
Electricians and plumbers are licensed separately by the Division of Fire Safety, not by the Office of Professional Regulation.
Vermont license types for general contractor work
Vermont splits the work into 2 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 |
|---|---|
| Individual registration | Self-employed with no employees |
| Business registration | Contractors with employees. Employees work under the business registration |
Steps to get licensed in Vermont
- Confirm your residential jobs reach $10,000 including labor and materials.
- Choose individual registration (no employees) or business registration (with employees).
- Get liability insurance of $1M per occurrence and $2M aggregate.
- Apply online with the Office of Professional Regulation and pay $75 or $250.
- Use a written contract on every registered job and renew every two years.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The board's pages do not list one.
The license to apply for. Residential Contractor registration.
Vermont general contractor exams
Trade exam. No trade exam.
Business and law exam. No business and law exam.
What it costs in Vermont
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 |
|---|---|
| Individual registration | $75 |
| Business registration | $250 |
| Verification of registration sent to another state | $20 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, with proof at application and renewal.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every two years, with proof of insurance at each renewal. Renewal opens six weeks before expiration.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Vermont
- You must use a written contract with price, estimated dates, scope of work and how change orders are handled.
- Licensed trades, architects and engineers working within their license do not need to register.
- Emergency work can start first, but you must register afterward.
- The Office of Professional Regulation is setting up voluntary certifications.
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 Vermont Secretary of State, Office of Professional Regulation and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.