You have a contractor’s license and want to maintain it in good standing. That means operating your business in an ethical and professional manner. You’ll also need to renew your license so it doesn’t expire. Fail to do that and you could pay some hefty fines.
If your renewal period is pending, you may wonder what is required of you. Specifically, many contractors want to know if they need to complete any sort of continuing education (CE) before they will be allowed to renew. As it turns out, that’s not a simple yes or no answer.
Whether you are interested in California contractor licensing or work in a different state, it’s important to know and follow your renewal obligations. Here is some key information about renewals.
Renewals and Continuing Education
Not every contractor will need to complete continuing education units to renew their licenses, but many will. This largely depends on the state where you are licensed.
Be aware that your particular county may also have continuing education requirements. As a general rule, you are responsible for meeting any educational requirements you have and providing proof of completion.
What Is CE?
Continuing education is a learning requirement that some states establish to ensure that your knowledge as a general contractor does not become outdated. For example, regulations relating to safety may be updated at any time. The same applies to the handling of materials, insurance obligations, and more.
CE may be offered in many different forms. Some states partner with private training centers where students go to complete their training. Others offer online learning options or may work with local community colleges.
What you learn during these continuing education sessions may vary. For example, Georgia contractor licensing requires three hours of CE for each year in the renewal period. However, the specific training can change from one year to the next.
CE Obligations for California Contractor Licensing
Continuing education is completed in hours or units (CEU). The number of hours you must complete depends on your state. Your obligation may also vary depending on the type of contracting work you do.
For example, commercial contractors may have to take more CEUs than residential contractors. Plumbers, electricians, and HVAC contractors often have additional educational hours as well.
Plan Ahead
Remember that continuing education classes for contractors may take some effort to complete. Classes may have waiting lists. You may even need to travel or plan a day or two off work to complete your licensing requirements. Don’t wait too long or your renewal could be delayed.