Alabama splits contractor licensing across several boards by trade. The Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors licenses general contractors under Ala. Code Title 34, Chapter 8. Individual trades are licensed by separate boards. General contractor. Required for projects with a cost of $50,000 or more (commercial) and new residential construction of $10,000 or more in most cases, under the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors. Alabama Electrical Contractors Board (AECB). Issues Electrical Contractor (Master), Journeyman Electrician, and Residential Electrical Contractor credentials under Ala. Code Title 34, Chapter 36. Journeyman: 8,000 hours (approximately 4 years) of experience. Contractor: 8,000 hours in design/layout/supervision, or equivalent journeyman time. Exams through Prov Exams. Contractor CE: 14 hours per 2-year cycle (7 hours NEC). Journeyman: no CE currently required. Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board (PGFB). Issues Journeyman and Master credentials for Plumbing and for Gas Fitting under Ala. Code Title 34, Chapter 37. Journeyman: 2 years of current experience. Master: 1 year as Alabama Journeyman. 2026 Master exam includes a Business and Law component. CE: 4 hours per year beginning 2025 (split 2/2 for dual certifications). Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors (HACR). Issues HVAC Contractor, Refrigeration Contractor, and Apprentice credentials under Ala. Code Title 34, Chapter 31A. Pathways: 2-year registered apprenticeship; 3,000 hours supervised experience; or graduation from an approved program. Exam fee $175 per exam. License fee $220 active; $110 inactive. $20,000 performance bond required for active license. CE: 4 hours per year. Alabama Construction Industry Craftsmen Board (for carpenters and other craftsmen) was the former certification body for general construction craftsmen; Alabama has restructured craftsmen credentials over recent years, so confirm current credentialing before relying on the Board name. The three trade boards above remain the primary authorities for electrical, plumbing, and HVAC. Business registration. LLCs and corporations register with the Alabama Secretary of State. The Alabama Business Privilege Tax (BPT) applies to most entities; beginning with 2024 returns, entities with calculated BPT of $100 or less are fully exempt from the BPT and need not file. For-profit corporations file an annual report with the Secretary of State ($10 fee). LLCs are no longer required to file an annual report with the Secretary of State.
AL · Contractor licensing
Contractor licensing in Alabama
State contractor license requirements, bond, and insurance minimums.
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