Alaska law requires that contractors be registered with the Department of Community and Economic Development.
Before you sign with a contractor, make sure that you’re getting the most competitive bid they can give you. The best way to ensure that’s the case is by getting free quotes from competing contractors. Simply fill out the form below and we’ll match you with the 4 most relevant contractors in your area, for your project.
Contractor License Lookup in Alaska
Where do you go when you want to lookup the license of a contractor in Alaska? To find out if a mechanical, specialty or general contractor has been licensed by the Alaska Division of Occupation Licensing, click on http://www.dced.state.ak.us/occ/pcon.htm or call (907) 465-2546 or (907) 465-3035. To find out if a plumbing, electrical, asbestos abatement, hazardous paint, explosives, or boiler contractor has been certified by the Alaska Department of Labor/Mechanical Inspection, call (907) 269-4925 or click onhttp://labor.state.ak.us/lss/mihome.htm.
- Nonresidential General Contractor’s License
- Residential General Contractor’s License
- Certificates of Fitness for the Trades
- Electrical Administrator’s License
- Mechanical Administrator’s License
- Department of Transportation (DOT)
- Out-of-State Corporations
Alaska recognizes the following types of contractors:
General Contractor
General Contractor – Limited Residential
Specialty Contractor
Mechanical Contractor
Residential Endorsement
Mechanical Administrators
Electrical Administrators
Specialty contractor trades include the following:
Access flooring | Marine |
Acoustical and insulation | Masonry |
Asbestos abatement | Mechanical, exempt |
Carpentry, finish | Painting |
Carpentry, rough | Plaster |
Communications | Road construction |
Concrete and paving | Roofing |
Demolition | Security system |
Drilling | Sheet metal |
Drywall | Sign |
Electrical | Solid fuel appliance |
Elevator and conveying system | Steel erection |
Excavation | Tile and terrazzo |
Fence and guardrail | Wallcovering |
Floor covering | Water and sewer |
Glazing | Water system |
Landscaping | Welding |
Liquid or gas storage tank | Other |
Low voltage alarm and signal device |
You can be licensed as a specialty contractor in only three distinct nonmechanical trades from this list.
Nonresidential General Contractor’s License
To apply for a general contractor license which doesn’t allow you to do undertake construction or alteration, or submit a bid of a privately owned residential structure. Alteration work may be done as long as the value of the work is less than 25% of the value of the structure being altered.
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing 333 Willoughby Avenue, 9th Floor P.O. Box 110806 Juneau, AK 99811-0806 (907) 465-2550 http://www.dced.state.ak.us/occ/ |
On the application, you will be asked for:
- proof of liability insurance — at least $20,000 property damage, $50,000 injury or death to one person, $100,000 injury or death to more than one person
- proof of workers’ compensation insurance
- surety bond — $10,000 for a general contractor or $5,000 for a specialty or mechanical contractor
Nonresidential general contractor’s license fees: Alaska doesn’t require an exam for the nonresidential type of license. It will cost $50 nonrefundable to apply and $200 for the license. Licenses expire December 31 of even years.
You can purchase a new license or renew your current license online at http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/CBP/.
Residential General Contractor’s License
There’s quite a bit more involved in getting a general contractor’s license that lets you work on residential construction. First you must successfully complete the Alaska Craftsman Home Program (ACHP) or its equivalent, or a post-secondary course in Arctic engineering or its equivalent. You have to complete the course within two years before you apply for the license. The organizations listed below as providers of the Alaska craftsman home program or its equivalent training:
Alaska Craftsman Home Program, Inc. P.O. Box 241647 Anchorage, AK 99524 Telephone: (907) 258-2247 Fax: (907) 258-5352 Web Site: http://www.alaska.net/~achpWisdom & Associates, Inc. P.O. Box 3413 Kenai, AK 99611 Telephone: (907) 283-0629 Web Site: WisdomAndAssociates.comAlaska Building Science Network (ABSN) P.O. Box 11-1097 Anchorage, AK 99511 Telephone: (800) 563-9927 or (907) 562-9927 Fax: (907) 563-8061 Web Site: http://www.absn.com |
After completing the course, the next step is to get an Endorsement Application for Residential Construction from:
Department of Community and Economic Development Division of Occupational Licensing 333 Willoughby Avenue, 9th Floor P.O. Box 110806 Juneau, AK 99811-0806 (907) 465-3035 http://www.dced.state.ak.us/occ/ |
You will apply directly through the testing agency, Prometric. You can contact them at:
This exam is given every three months in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau. The four-hour exam is open book, with 100 multiple choice questions. A score of 70 percent or above is required to pass the exam. Exam content includes:
Subject |
Carpentry |
Finishes |
Concrete |
Thermal & moisture protection |
Masonry |
Safety |
Doors & Windows |
Equipment & tools |
Metals |
Sitework |
Building code & inspection |
General plan reading |
Residential general contractor’s license fees: They’ll send you an application and information on their Residential Contractor Endorsement Examination. It will cost $50 nonrefundable to apply and $200 for the license. The exam will cost $75.
You will also need to apply for a business license from the Business Licensing Section. You can contact them at:
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development Business Licensing Section 333 Willoughby Avenue, 9th Floor P.O. Box 110806 Juneau, AK 99811-0806 (907) 465-2550 http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/CBP/ |
The business license will cost you $200 nonrefundable and it’s good for two calendar years. If you’ll be registering as a corporation, you need to contact:
Corporations Section Division of Banking, Securities and Corporations Department of Community and Economic Development P.O. Box 110807 Juneau, AK 99811-0807 (907) 465-2521 http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/occ/home_corporations.htm |
Recommended Reading for the Residential Contractor Exam
International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, International Code Council, 4051 West Flossmoor Road, Country Club Hills, IL 60478, http://www.iccsafe.org (reference allowed during the exam). Specifications for the Application and Finishing of Gypsum Board, Gypsum Association, 810 First Street NE, Suite 510, Washington, DC 20002 Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, Portland Cement Association, 5420 Old Orchard Road, Skokie, IL 60077-1083 Excavation & Grading Handbook, Nicholas E. Capachi, Craftsman Book Company, 6058 Corte del Cedro, P.O. Box 6500, Carlsbad, CA 92018 Northern Comfort: Advanced Cold Climate Home Building Techniques, Alaska Craftsman Home Program, P.O. Box 241647, Anchorage, AK 99524, http://www.alaska.net/-achp Modern Carpentry, Willis H. Wagner, The Goodheart-Willcox Company, Inc., http://www.goodheartwilcox.com Carpentry and Building Construction, Feirer, Hutchings & Feirer, McGraw-Hill Inc., Box 543, Blacklick, OH 43004-0543 You can get these books from: Builders’ Book Depot For information on how to obtain examination references, call (877) 624-2562. |
Certificates of Fitness for the Trades
The Alaska Department of Labor requires a Certificate of Fitness for plumbers, electricians, and workers with asbestos abatement, hazardous paint, explosives, and boilers.
Here’s a summary of the requirements:
Journeyman plumber
Required training or experience: 8000 hours work experience
Application fee: (nonrefundable) $50
License Fee (refundable): $200
Exam: yes
Certificate good for 2 years
Restricted plumber (gas)
Required training or experience: 4000 hours work experience
Application fee: (nonrefundable) $50
License Fee (refundable): $200
Exam: yes
Certificate good for 2 years
Restricted plumber (utility)
Required training or experience: 1000 hours work experience
Application fee: (nonrefundable) $50
License Fee (refundable): $200
Exam: yes
Certificate good for 2 years
Trainee plumber
Required training or experience: Must be enrolled in USDOL registered approved program
Application fee: (nonrefundable) $50
License Fee (refundable): $200
Exam: no
Certificate good for 2 years
Journeyman electrician
Required training or experience: 8000 hours work experience
Application fee: (nonrefundable) $50
License Fee (refundable): $200
Exam: yes
Certificate good for 2 years, 16 hours of continuing education to renew
Residential electrician
Required training or experience: 4000 hours work experience
Application fee: (nonrefundable) $50
License Fee (refundable): $200
Exam: yes
Certificate good for 2 years
Trainee electrician
Required training or experience: Must be enrolled in USDOL registered approved program
Application fee: (nonrefundable) $50
License Fee (refundable): $200
Exam: no
Certificate good for 2 years
Journeyman lineman
Required training or experience: 8000 hours work experience
Application fee: (nonrefundable) $50
License Fee: $200 bi-ennial
Exam: yes
Certificate good for 2 years
Lineman trainee
Required training or experience: Must be enrolled in USDOL registered approved program
Application fee: (nonrefundable) $50
License Fee: $200 bi-ennial
Exam: no
Certificate good for 2 years
Reciprocal journeyman electrician
CO, MN, MT, NE, ND, SD, UT, WY, NM, OK, NH, TX, AR
Required training or experience: none
Application fee: (nonrefundable) $50
License Fee: $200 bi-ennial
Exam: no
Certificate good for 2 years
Boiler operator class 1
Required training or experience: 2 years work experience or class 2 license 1 year
Fee (nonrefundable): $200 application fee, no license fee
Exam: yes
Certificate good for 3 years
Boiler operator class 2
Required training or experience: 1 year work experience or class 3 license 6 months
Fee (nonrefundable): $200 application fee, no license fee
Exam: yes
Certificate good for 3 years
Boiler operator class 3
Required training or experience: 6 months work experience
Fee (nonrefundable): $200 application fee, no license fee
Exam: yes
Certificate good for 3 years
Boiler operator class 4
Required training or experience: none
Fee (nonrefundable): $200 application fee, no license fee
Exam: yes
Certificate good for 3 years
Study guides for electricians’ certificates are the National Electrical Code, Lineman and Cableman’s Handbook, and the National Electrical Safety Code. Study guide for plumbers’ certificates is the Uniform Plumbing Code.
To apply for a Certificate of Fitness, contact:
Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development Mechanical Inspection 3301 Eagle Street, Suite 302 Anchorage, AK 99503 (907) 269-4925 Option #1 E-mail: anchorage.lss-mi@alaska.gov http://www.labor.state.ak.us/lss/mihome.htm |
Application are available online at http://www.labor.state.ak.us/lss/lssforms.htm.
The following licenses are issued by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development:
Asbestos abatement
Required training or experience: 40 hours training initial, 8-hour refresher annual
Fee (nonrefundable): $100
Exam: no
Certificate good for 1 year
Hazardous paint handler
Required training or experience: 16 hours training initial, 8-hour refresher annual per license period
Fee (nonrefundable): $150
Exam: no
Certificate good for 3 years
Explosives handler
Required training or experience: 6 months work experience
Other: background fee and 2 sets of fingerprints
Fee (nonrefundable): $150
Exam: yes
Certificate good for 3 years
Contact the Department with any questions:
Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development Occupational Safety and Health Juneau: (907) 465-4855 Anchorage: (907) 269-4940 Fairbanks: (907) 451-2888 http://www.labor.state.ak.us/lss/oshhome.htm |
These licenses use the same application, available online at http://www.labor.state.ak.us/lss/lssforms.htm.
Electrical Administrator’s License
You must have a license to act as an electrical administrator in Alaska.
An electrical administrator may be licensed in the following categories:
- Unlimited Commercial Wiring
- Residential Wiring
- Controls and Control Wiring
- Inside Communications
- Outside Communications
- Unlimited Line Work Outside
For licensure by examination, you will submit your application and $125 fee for examination to:
All exams are multiple-choice and open Code book. Here are details on subject areas for the various exams.
Subject | Percentage of exam |
Residential Wiring Administrator (40 questions, 2 hours) | |
General electrical knowledge | 15 |
Grounding and bonding | 15 |
Service, feeders and branch circuits | 15 |
Raceways and enclosures | 15 |
Conductors and cables | 15 |
Equipment for general use | 10 |
Special equipment | 5 |
Alaska statutes and regulations | 5 |
Safety | 5 |
Inside Communications Administrator (40 questions, 2 hours) | |
General electrical knowledge | 15 |
Grounding and bonding | 15 |
Low voltage systems | 15 |
Communications systems | 20 |
CATV | 10 |
Conductors and cables | 5 |
Raceways and boxes | 5 |
Requirements for electrical installation | 5 |
Alaska statutes and regulations | 5 |
Safety | 5 |
Outside Communications Administrator (40 questions, 2 hours) | |
General electrical knowledge | 15 |
Grounding and bonding | 15 |
Low voltage systems | 15 |
Communications systems | 20 |
Poles and structures | 5 |
Conductors and cables | 5 |
Raceways and boxes | 5 |
Requirements for electrical installation | 5 |
Alaska statutes and regulations | 5 |
Safety | 5 |
Controls and Control Wiring Administrator (40 questions, 2 hours) | |
General electrical knowledge | 15 |
Control wiring and equipment | 15 |
Class 1, 2 and 3 control circuits | 15 |
HVAC control wiring | 15 |
Manual control circuits | 10 |
Raceways and enclosures | 5 |
Automatic control wiring | 5 |
Transformers | 5 |
Test equipment | 5 |
Alaska statutes and regulations | 5 |
Safety | 5 |
Unlimited Linework Administrator (100 questions, 4 hours) | |
General electrical knowledge | 15 |
Grounding and bonding | 15 |
Transformers | 15 |
Poles and circuits | 15 |
Conductors and cables | 10 |
Overhead lines | 5 |
Underground lines | 5 |
Electric supply stations | 5 |
Communications systems | 5 |
Alaska statutes and regulations | 5 |
Safety | 5 |
Unlimited Commercial Wiring Administrator (100 questions, 4 hours) | |
General electrical knowledge | 15 |
Grounding and bonding | 15 |
Service, feeders and branch circuits | 15 |
Raceways and enclosures | 15 |
Conductors and cables | 15 |
Equipment for general use | 5 |
Special occupancies | 5 |
Special equipment | 5 |
Alaska statutes and regulations | 5 |
Safety | 5 |
You must also apply for licensure through the Division. Contact them at:
Department of Community and Economic Development Division of Occupational Licensing Electrical Administrators 333 Willoughby Avenue, 9th Floor P.O. Box 110806 Juneau, AK 99811-0806 (907) 465-3035 http://www.dced.state.ak.us/occ/pead.htm |
The Division will ask for the completed application and fees, along with the following requirements:
- certified diploma or transcripts from a college, university or trade school
- resume detailing experience
- verification of qualifying experience from three licensed electrical administrators
- proof of passing the exam
If you have passed an equivalent exam in another state, you may qualify to get your license without taking Alaska’s exam. Check with the Division for details.
Electrical administrator contractor’s license fees: It will cost $50 nonrefundable to apply and $200 for the license. The exam will cost $125.
Recommended Reading for the Electrical Administrator Exams
The following books are is allowed in all Electrical Administrator exams. Check with Prometric for more exam reference recommendations. Alaska Electrical Administrators Statutes and Regulations, Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional NFPA 70 – National Electrical Code, National Fire Protection Association, 1 Batterymarch |
Mechanical Administrator’s License
You must have a license to act as an mechanical administrator in Alaska.
A mechanical administrator may be licensed in the following categories:
- Heating, Cooling and Process Piping
- Mechanical Systems Temperature Control
- Residential HVAC
- Residential Plumbing and Hydronic Heating
- Unlimited HVAC/ Sheet Metal
- Unlimited Refrigeration
You’ll need to submit your application for examination to:
Prometric http://www.prometric.com |
All exams are multiple-choice and open Code book. Here are details on subject areas for the various exams.
Subject | Percentage of exam |
Unlimited HVAC/Sheet Metal (112 questions, 4 hours) | |
Alaska statutes and regulations | 10 |
Boilers/burners | 15 |
Chimneys, flues and vents | 15 |
Fuel piping and storage | 15 |
Controls/electrical | 10 |
Duct systems and sheet metal | 10 |
Steam and hot water piping systems | 8 |
A/C systems | 5 |
Piping and tubing | 4 |
Chillers | 4 |
Pneumatics | 3 |
Evaporative cooling | 1 |
Residential Plumbing and Hydronic Heating (100 questions, 4 hours) | |
General knowledge | 22 |
Alaska statutes and regulations | 10 |
Drainage, waste and sanitary vents | 14 |
Fuel gas and oil piping | 14 |
Water piping and backflow prevention | 10 |
Specialty plumbing | 8 |
Plumbing fixtures | 6 |
Hydronic heating | 6 |
Isometric analysis | 10 |
Heating, Cooling and Process Piping (112 questions, 4 hours) | |
Piping | 20 |
Boilers | 15 |
Chillers | 15 |
Chimneys, flues and vents | 15 |
Combustion air | 10 |
Controls | 8 |
Test and inspection | 7 |
Alaska statutes and regulations | 10 |
Residential HVAC (65 questions, 2 hours) | |
Alaska statutes and regulations | 18 |
Burners | 12 |
Controls | 12 |
Fuel piping storage | 11 |
Chimneys | 11 |
Sheet metal and duct systems | 11 |
Test/Inpect | 8 |
A/C systems | 12 |
Evaporative cooling | 5 |
Unlimited Refrigeration (112 questions, 4 hours) | |
Component knowledge | 21 |
Alaska statutes and regulations | 11 |
Testing | 15 |
Piping and tubing | 14 |
Commercial refrigeration | 14 |
Controls | 10 |
Evacuation and charging | 8 |
Sizing | 7 |
Temperature Control Administrator (62 questions, 2 hours) | |
Electricity and electronics | 23 |
Alaska statutes and regulations | 19 |
HVAC unit controls | 14 |
Pneumatics | 12 |
Terminology | 8 |
Piping and tubing | 8 |
Sizing and estimating | 8 |
Testing and inspections | 8 |
You must also apply for licensure through the Division. Contact them at:
Department of Community and Economic Development Division of Occupational Licensing Regulation of Mechanical Administrators 333 Willoughby Avenue, 9th Floor P.O. Box 110806 Juneau, AK 99811-0806 (907) 465-3035 http://www.dced.state.ak.us/occ/pmec.htm |
The Division will ask for the completed application and fees, along with the following requirements:
- certified diploma or transcripts from a college, university or trade school
- resume detailing experience
- verification of qualifying experience from three licensed mechanical administrators
- proof of passing the exam
If you have passed an equivalent exam in another state, you may qualify to get your license without taking Alaska’s exam. Check with the Division for details.
Mechanical administrator contractor’s license fees: It will cost $50 nonrefundable to apply and $250 for the license. The exam will cost $125.
Recommended Reading for the Mechanical Administrator Exams
The following book is the reference for the state-specific portion of the examination and is allowed in all exams. Check with Prometric for more exam reference recommendations. Alaska Mechanical Administrators Statutes and Regulations, Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, P.O. Box 110806, Juneau, AK 99811-0806, www.commerce.state.ak.us/occ. |
Department of Transportation (DOT)
All firms bidding on Alaska DOT projects must be registered. Bidders must submit a registration form. Contact:
Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities P.O. Box 112500 Anchorage, AK 99811-2500 (907) 465-6990 http://www.dot.state.ak.us/ |
The form is available online at http://dot.alaska.gov/procurement/index.shtml.
Out-of-State Corporations
Out-of-state corporations must get a Certificate of Authority to do business in Alaska from the Alaska Secretary of State. To apply for this certificate, contact:
Corporations , Business and Professional Licensing Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development PO Box 110806 Juneau, AK 99811-0806 (907) 465-2550 Fax: (907) 465-2974 http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/occ/home_corporations.htm |
The application is available online at http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/occ/cforms.htm.
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