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Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board · checked 2026-10-20
Rhode Island Contractor Registration Requirements
Every contractor and subcontractor in the business of building or repairing structures must register with the CRLB. Registrations are valid for one year. Rhode Island uses a contractor registration for general contractors, not a skills license.
- 1REG · Contractor registration registration
Registration in Rhode Island
Rhode Island has one registration on this path: the Contractor registration.
| Level | Experience | Classroom | Time from start | Exam | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REG Contractor registration | none stated | 5 h | registration | No | Registration $150 |
Contractor registration (REG)
Proof of a state-approved 5-hour pre-registration course (exempt for work only on commercial structures), a $500,000 general liability certificate naming the CRLB, and workers' compensation if there are employees. The application page mentions no exam. Source: RI CRLB, Contractor registration: apply.
Exam
The Rhode Island source lists no exam for this registration.
Fees, insurance and bond
- Contractor registration: registration $150.
The CRLB notes new residential contractor license types under R.I. Gen. Laws chapter 5-65.4, enacted July 2, 2025.
Insurance: General liability of at least $500,000 with the CRLB as certificate holder (R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-65-7); workers' compensation if there are employees.
Reciprocity
The Rhode Island sources read for this trade name no reciprocity agreement and no route for out-of-state licensees.
How Rhode Island compares
Rhode Island's source states no minimum time for the contractor registration, so it is not ranked against the other states on this site. The classroom requirement here peaks at 5 hours.
Same trade elsewhere: Connecticut · Massachusetts · California · Florida · Pennsylvania. All states side by side: General contractor license requirements by state.
Other trades in Rhode Island
- Electrician: Electrical Contractor (Certificate A): the source states no minimum time, plus an exam.
- Plumber: Master Plumber: 5 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
All covered trades on one page: Rhode Island trade licenses.
Background reading: From apprentice to master: how long each state takes · License or registration: what the state is checking.
Questions
Who issues the general contractor registration in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board. Every contractor and subcontractor in the business of building or repairing structures must register with the CRLB. Registrations are valid for one year.
How long does it take to qualify for the Contractor registration in Rhode Island?
The source read (RI CRLB, Contractor registration: apply) states no minimum time for the Contractor registration. Proof of a state-approved 5-hour pre-registration course (exempt for work only on commercial structures), a $500,000 general liability certificate naming the CRLB, and workers' compensation if there are employees. The application page mentions no exam.
Does Rhode Island have general contractor license reciprocity?
The Rhode Island sources read name no reciprocity agreement for this trade.
What are the Rhode Island general contractor license fees?
Contractor registration: registration $150.
Sources and last checked
| What | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing authority | Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board | 2026-10-20 |
| REG requirements | RI CRLB, Contractor registration: apply | 2026-10-20 |
| Law cited | R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-65-7; chapter 5-65.4 | 2026-10-20 |
This page summarises what the Rhode Island source said on 2026-10-20. It is general information, not legal advice; the board's own page and the statute are the authority and can change. Confirm with Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board before applying. The free official route is the board itself: its page, application forms and staff answer eligibility questions.