Trade License Fees by State: What They Add Up To
State fees are the smallest part of getting licensed, but they are the part a state actually publishes. This guide collects every fee the sources on this site print. Training costs, tools and insurance premiums are not included.
Every fee printed
| State and trade | Level | Fees printed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts electrician | Journeyman Electrician | Application $31; License $104; Exam (PSI) $135 | $270 |
| Massachusetts electrician | Master Electrician | Application $66; License $155; Exam (PSI) $135 | $356 |
| Massachusetts HVAC | Refrigeration Technician | Application $75 | $75 |
| Massachusetts general contractor | Restricted Construction Supervisor (one- and two-family) | Application $23; Exam $75 | $98 |
| Massachusetts general contractor | Unrestricted Construction Supervisor | Application $23; Exam $75 | $98 |
| Maine electrician | Journeyman Electrician | License (two years) $150; SBI background report $21 | $171 |
| Maine electrician | Master Electrician | License (two years) $150; SBI background report $21 | $171 |
| Vermont electrician | Journeyman Electrician | License (three years) $115 | $115 |
| Vermont electrician | Master Electrician | License (three years) $150 | $150 |
| Vermont plumber | Journeyman Plumber | License (two years) $90 | $90 |
| Vermont plumber | Master Plumber | License (two years) $120 | $120 |
| Rhode Island electrician | Journeyperson Electrician (Certificate B) | License $72 | $72 |
| Rhode Island electrician | Electrical Contractor (Certificate A) | License $240 | $240 |
| Rhode Island plumber | Journeyperson Plumber | Application $75 | $75 |
| Rhode Island plumber | Master Plumber | Application $75 | $75 |
| Rhode Island general contractor | Contractor registration | Registration $150 | $150 |
| California electrician | C-10 Electrical Contractor (CSLB) | Application $450; Initial license (sole owner) $200 | $650 |
| California plumber | C-36 Plumbing Contractor | Application $450; Initial license (sole owner) $200 | $650 |
| California HVAC | C-20 Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning Contractor | Application $450; Initial license (sole owner) $200 | $650 |
| California general contractor | B-2 Residential Remodeling Contractor | Application $450; Initial license (sole owner) $200 | $650 |
| California general contractor | B General Building Contractor | Application $450; Initial license (sole owner) $200 | $650 |
| Texas electrician | Journeyman Electrician | Application $30 | $30 |
| Texas electrician | Master Electrician | Application $45 | $45 |
| Texas plumber | Journeyman Plumber | Application $40; Exam $40; Initial license $40 | $120 |
| Texas plumber | Master Plumber | Exam processing $25; Exam (Pearson VUE) $128.50; Initial license $75 | $228.50 |
| Texas HVAC | ACR Contractor, Class B | Application $115 | $115 |
| Texas HVAC | ACR Contractor, Class A | Application $115 | $115 |
| Pennsylvania general contractor | Home Improvement Contractor registration | Registration (two years) $100 | $100 |
| Ohio electrician | Electrical Contractor (commercial) | Application $25; License $25 | $50 |
| Ohio plumber | Plumbing Contractor (commercial) | Application $25; License $25 | $50 |
| Ohio HVAC | HVAC Contractor (commercial) | Application $25; License $25 | $50 |
| Georgia electrician | Electrical Contractor Class I (Restricted) | Exam application $40 | $40 |
| Georgia electrician | Electrical Contractor Class II (Non-restricted) | Exam application $40 | $40 |
| Georgia plumber | Journeyman Plumber | Initial application $40 | $40 |
| Georgia plumber | Master Plumber Class I (Restricted) | Initial application $40 | $40 |
| Georgia plumber | Master Plumber Class II (Non-restricted) | Initial application $40 | $40 |
Worked examples
Massachusetts journeyman electrician: application $31 + license $104 + PSI exam $135 = $270. Moving up to master adds $356. Massachusetts electrician.
Texas master plumber: exam processing $25, Pearson VUE exam $128.50 and initial license $75: $228.50. Texas plumber.
California C-36 plumbing contractor: application $450 and initial license $200 for a sole owner, $650 in all, before the $25,000 contractor bond. California plumber.
Recurring costs
Licenses renew. Vermont electrical licenses run three years (journeyman $115), Vermont plumbing licenses two years, Maine electrical licenses two years at $150, and Pennsylvania's home improvement registration $100 every two years. Many renewals also require continuing education, covered on each state page.
Bonds and insurance
Some states set a dollar floor on insurance or a bond rather than a high fee: California's contractor bond, Ohio's and Rhode Island's liability insurance minimums, and Texas' per-class HVAC insurance. These are listed on the HVAC hub and each state page.
Sources
The state pages linked in the table, each with its board page or statute and the date read (2026-10-20).
Questions
Why are some states missing from the fee table?
Their board page or statute section did not print dollar amounts. This site lists only fees it read on an official source, so those states show 'not printed' rather than a figure from another site.
Do these totals include school or apprenticeship costs?
No. They are state fees only: application, exam and license where printed.