How to register as a contractor in Washington state
Washington requires every construction contractor to register with the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) before advertising, bidding, or working, and registration is paperwork rather than an exam. The two big line items are the surety bond, $30,000 for general contractors and $15,000 for specialty contractors since the July 1, 2024 increase (the first in 22 years), and proof of liability insurance. Electricians and plumbers hold separate L&I trade licenses that do involve exams and thousands of supervised hours.
Licensing authority
Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, Contractor Registration: https://lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/contractors/register-as-a-contractor/
When a license is required
There is no dollar threshold: anyone who advertises, offers, or performs construction work in Washington must be registered with L&I first, at any job size. The choice you make is general versus specialty registration, which sets your bond amount and what scopes you may take. Electrical and plumbing work require separate trade licenses on top.
License classes in Washington
General contractor registration
For contractors who take whole projects and subcontract multiple trades. Carries the $30,000 bond requirement and covers the widest scope.
Specialty contractor registration
For single-trade contractors like roofers, painters, and drywallers, with a $15,000 bond. Cheaper to carry, but limits you to your listed specialty.
Electrical and plumber trade licenses
Real exam-based licenses administered by L&I with journeyman and master-level tiers built on thousands of supervised hours. Registration alone never authorizes electrical or plumbing work.
What you need before you apply
- Register with L&I before advertising, bidding, or performing any construction work
- File a $30,000 surety bond for general registration, or $15,000 for specialty (amounts effective July 1, 2024)
- Provide a certificate of general liability insurance meeting L&I minimums
- Register the business with the Department of Revenue and hold a UBI number
- Carry workers compensation through L&I for employees
- No exam for registration itself; electrical and plumbing licenses have their own exams and hour requirements
- Display your registration number on ads, vehicles, and contracts
- Confirm current bond and insurance figures with L&I, since amounts changed in 2024 and can change again
How to get licensed in Washington
- Set up the business and UBI. Register the entity with Washington's Department of Revenue to get your UBI number, which the L&I application requires.
- Buy the bond. Purchase the $30,000 (general) or $15,000 (specialty) surety bond. You pay an annual premium that is a small fraction of the face amount, priced on your credit.
- Bind liability insurance. Get a general liability policy meeting L&I's minimums and have the insurer issue a certificate naming the state as needed for the filing.
- File the registration with L&I. Submit the application with bond, insurance certificate, UBI, and fee. Once processed, your registration number is active and publicly verifiable.
- Keep bond and insurance continuously live. A lapsed bond or policy suspends the registration automatically, and working suspended is treated like working unregistered. Calendar the renewals and verify current requirements with L&I each cycle.
Reciprocity with other states
Contractor registration does not reciprocate because there is no exam to waive: out-of-state contractors register with L&I like anyone else. For electricians, Washington has reciprocal agreements crediting hours from certain states, and plumber credentials get individual review, so trade contractors should ask L&I what their history is worth.
Working without a license
Working unregistered in Washington is a criminal offense, and L&I issues infraction citations with fines that escalate for repeats. The financial teeth are sharper: an unregistered contractor cannot file a construction lien or sue to collect payment in Washington, so every unpaid invoice is simply lost, and L&I publishes violators in a searchable database customers actually use.
Frequently asked questions
Does Washington have a contractor license exam?
Not for contractor registration, which is a bond, insurance, and paperwork process through L&I. Electricians and plumbers do face real exams and supervised-hour requirements for their separate trade licenses. Registration is fast; the trades are the long road.
How much is the Washington contractor bond?
$30,000 for general contractors and $15,000 for specialty contractors, amounts that took effect July 1, 2024 as the first increase in 22 years. You do not deposit that cash: a surety issues the bond for an annual premium, typically a small percentage based on your credit.
Can a handyman work in Washington without registering?
No. Washington's registration requirement has no dollar threshold, so even small paid repair jobs require an active L&I registration, and advertising without one is itself a violation. The specialty registration with its $15,000 bond is the right fit for most handyman businesses.
How fast can I get registered in Washington?
Often within days once the pieces exist: UBI number, bond, and insurance certificate are the sequence, and none requires an exam or experience review. Contractors starting from zero usually spend more time on insurance quotes than on the L&I filing itself.
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