LicensebyState

Colorado to Hawaii: general contractor license reciprocity

No credit· Start overVerified September 17, 2026· 15 sources

Colorado does not issue a statewide general contractor license, so there is nothing to transfer. Here is Hawaii's standard path for out-of-state applicants.

Your origin state does not issue a statewide license at this level, so there is no license to transfer. The destination's standard out-of-state path is shown; expect to meet it in full.

Reference only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the licensing board before you apply. Full disclaimer.

Out-of-state experience credited toward the four years, full Hawaii examination (every state)

Your out-of-state credentials give no advantage. You meet the destination's requirements from scratch.

Hawaii runs no reciprocity at any level. The Board's FAQ says so in one line: Hawaii has no reciprocity agreements with other states, and all applicants must meet the same licensing and examination requirements. Its form list carries no verification-of-licensure form and no examination waiver, its rules contain no provision recognizing another state's license, and Hawaii is not one of the states that accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination. An arriving contractor therefore files as a new applicant, but does not start from zero: the four years of supervisory experience within the past ten years may be served under another state's license, the Board asks for proof of that licensure, and an out-of-state contractor who held a license in that state is among the people who may sign the notarized experience certificates. At least three certificates are required, one for each classification sought, together with a Chronological History of Projects that sets out each job, what was built in-house and what was subcontracted, the contract amount and the real on-site supervision time. Once the Board approves the application at a monthly meeting, the qualifying person has six months to pass both examination parts at seventy-five percent each.

Nevada's endorsement charts map the Hawaii B General Building Contractor license onto the Nevada B and B-2 classifications for experience purposes, but Hawaii publishes nothing in the other direction and names no state, so no pairwise agreement is authored here. A Class B applicant who also wants a specialty classification files a separate project list and sits a separate part II examination for each one, though the ten subclassifications that come free with Class B need neither. HAR 16-77-35(b) also allows the Board to ask a Class C licensee who is applying for a Class A or Class B license for a current financial statement and supporting documents. A licensee already holding a Hawaii license in a classification may be excused the examination only where it qualified by written examination within the previous four years and is applying in that same classification.

At a glance

Trade exam
Required
Law / code exam
Required
Out-of-state hours
Count toward eligibility

What you must already have

  • Four full years of supervisory experience within the ten years immediately before the application, in the classification applied for, at the level of journeyman, foreman, supervisor or contractor, counting only time actually spent on site supervising and directing employees.HRS 444-11(a)(2) lets the Board accept experience acquired on a self-employed or unlicensed basis where it can be verified. Technical training may be approved as acceptable experience but never counts for more than one year. Design time, ordering materials and scheduling around rain-outs or deliveries do not count.
  • Supervisory years worked under another state's contractor license count toward the four years. The Board asks an applicant with licensed experience elsewhere to provide proof of licensure, and an out-of-state contractor who held a license in that state may sign an experience certificate. The proof of licensure does not replace the certificates or the project list.
  • You must have no disciplinary action or unresolved complaints on your record.
  • The qualifying person must be at least eighteen and, unless applying as a sole proprietor, must be employed by the licensed contracting entity as its Responsible Managing Employee. The principal RME must be in residence in Hawaii while the entity's license is in effect or a project is under construction, and a licensee must keep a physical place of business in the State; a post office box is not accepted.

What you'll do to get licensed in Hawaii

  1. 1Law / code exam. Pass a law, rules, or code exam. Part I of the contractor examination: the building, safety, health, labor and lien laws of Hawaii and the basic administrative principles of the contracting business. Seventy-five percent is needed to pass. It is never waived for an out-of-state applicant. The Board strongly recommends obtaining a copy of the contractor licensing law and rules before sitting it..
  2. 2Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Part II of the contractor examination: trade knowledge in the classification requested, here Class B general building. Seventy-five percent is needed to pass. The applicant registers with the testing agency only after the Board approves the application and issues an examination approval letter, and must pass both parts within six months or file a new application and fee. A failed part may be retaken for a further fee inside that six-month window..
  3. 3Application fee. Pay the application fee ($50). $50 nonrefundable application fee for each application filed, payable to Commerce and Consumer Affairs. More than one classification may be requested on a single application, but a contracting entity and its Responsible Managing Employee file separate applications and pay the fee separately, so an inbound company and its qualifying person pay $50 each. A further $10 contractors education fund fee accompanies every application, and a dishonored payment carries a $25 service charge..
  4. 4Exam fee. Pay the exam fee. Examination fees are paid directly to the testing agency when the approved applicant registers, and are charged for each part taken. The Board's published FAQ lists $75 per part, with most classifications taking both parts, but that document dates from before the examinations moved to PSI Services LLC, so confirm the current amount with PSI on (833) 333-4754 before registering. An interpreter, if the Board approves one, adds $100 to the examination fee..
  5. 5License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee. The Board assesses the license fee after the application is approved and the examinations are passed, telling the applicant the exact amount at that point. Its published FAQ gives $663 for a contracting entity or sole proprietor licensed in the first year of the two-year cycle and $494 in the second, and $438 or $334 on the same split for a Responsible Managing Employee, so budget for both. Licenses run to September 30 of the next even-numbered year whatever date they were issued. On-time renewal currently costs $338 for an entity or sole proprietor, $208 for an RME and $160 for an inactive license, plus $5 education fund and $10 recovery fund fees..
  6. 6Financial responsibility. Show financial responsibility. A current financial statement, dated within one year, that is compiled, reviewed or audited and accompanied by an independent accountant's report from a CPA or public accountant holding a current permit to practice; an accountant licensed in another state attaches a copy of that license. For compiled and reviewed statements the applicant also signs the Board's own Financial Statement form CT-02 whether or not the accountant used it. The Board publishes no minimum net worth or working capital figure: it weighs the statement together with the credit reports and the tax clearance to decide whether the applicant has financial integrity, and whether to impose a bond. RMEs do not file a financial statement; the entity or sole proprietor does..
  7. 7Surety bond. Post a surety bond (if applicable). A surety bond is not automatic in Hawaii. The Board may require one as proof of financial integrity, and sets the amount case by case; the bond form leaves the penal sum blank. Where one is imposed, it runs to the State of Hawaii on form CT-09, is conditioned on compliance with HRS chapter 444 and on paying employees' wages, is continuous, and can be canceled by the surety only on thirty days' written notice. Both the applicant and the surety notarize it. After a licensee has maintained the bond for at least a year it may ask the Board to waive it on proof of financial integrity, supported by current credit reports, financial statements and a tax clearance..
  8. 8Insurance. Carry the required insurance. A certificate of comprehensive liability and property damage insurance with minimum limits of $100,000 bodily injury each person, $300,000 bodily injury each occurrence and $50,000 property damage each occurrence, plus a workers' compensation certificate from a carrier authorized in Hawaii or proof of self-insurance or exclusion. An out-of-state contractor may use a non-admitted carrier where the producer qualifies for an exemption under HRS 431:9A-104(b)(6). Coverage must be continuous for the life of the license: a lapse forfeits both the entity and the RME license automatically, and if it is not restored within sixty days both must apply as new applicants. Certificates are filed fastest through the Board's online insurance submittal system..
  9. 9Business license. Obtain a business license. The contracting entity must be registered with the DCCA Business Registration Division before it can be licensed: a Hawaii corporation or LLC files a stamped copy of its articles, a foreign corporation its certificate of authority and a partnership its registration statement, and an entity registered for more than a year attaches a Certificate of Good Standing issued within the past year. Any trade name must be separately registered and a filed-stamped copy supplied. A current Hawaii tax clearance, issued within six months, is filed with the application and again at every renewal, and the name on it must match the license name exactly..
  10. 10Background check. Complete a background check. A current and complete credit report for each officer, partner, manager or member, issued not more than six months earlier and covering at least the previous five years, showing each current and past debt, its status and any public records; a summary or a bare credit score is not accepted. Where a partner or member is itself a business, the credit reports of its officers or a comprehensive business credit report are filed instead. The RME files a credit report with the RME application as well..
  11. 11Continuing education. Complete continuing education (if applicable). Hawaii imposes no continuing education requirement on contractors. Renewal by September 30 of each even-numbered year instead turns on continued financial integrity: a current tax clearance or payment arrangement, a statement about any liens, undisputed debts or judgments, proof that workers' compensation and liability coverage have been maintained without a break, and proof that any bond the Board imposed is current..
  12. 12Other. The application, fee and every supporting document must reach the Board's Honolulu office on or before the first Tuesday of the month before the meeting at which it will be considered; the Board meets monthly except in December, and faxed or emailed copies are not accepted. An application is abandoned if licensure is not completed within a year of filing or the examinations are not passed after eligibility, and the Board keeps a denied application for two years. A Social Security number must be given or the application is treated as deficient..

Published fees on this path total $50, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.

What you'll need to buy or arrange

Exam preparation

Most boards contract PSI, Prov, or ICC for exams. Check which code edition the exam is written to before buying a prep course.

  • Law / code exam
  • Trade exam
  • Exam fee

Surety bond

A license or contractor bond is bought from a surety, not the state. Price is a small percentage of the bond amount and depends on your credit.

  • Surety bond · if applicable

Liability insurance

Some states require proof of general liability or workers' compensation coverage at licensing time.

  • Insurance

Business registration

If you plan to contract in your own name, budget for a business license or entity registration on top of the trade license.

  • Business license

Continuing education

Renewals usually need approved CE hours, often on the latest NEC. Reciprocal licensees are rarely exempt.

  • Continuing education · if applicable

How Hawaii licenses general contractors

Hawaii general contractor · “Class B General Building Contractor”

Statewide license

Verified September 17, 2026· 8 sources

Issued by Hawaii Contractors License Board (DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division)

Hawaii's building tier is the Class B general building contractor license issued by the Contractors License Board at the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. HRS 444-7 splits the contracting business into just three branches, Class A general engineering for fixed works such as highways, bridges, harbors, dams and utility plants, Class B general building for structures, and Class C specialty for the individual trades, and there is no residential class anywhere in Hawaii law, so Class B is the license for houses and for commercial buildings alike. A Class B license covers any contract requiring more than two unrelated building trades, and it automatically carries ten Class C subclassifications, among them carpentry framing, carpentry remodeling, drywall, scaffolding, cement concrete and roofing shingles, without a further examination or fee. It does not cover a job that needs only one or two unrelated trades unless the holder also carries the matching specialty license, and electrical and plumbing work always needs the C-13 or C-37 classification plus an individually licensed electrician or plumber. The license is held by the business and qualified by a person: a corporation, partnership, joint venture, LLC or LLP must employ a licensed Responsible Managing Employee, who is the one with the four years of supervisory experience and the passed examinations, and who must live in Hawaii while the license is in force. A contractor trading in their own name is licensed as a sole proprietor instead.

Moving to HawaiiLeaving Hawaii

Why Colorado has nothing to transfer

Colorado general contractor · “General / Building contractor license (Class A or B in most jurisdictions)”

Licensed by cities and counties

Verified September 17, 2026· 18 sources

Colorado has no statewide general or commercial building contractor license. DORA licenses electricians and plumbers through its Division of Professions and Occupations but states on its own consumer page that general contractors are not licensed at the state level and that you should check with the city; the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department says the same thing in its exam notice. Unlimited and commercial building work is therefore licensed by each city, county or regional building department, typically as a Class A (unlimited) and Class B (limited commercial or under a height or storey cap) pair: Denver issues General Contractor Class A and Building Contractor Class B, Colorado Springs issues Building Contractor A-1, A-2, B-1 and B-2, Fort Collins issues Classes A, B, C1 and C2, and Aurora issues a single Commercial Building Contractor license. The license is held by the business and qualified by an individual who holds the supervisor certificate and has passed the relevant exam, so the person moving states applies for the certificate and the company applies for the license. The common thread is the ICC National Standard General Building Contractor (A) and Building Contractor (B) examinations, which nearly every Colorado jurisdiction requires, and a license must be obtained separately in each jurisdiction where the contractor will pull permits.

How local licensing works in Colorado

How local licensing works. Each Colorado jurisdiction licenses building contractors under its own ordinance and building code, and there is no state board above them. Class letters and size thresholds differ from place to place, so a Class B in Fort Collins is not a Class B in Colorado Springs. What is consistent is the exam: most jurisdictions require an ICC National Standard contractor examination, open book and multiple choice through Pearson VUE, and the Pikes Peak notice explains why that matters - "with successful passage of an ICC contractor exam, contractors can be secure in the knowledge that their results may be honored by many jurisdictions in Colorado and throughout the United States. However, each jurisdiction has the right to determine if this exam is acceptable." The same exam appears as W11, F11 or G11 for the unlimited (A) tier and W12, F12 or G12 for the limited (B) tier, depending on which code edition the jurisdiction has adopted, and departments generally require results from the current or a recent code year. The notice also warns that "passing an ICC contractor exam is NOT a license to practice and does not guarantee licensing in any jurisdiction."

Denver. The individual first earns a supervisor certificate. Class A covers "to erect, add to, alter, demolish, or repair any building or structure" and needs seven years of notarized commercial experience including ground-up high-rise work over 75 feet plus ICC exam #F11. Class B covers any building classified as less than a high rise and needs four years of notarized commercial experience on ground-up builds of 55 to 75 feet plus ICC exam #F12; Class B-2 caps the highest floor level or occupiable roof at 30 feet, with four years of experience including ground-up projects up to 40 feet, also on ICC #F12. Certificates cost $60 and renew every three years. The company then buys the General Contractor Class A or Building Contractor Class B license at $250 for three years. Denver states it "does not accept or reciprocate contractor licenses and/or certificates from other counties or states."

Colorado Springs, El Paso County and nearby towns (Pikes Peak Regional Building Department). Building Contractor A-1 covers "the construction, alteration and repair of any type or size of structure permitted by the Regional Building Code"; A-2 is the same except Group A, E and I occupancies over 30,000 square feet and any building requiring Type I construction; B-1 covers all occupancies except Groups A, E, I and H and Type I construction; B-2 covers nonstructural remodeling plus Group B, F, M or S buildings up to one storey and 7,500 square feet and Group R buildings up to 16 units and two storeys. License fees are $200 for A-1 and A-2, $175 for B-1 and B-2, on top of a $50 non-refundable application fee, and each of these classes requires an exam. Applicants supply three reference forms documenting experience, copies of all licenses held inside or outside Colorado, liability insurance naming PPRBD, workers' compensation, a Colorado certificate of good standing and a name-based judicial record check. Files close three weeks before the monthly Licensing Committee meeting, the Board of Review approves the following week, and the license must be claimed within 60 days. PPRBD accepts ICC National Standardized or ICC Colorado Standard exams passed on or after January 1, 2016 and states that "no out-of-state exams will be accepted."

Aurora. A single Commercial Building Contractor license "Requires ICC General Building Contractor 'A' OR 'B' Certification"; the supervisor license fee is $131 and the license fee is $392, plus registration and three job references. Limited Building Commercial and Demolition contractors register with three years of documented experience instead.

Fort Collins. Class A and A(DR) cover any building or structure; Class B and B(DR) cover new builds up to and including five storeys; Class C1 and C2 cover new builds up to three storeys and multi-family housing projects; E(C) covers nonstructural commercial alterations. Classes A and B require ICC exam G11 over the 2018 IBC plus the concrete manual, and Classes C1, C2 and E(C) require ICC exam G12, with G11 also accepted in place of G12. Every general contractor class also needs three project verifications with permits and final inspection records signed by someone unconnected to the applicant, and general liability of $1,000,000 per person with $2,000,000 per accident, property damage and aggregate. A new license with supervisor certificate is $300 for a two-year term including a $75 non-refundable application fee; renewals are $225. The city adopted the 2024 ICC codes with amendments in December 2025 and requires exam results from a current code year.

Boulder. Class A covers "the construction, alteration, wrecking, or repair of any type or size of building or structure permitted in the City of Boulder" and requires the ICC A Contractors certificate; Class B covers commercial and residential buildings of construction types V, IV, III-B and II-B and requires the ICC B certificate. New Class A and Class B applicants must also document education, training or years of experience in non-residential construction. Boulder states that it "does not accept reciprocal licenses from other jurisdictions," and its license covers work inside city limits only.

Jefferson County. Class A (labeled 2018 G11) covers "the construction, alteration, tenant finish or repair of any type of structure permitted by the Building Code" and Class B (2018 G12) covers commercial buildings and single- or multi-dwelling buildings up to three storeys. The county accepts "proof that you have passed an appropriate ICC exam within the last 3 years or ... a copy of a valid license issued from an ICC participating jurisdiction." The fee is $50 and licenses renew annually.

Arapahoe County. Building Contractor Class A (commercial) and Class B (commercial/residential) each cost $360 and require the matching ICC certification "or equivalent" certification by a recognized state or national certification entity; Class D specialty is $84. Insurance must carry a $2,000,000 general aggregate and $1,000,000 each occurrence, with the county as an additional holder.

Lakewood. Class A-1 Unlimited Commercial is "only issued to contractors with experience in building high-rise construction"; A-2 Limited Commercial is limited to two-storey commercial or four-storey R occupancies; A-4 covers commercial and residential remodeling not exceeding 30 percent of the original structure. A-1 and A-2 applicants attach any ICC certifications they or their employees hold. Fees are $150 for the first probationary year and $400 for each subsequent three-year renewal.

Douglas County. Unincorporated Douglas County registers general contractors rather than licensing them and states that it "has no testing requirements." Registration needs the application, workers' compensation proof or an exemption statement and business liability insurance naming the Building Division; fees are currently waived.

Out-of-state holders. None of the jurisdictions reviewed will convert another state's general contractor license into a Colorado one. Denver and Boulder rule it out in writing, and PPRBD will not accept exam results earned out of state. What does carry across is the ICC National Standard contractor certification: pass the (A) or (B) exam on a code edition the jurisdiction currently accepts and it will usually satisfy the testing requirement in Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Fort Collins, Boulder, Jefferson County and Arapahoe County, though each department still verifies experience, references or project history separately and charges its own fee. Jefferson County goes further and accepts a current license from another ICC participating jurisdiction in place of the exam. Check the required class, exam code year and fee with each building department before applying, and expect to hold a license in every jurisdiction where you pull permits.

Moving to ColoradoLeaving Colorado

Common questions

Do I have to take the Hawaii general contractor exam if I'm licensed in Colorado?
Yes. Hawaii requires the trade exam on this path, plus a law or code exam.
What does it cost to get a Hawaii general contractor license from Colorado?
Published fees on this path total $50, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
Do my Colorado work hours count in Hawaii?
Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Hawaii's eligibility requirements.
Does it work the other way, from Hawaii to Colorado?
Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Hawaii to Colorado, the mechanism is not applicable.

Sources

  1. Contractors License Board Application Forms and Publications - DCCA Hawaii · Hawaii DCCA, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division · Agency Page · verified September 17, 2026
  2. Contractors License Board - Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs · Hawaii DCCA, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division · Agency Page · verified September 17, 2026
  3. Bond Form - Contractors License (form CT-09, rev. 09/2013) · Hawaii DCCA, Contractors License Board · Form · verified September 17, 2026
  4. Description of Contractor License Classifications - Hawaii Contractors License Board · Hawaii DCCA, Contractors License Board · Other · verified September 17, 2026
  5. Contractors License Board Examination - Application Deadline and Examination Dates · Hawaii DCCA, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division · Agency Page · verified September 17, 2026
  6. Contractor Frequently Asked Questions - Hawaii Contractors License Board · Hawaii DCCA, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division · Faq · verified September 17, 2026
  7. Contractors Financial Statement (prescribed form CT-02, rev. 11/2017) · Hawaii DCCA, Contractors License Board · Form · verified September 17, 2026
  8. Requirements for License - Contractor, Entity (Form CT-00, rev. 10/2025) · Hawaii DCCA, Contractors License Board · Form · verified September 17, 2026
  9. Requirements for License - Contractor, Responsible Managing Employee (Form CT-00(A), rev. 10/2025) · Hawaii DCCA, Contractors License Board · Form · verified September 17, 2026
  10. Requirements for License - Contractor, Sole Proprietor (rev. 10/2025) · Hawaii DCCA, Contractors License Board · Form · verified September 17, 2026
  11. Hawaii Administrative Rules Title 16, Chapter 77 - Contractors · HAR 16-77-6, 16-77-8, 16-77-11, 16-77-12, 16-77-28, 16-77-32, 16-77-33, 16-77-35, 16-77-39 to 16-77-46, 16-77-54, 16-77-55, 16-77-71, 16-77-76, 16-77-89 · Hawaii DCCA, Contractors License Board · Admin Rule · verified September 17, 2026
  12. HRS 444-11 - No license issued when (contractor qualifications) · HRS 444-11 · Hawaii State Legislature · Statute · verified September 17, 2026
  13. HRS 444-7 - Classification (contractors) · HRS 444-7 · Hawaii State Legislature · Statute · verified September 17, 2026
  14. HRS 444-9 - Licenses required (contractors) · HRS 444-9 · Hawaii State Legislature · Statute · verified September 17, 2026
  15. NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors · National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies · Other · verified September 17, 2026

Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.

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