North Carolina to Washington: residential contractor license reciprocity

1. 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($150.20). Contractor registration issuance fee (WAC 296-200A-900(1)). The registration is valid for two years from issuance and renews for the same $150.20; reinstatement after a suspension costs $70.90 and a duplicate registration certificate costs $16.50. Pay by check or money order if applying by mail, or by cash, check, money order or credit or debit card in person at a local L&I office..
2. 2Surety bond. Post a surety bond ($30,000). Continuous Contractor's Surety Bond (F625-003-000) naming the State of Washington as obligee, issued by a surety insurer authorized under chapter 48.28 RCW: $30,000 for a general contractor registration, or $15,000 if you register in a single specialty trade. The original signed and sealed bond must be filed with L&I, or the surety may file it through L&I's electronic bond and insurance policy system. An assigned savings account, certificate of deposit, time deposit or money market account at a bank, savings and loan or credit union with a Washington branch (form F625-008-000) may be posted instead. The amount steps up for a contractor with final judgments involving a residential single-family dwelling in the previous five years: for a general registration $40,000 after one judgment, $60,000 after two and $90,000 after three or more (specialty registrations $20,000, $30,000 and $45,000). Cancellation of the bond automatically suspends the registration..
3. 3Insurance. Carry the required insurance ($250,000). General liability insurance of $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, or a $250,000 combined single limit policy, written in the exact business name with L&I named as certificate holder. The original certificate must reach L&I by mail, through the designated insurance agent portal or in person at a service location; L&I does not accept certificates by email or fax. An assigned account in the statutory amounts may be filed instead as proof of financial responsibility (RCW 18.27.050(3)). Cancellation or expiry of the policy automatically suspends the registration..
4. 4Business license. Obtain a business license. A Washington Business License Application filed with the Department of Revenue Business Licensing Service, producing the nine-digit Uniform Business Identifier (UBI) that goes on the contractor registration application; the UBI must stay active and valid for as long as the registration is held. A corporation, limited partnership, LLP or LLC, including one formed in another state, files with the Secretary of State first. L&I will not process the registration until it confirms that the business license application has been filed and an excise tax account is open. The Department of Revenue's application fee varies with the endorsements the business needs and is not published as a single figure; see dor.wa.gov for the current processing fee..
5. 5Other. Notarized Application for Construction Contractor Registration (F625-001-000), with an individually notarized affidavit of signature from each owner, member, partner and corporate officer. Signatures must be original, so L&I cannot accept a copy or an emailed application; it is filed in person at a local L&I office or mailed to Contractor Registration, PO Box 44450, Olympia WA 98504-4450 together with the bond, the insurance certificate and the fee..
6. 6Other. Workers' compensation coverage and an employment security department number if the business will have employees, opened through the Department of Revenue; a business with no Washington employees may substitute its UBI account number. An applicant domiciled in a state or Canadian province with an extraterritorial coverage agreement may instead file that jurisdiction's certificate of workers' compensation coverage (RCW 18.27.030(1)(c)(iii)). An employer identification number is needed from the IRS unless the applicant is a sole proprietor with no employees..
7. 7Other. Model Disclosure Statement, Notice to Customer (F625-030-000), which the contractor must give the customer on every residential job of $1,000 or more and on commercial projects of $1,000 to $60,000. The registration number must also appear on all business communications, including business cards, advertising, estimates and bid proposals..
8. 8Other. Separate trade licensing where the work calls for it. Contractor registration does not authorize plumbing, electrical, elevator, boiler, asbestos or mobile home installation work; each of those carries its own education, examination and licensing requirements under its own chapter, and electrical work is licensed under chapter 19.28 RCW rather than as a registration specialty. Lead-based paint work in pre-1978 housing is administered by the Washington State Department of Commerce and pesticide application by the Washington State Department of Agriculture. (if applicable).

Published fees on this path total $150.20, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.