Moving to Connecticut as a residential contractor: every state's rule

Connecticut does not license residential contractors for competency. The Department of Consumer Protection registers them under two consumer-protection statutes, and that registration is the only credential a remodeler or homebuilder needs. A Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration under the Home Improvement Act (CGS chapter 400) covers permanent work on residential property where the contract price exceeds $200 - driveways, pools, porches, garages, roofs, siding, insulation, flooring, patios, landscaping, painting, fences, doors, windows, waterproofing and alarm systems not requiring electrical work. A New Home Construction Contractor (NHC) registration under CGS chapter 399a covers contracting to build or sell a new single-family house, two-family dwelling or condominium unit before occupancy, including speculative housing and modular homes. Neither one involves an examination, an apprenticeship, an experience requirement, an education requirement, a financial statement, a surety bond or a named qualifying party: the statutes and DCP's application pages ask only for identity, a felony-conviction disclosure, general liability insurance of at least $20,000 and the fee. Connecticut says so itself. A home improvement contractor may not 'represent in any manner that such person's registration constitutes an endorsement of the quality of such person's workmanship or of such person's competency by the commissioner' (CGS 20-427(b)(6)), and a new home construction contractor must hand every buyer a written notice disclosing the same thing before signing (CGS 20-417d). The registration can be person-held or entity-held and you choose before you apply: registering as an individual does not cover an LLC you contract through, and a registered business entity must separately designate the registered individual or individuals who will direct or supervise its home improvement work. A contractor who does both kinds of work registers as an NHC first and adds the home improvement designation to that registration for $100 rather than buying a second registration. Licensed tradespeople are carved out - an electrician, plumber, HVAC contractor, elevator mechanic or sprinkler fitter licensed under CGS chapter 393 needs no home improvement or new home registration for the work that license covers.