To work in Commonwealth of Kentucky general contractors are regulated at the city and county level.

Electrical

To operate an electrical business in Kentucky requires a license.

Electrical Contractor License

In order to contract with the public and pull permits the person involved must be licensed as an electrical contractor. The electrical contractor must employ at least one master electrician. An electrician running a one-person electrical business must obtain both an electrical contractor and a master electrician license.

The qualification for the electrical contracting license:

• Two (2) years experience as an electrical contractor in the state of Kentucky (Documented proof).
• General liability insurance - proof of $500,000
• Worker's Compensation insurance (Documented proof)
• Completed application form
• $200 application fee
• Passport sized photo
• Successfully writing of the International Code Council exam

Master Electrician

Every electrical contractor performing work for the public must employ at least one master electrician. The master electrician either performs or oversees the electrical work on the project. The qualification for the master electrical license

• Six (6) years verifiable experience as an electrician in the state of Kentucky
• Completed application form
• $100 application fee
• Passport sized photo
• Successfully writing of the International Code Council exam

Electrician

All electrical work on any project in Kentucky must be performed by, or under the supervision of, either a licensed electrician or master electrician. Unsupervised work requires that an electrical worker to have an electrician license. To qualify for the license you need:

• Four years (4) verifiable experience as an electrician in the state of Kentucky
• Completed application form
• $50 application fee
• Passport sized photo
• Pass the required International Code Council exam

Plumber Contractor License

A plumbing business in the state of Kentucky must have an employee with a master plumber license.

Journeyman Plumber

To install plumbing requires a journeyman license. A journeyman plumber applicant must have two (2) years of documented experience as an apprentice. This experience will be under the supervision of a licensed plumber.

Master Plumber

The master plumber is the person who assumes responsibility for the supervision or direction of journeyman plumbers, plumber's apprentices and all other persons working in the construction, installation, or alteration of plumbing. A master plumber applicant must have possessed a valid journeyman license for two years before taking the exam.

HVAC Contractor License

To do HVAC work in the state of Kentucky requires a license from the Division of Fire Protection at the Department of Housing, Buildings, & Construction

The Division of Fire Protection issues master, journeyman, limited journeyman duct and limited journeyman installer licenses.

Master’s License

• Pass a technical exam including a business and law portion
• Two years mechanical experience
• Proof of insurance showing:
• General liability insurance of $800,000 minimum.
• General aggregate ($500,000 for general liability and $300,000 for property damage).

Journeyman and Limited Journeyman

• Two (2) years experience
• Pass an exam
• Work under the supervision of a master contractor.

The Division also registers apprentices. Upon registration, apprentices can start receiving credit for experience gained under the supervision of a master contractor.

Consumers are advised to check for additional local municipal contractor license requirements as contractor laws tend to be amended. It is also advised to double check with the state’s requirements before hiring a contractor.