To build, repair, or remodel one-to four-unit family dwellings in Rhode Island a contractor must register with the Contractors' Registration Board.

Electrician Contractor License

A contractor license is needed to do electrical or telecommunications work in Rhode Island. These specialties and required training or experience include:

• Electrical Master Contractor
  • Six (6) years plus journeyman license for two years
• Electrical Journeyperson
  • Four (4) years as a registered apprentice
• Limited Electrician
  • Supervised worker
• Oil Burner Master
  • Six (6) plus oil burner man license for two years
• Oil Burner Journeyman
  • Four (4plus oil burner man license for two years
• Fire Alarm Contractor
  • Six (6) plus fire alarm installer license for two years
• Master Fire Alarm Installer
  • Six (6) as a registered apprentice
• Journeyman fire alarm installer
  • Four (4) years as a registered apprentice
• Electrical sign contractor
  • Six (6) plus electrical sign installer license for two years
• Electrical sign installer
  • 8,000 hours as a registered apprentice
• Apprentice
  • No exam required
• Telecommunication System Contractor - TSC
  • RI Telecommunication System technician for three (3) years
• Telecommunication System Technician - TST
  • Verification of experience.
• Telecommunication Systems Limited Installer - TSLT
  • Verification of experience.

Mechanical Contractor License

The Rhode Island Division of Professional Regulation issues many types of mechanical licenses:

• Master Mechanical Contractor
• Contractor Master
• Master Refrigeration Contractor I
• Master Refrigeration Contractor II
• Master Pipefitter I
• Master Pipefitter II
• Master Sheet Metal Contractor I:
• Master Sheet Metal Contractor II:
• PJF/Natural Gas Service Master II:
• Journeyperson Refrigeration Contractor I
• Journeyperson Refrigeration Contractor II
• Journeyperson Pipefitter I
• Journeyperson Pipefitter II
• Journeyperson Sheet Metal I
• Journeyperson Sheet Metal II
• Fire Suppression (Limited)
• Welding (Limited)
• Gas Serviceman (Natural Gas, Limited)
• Gas Serviceman (Propane Gas, Limited)
• O/B Serviceman (Limited)
• Gas Station (Limited)
• Apprentice Pipefitter
• Apprentice Refrigeration
• Apprentice Combination
• PJF Apprentice
• Apprentice Sheet Metal
• Fire Protection Master
• Fire Protection Journeyman
• Fire Protection Apprentice

Plumber Contractor Licenses

Journeyman Plumber: Four (4) years of apprentice plumber experience and take an exam
Master Plumber: Five (5) years experience and hold a journeyman license for at least one (1) year.

• Contractor Master
• Master Plumber
• Journeyperson Plumber
• Apprentice Plumber
• Master Irrigator
• Journeyperson Irrigator
• Apprentice Irrigator

Asbestos Abatement Contractor License

The Department of Health issues asbestos contractor, asbestos abatement site supervisor, and asbestos abatement worker licenses.

Asbestos Contractor's License requirements:

• Employ a worker protection and medical monitoring plan approved by EPA, OSHA, and/or Code of Federal Regulations
• Familiarity and compliance with all applicable state and federal standards for asbestos abatement projects
• Company standard operating training for all employees before starting a job
• Comply with all state, EPA, OSHA, and Code of Federal Regulation rules
• Provide a list of personnel who have completed Department-approved CPR and basic first aid training
• Provide a list of all personnel (to include at least one licensed site supervisor) and asbestos equipment
• Provide list of states the company is licensed in for asbestos work
• Provide list of any citations or fines received in last two years for asbestos work
• Provide proof that all employees have been licensed by the Department

Asbestos Site Supervisor License

• Applicant must be licensed together with an asbestos contractor and take a 40-hour site supervisor training course to apply for a license.

Consumers are advised to check for additional local municipal contractor license requirements as contractor laws can differ from county to county. It is also advised to double check with the state’s requirements before hiring a contractor.