Trade Contractor License Practice Tests by State
Contractor licensure is what lets you sell and run the work, not just perform it. The contractor exams tracked by CraftPATH are listed below by state and trade, each with its licensing authority.
14 contractor exams tracked · 14 published guides · free, no signup.
What a contractor exam covers
Most contractor licenses are two exams wearing one name: a trade section that looks a lot like an advanced journeyman test, and a law, business, and finance section covering contracts, liens, payroll, insurance, safety obligations, and estimating. Candidates who fail usually fail the second one, because it is the part that no amount of field experience teaches you.
Requirements vary sharply by jurisdiction — some states license by classification (electrical, mechanical, plumbing, general building), others by dollar value of the work, and several delegate everything to a city or county. Start with your own state below.
Contractor exams by location
Grouped by the jurisdiction that issues the license. Published guides link straight to the practice test; exams still in production link to the trade prep page, which draws from the same question bank.
Arizona
- Arizona Electrical Contractor Practice Test
Electrician · Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC)
12 original questions with full answer explanations, six exam domains covering ROC statutes and rules, load calculations, desert ampacity correction, grounding, solar, and HVAC circuits.
- Arizona HVAC Contractor Practice Test
HVAC Technician · Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC)
12 original questions with full answer explanations, six exam domains covering ROC statutes and rules, refrigeration diagnostics, load and duct design, EPA refrigerant rules, combustion venting, and HVAC electrical.
California
- California C-36 Plumbing Contractor Practice Test
Plumber · Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
12 original CSLB-aligned questions with full answer explanations, six exam domains covering trade plus law and business, and a sourced California licensing summary.
- California C-20 HVAC Contractor Practice Test
HVAC Technician · Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
12 original CSLB-aligned questions with full answer explanations, Title 24 duct sealing and HERS coverage, charging and combustion drills, and a sourced licensing summary.
- California B General Building Practice Test
Carpenter · Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
12 original questions with full answer explanations, scope, framing, envelope, estimating, Cal/OSHA and law-and-business domains, and a sourced CSLB licensing summary.
Florida
- Florida HVAC Contractor Practice Test
HVAC Technician · FL Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR)
12 original DBPR-aligned questions with full answer explanations, six exam domains, EPA Section 608 crossover coverage, and a sourced Florida licensing summary.
- Florida Electrical Contractor Practice Test
Electrician · FL Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board
12 original questions with full answer explanations, six exam domains covering load calculations, grounding, Florida amendments and business and finance, and a sourced ECLB licensing summary.
- Florida Plumbing Contractor Practice Test
Plumber · FL Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR)
12 original questions with full answer explanations, six exam domains covering drainage, venting, backflow, fuel gas and Chapter 489, and a sourced CILB licensing summary.
Georgia
- Georgia Conditioned Air Contractor Practice Test
HVAC Technician · GA Construction Industry Licensing Board
12 original questions with full answer explanations, six exam domains covering Class I and Class II scope, refrigeration diagnostics, load and duct design, venting, HVAC electrical, and Georgia business and law.
Nevada
- Nevada Residential Contractor Practice Test
Carpenter · Nevada State Contractors Board
12 original questions with full answer explanations, six exam domains covering NRS 624 and monetary limits, estimating and contracts, desert soils and foundations, framing and bracing, envelope, and jobsite safety.
North Carolina
- North Carolina Electrical Contractor Practice Test
Electrician · NC Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors
12 original questions with full answer explanations, six exam domains covering Limited, Intermediate and Unlimited classifications, load calculations, ampacity, grounding, and NC law and business.
- North Carolina Plumbing Contractor Practice Test
Plumber · NC Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors
12 original questions with full answer explanations, six exam domains covering P-I and P-II scope, drainage and vent sizing, backflow, fuel gas, and NC law and business.
Ohio
- Ohio HVAC Contractor Practice Test
HVAC Technician · Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board
12 original questions with full answer explanations, six exam domains covering refrigeration diagnostics, heating-dominant load and duct design, combustion venting, HVAC electrical, and OCILB licensing law.
Texas
- Texas ACR Contractor Practice Test
HVAC Technician · Texas Dept. of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)
12 original questions with full answer explanations, six exam domains covering charging, airflow, combustion and Chapter 1302 rules, and a sourced TDLR licensing summary.
How to prepare for a contractor exam
- Treat the law-and-business section as a separate subject with its own study block. Contracts, liens, and bookkeeping vocabulary are memorization, not intuition.
- Learn your jurisdiction's classification system before you study, so you are preparing for the right scope of license.
- Run trade-section drills from the matching trade prep page while you work through business material, so both are fresh on exam day.
Frequently asked questions
What is on a contractor license exam?
Typically two parts: a trade knowledge section based on the applicable code, and a law, business, and finance section covering contracts, liens, insurance, payroll, safety, and estimating.
Do I need a journeyman or master license to become a contractor?
It depends on the state and the classification. Some require an existing trade license or a qualifying individual on staff; others license the business directly after an exam and proof of experience.
Are contractor exams open book?
The trade section often allows specific code books; the law and business section usually does not. Confirm with the board listed next to your exam.
What else do I need besides passing the exam?
Most jurisdictions also require proof of experience, general liability insurance, workers' compensation where applicable, a surety bond, and a registration or filing fee.
Is contractor exam practice free on CraftPATH?
Yes. All practice content is free, and licensing facts on our published guides are sourced with an accessed date or marked pending rather than estimated.