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Skilled trades are once again gaining popularity for the many benefits they offer. In addition to providing an avenue to stable work, these professions offer livable wages and opportunities to advance and even strike out on your own as a business owner.

Drywall is a great place to start. There’s no shortage of residential and commercial projects that require drywall to finish interior spaces, from new construction to repair and replacement.

Before you get started, however, you will need a license from the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board. Like most states, Arkansas requires those in skilled trades to obtain and maintain a license to legally conduct business. What type of license do you need to compete for drywall projects, and how do you obtain it?

Drywall Licenses

In the state of Arkansas, you can legally accept jobs that include structural changes to a single-family residence without a drywall license, provided a project doesn’t exceed $2,000. However, this significantly limits your ability to earn a living. What other options can you explore?

Limited Drywall License

With a Limited Drywall License, you can accept projects of up to $50,000, including labor and materials. To obtain this license, you must complete two years of suitable construction experience and submit a minimum of three references as proof of experience.

Unlimited Drywall License

As the name implies, this license allows you to accept drywall contracts of any size without financial limitations. As with the Limited Drywall License, you must prove two years of work experience. You must also submit a current compiled balance sheet from within the last year, along with proof of workers’ compensation insurance if you have more than one employee.

Required Exams

You are required to pass state exams, including a trade exam and the Business Law Exam, before you can obtain a Limited or Unlimited License. The Arkansas Drywall Exam is an open-book test consisting of 30 questions on topics such as:

• Ceilings, acoustical systems materials, and installation
• Drywall materials and installation
• Taping and finishing
• Special applications, including veneer plaster
• OSHA safety

You will have 75 minutes to complete the exam, and you must answer at least 21 questions (70%) correctly to pass. 

The Business Law Exam contains 50 questions covering topics such as:

• Licensing requirements
• Estimating and bidding
• Business organization and financial management
• Tax laws
• Labor laws
• Project management and lien law
• Contracts
• Risk management
• Environmental and safety

You will have 140 minutes to complete this open-book test, and you must answer a minimum of 35 questions (70%) correctly to pass.

Planning for Success

The right test prep program — including math concepts and calculations, highlighting guides for open book texts, quizzes to reinforce key concepts, and test simulations — will help to ensure that you pass your test on the first try. 

It’s best to choose a program designed for working professionals, with 24/7 access to online materials for convenient, self-paced learning.

Are you ready to obtain your Limited or Unlimited Drywall License in Arkansas? Contact RocketCert today to find the helpful exam prep courses you need