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In Kansas, licenses for construction professionals, including Class A, B, and C contractors, aren’t available on a state level. Instead, contractors are required to obtain a license through their city or county, each of which has its own set of qualifications and regulations. 

Since there is no state-level license and no single set of requirements that must be met for licensure, we’ve included information for Sedgwick County, Johnson County, Shawnee County, and Douglas County to give you an idea of what you need to become licensed.

Requirements for Obtaining Your Kansas Contractor License

There are three different classes for contracting professionals in Kansas:

• Class A general contractors
• Class B building contractors
• Class C residential contractors

Which one you’re aiming for will determine to a certain extent the requirements you’ll need to fulfill to be licensed in your particular jurisdiction.

Class A General Contractors

These general contractors are licensed to lawfully remodel, repair, construct, and demolish any structure. In addition, they (along with their employees) can perform swimming pool construction, tenant finish, or repairs of all structures, framing, and roofing. 

However, Class A general contractors may not perform electrical, fire protection, plumbing, or HVAC work.

Class B Building Contractors

Professionals who hold a Class B license may remodel, repair, demolish, and construct all structures under three stories. They can also perform work on framing, swimming pool construction, roofing, non-structural remodeling, repairs, and tenant finish of all structures under that height limit.

Class C Residential Contractors

Class C residential contractors are those who can repair, construct, remodel, and demolish single-family homes and duplexes. They can perform work on roofing, pools, framing, and non-structural remodeling on residences that are single or two-family dwellings.

Requirements for General Contractor Licensure in Kansas

Regardless of where you live, the first thing you’ll need to do is fill out and submit a completed application, pay the application and/or filing fees, and provide proof of identification.

Some counties and jurisdictions also require that you provide proof of worker’s compensation insurance and general liability insurance, and others have additional or different insurance mandates. For example, in Sedgwick County, you’re required to provide a certificate of liability insurance with at least $300,000 coverage. In Douglas County, you need coverage of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence.

Most counties also require that you have a certain number of years of experience under your belt for all types of licenses. Douglas County requires six years of Class A experience, or 10 years of experience for a Class B license, for example.

Testing Requirements for Kansas Contractor Licenses

All counties require that you score at least 75% on the ICC Kansas Standard General Building Contractor Exam, with regard to the A, B, or C licensure. (Some counties allow you to have a specific bachelor’s degree instead). Without a passing grade on this test, it won’t matter what the other requirements are or how many of them you meet. 

Make sure you’re ready to pass the test the first time by signing up with RocketCert, where you’ll have access to the best exam prep materials available online. Register today to take the first steps toward obtaining your contractor license in Kansas.