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The only way you can legally contract any type of construction and trade work in the state of Ohio is by obtaining your contractor license. Ohio requires all commercial trades to obtain a license before any bidding takes place. 

This means you’ll need to have all of your proverbial ducks in a row if you’re going to go through the motions of obtaining your license in a timely manner. Doing so will ensure that no delays in licensure keep you from doing what you do best!

What Do You Need to Get an Ohio Contractor License?

You must ensure you have fulfilled all of the experiential and educational requirements before you can do anything else. This experience/education is part of the licensure requirements and includes proof that you have spent a certain number of years in the construction industry in your respective field. 

You must submit the completed license application and all the supplemental materials before taking the appropriate licensure tests. Once you submit these materials and the state approves them, you will be contacted to schedule test dates.

Proof of Work Experience and Education

The required years of experience vary according to what trade you specialize in, but it is typically five years. You must have spent those years as a tradesman working under a licensed contractor performing related industry work. The proof you submit must be verified and sometimes notarized as well.

For certain trades, formal education in a program, apprenticeship, or trade school can substitute for this experience requirement or at least part of it. If you obtained a certificate of completion from a program, you must submit it as proof.

All applications and supplemental materials must be submitted to the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB). This is also the organization you must initially contact to obtain the application materials for licensure.

Testing Requirements

Every trade contractor seeking licensure must take the relevant contractor specialization exam for their industry along with the Ohio Business & Law Exam. Every contractor specialization exam is unique; however, all are open-book exams, and all have time limits that vary, with many being four hours. 

On almost every exam, you must get at least 70% of the questions correct to earn a passing grade.

The Ohio Business & Law Exam includes 50 questions; you must answer 70% (35) of them correctly to earn a passing score. You will have two hours to complete the exam, and it is an open-book test.

The topics that are covered on the Business & Law Exam include:

• Licensing
• Estimating and bidding
• Business organization
• OSHA record keeping
• OSHA safety
• Lien laws
• Pretest items
• Financial management
• Project management
• Contract management
• Personnel regulations
• Bonding and insurance

As you can see, with so much to become familiar with, you must get your hands on the most in-depth exam prep materials available.

RocketCert Ohio Contractor Exam Test Prep

Get started today studying for your Ohio contractor license exams. RocketCert offer study materials with lifetime access, stellar customer service, a “no-pass-no-pay” guarantee, and more. Sign up with RocketCert today and get started on the right track to becoming a licensed contractor in Ohio.