Alabama Contractors and Builders Licenses
Congratulations! You have chosen to make an excellent career move by getting your
Alabama contractor’s license.
Alabama is receiving a lot of positive publicity regarding its beauty and affordability, and most of all the number of people moving into the state continues to increase. Retirees find Alabama to be a very desirable place to relocate. With the number of baby boomers moving into the state, the housing and home improvement markets are expecting record growth. It’s time to get licensed and reap the benefits. The related article expresses the realized and anticipated growth in the state of Alabama.
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Do I need a license?
According to the Alabama Code, anyone who constructs, supervises the construction of, repairs, or improves a residential building requires a builder’s license. If the cost of the project is less than $10,000 dollars or if the building is the owner's personal residence or real estate holding, a license is not required in this case.
Obtaining your Alabama Residential Contractor License will enable you to charge customers and be compensated for your work.
How to acquire your Alabama Builders License
The following are the requirements to obtain your Alabama Residential Builders license:
- Complete a Residential Alabama Builders License application. Applications can be obtained from:
Home Builders Licensure Board
445 Herron Street
Montgomery, AL 36130
(334) 242-2230
www.hblb.state.al.us
- Successfully complete the Alabama contractor’s license exam that measures your knowledge of the profession.
- Order a business-related credit report, including a public records search. (The form to order this report is provided in your application packet from the Home Licensure Board.)
- Submit the builder license application fee and supporting documents to the Alabama Home Licensure Board.
The Best Test Prep Software for the Alabama Home Builder Exam
The first step in obtaining your Alabama Residential Builder License is preparing to take the contractors test. Our Alabama contractor’s license exam preparation software will help you accomplish this task in the most efficient way possible. By practicing all of the possible questions in the software, you will be prepared for any combination of questions that you may be given on your contractor’s license exam. In addition, studying our software helps you become familiar with computer generated tests and greatly reduces your anxiety on the day of your contractor exam since you prepared using a computer based testing (CBT) format.
The next step is registering to take the Alabama builders license exam. This can be done as soon as you receive your study software since registration should be done 2 weeks in advance. The State of Alabama currently uses PSI Examination Services to administer the builders test. There are 4 ways to register for the Alabama Home Builder Exam:
- Internet - Log onto www.psiexams.com and register for the Alabama licensing examination. When you register online there is no wait to schedule your examination date.
- Standard Mail - Completely fill out the PSI Registration Form and mail to PSI with the appropriate examination fee. Once your registration has been processed, a Registration Confirmation Notice will be mailed to you. When mailing, please allow 2 weeks for mail delivery and processing.
- Fax - Completely fill out the PSI Registration Form and fax to PSI at (702) 932-2666. When faxing registration materials, please wait 4 days before calling to schedule your examination.
- Telephone - Call PSI at (800) 733-9267, 24 hours a day and schedule using the Automated Registration System or between 9:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. ET to schedule an appointment for the contractors license test with a registrar.
Alabama Contractor’s license exams are given at the following 4 locations:
- Birmingham
- Huntsville
- Mobile
- Montgomery
Examinations are also given at 4 regional testing centers located in:
- Jackson, MS
- Metaire, LA
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Shreveport, LA
Included with the software is the Candidate Information Bulletin, which outlines the topics, covered on the general contractors license exam. Complete instructions for taking the Alabama constructon license exam and directions to the testing centers are also provided.
Taking the Alabama Contractors License Exam
You have studied diligently and are ready to take the Alabama builders license exam. You can arrive with confidence knowing that you are prepared for whatever questions may appear on the test. It is recommended that you arrive 30 minutes prior to your scheduled testing time. You must present two (2) valid forms of identification when you arrive at the testing center. The name on the application must exactly match the name on the photo ID used to check in for the construction exam. In addition, you should bring a non-programmable calculator.
There are 80 questions on the Alabama Home Builder License exam and you must answer at least 54 questions correctly in order to pass. The minimum passing score is 67.5%. You are allowed 4 hours to complete the exam. After you have completed the test, your score will immediately be displayed on the computer screen and a printed copy of your results will be given to you.
Obtaining Your Alabama Contractors License
Once you have successfully passed the builders license exam, your test results will be sent to the Alabama Home Builder Licensure Board. After you have submitted your application, the Board will then issue your contractor license to practice as a general contractor.
Traps to avoid
It is a common misconception that since the Alabama builders license exam is open book; it is not difficult to pass. In actuality the contractors test is more difficult to pass than closed book exams due to the fact that you have books available as a resource during the contractor exam. You are permitted to bring certain reference materials into the exam. The reference materials may be highlighted, underlined, or indexed to assist you in finding information quickly. The books may not be written in and may not contain any additional papers. (Do not use sticky notes or Post Its to index your books because they are not permitted and you will be asked to remove them at the test center.) You are required to bring your own reference materials because they are not available at the testing center. We recommend purchasing the following reference books and using them together with our software to give you the greatest chance of passing the builders license test the first time. The following books are allowed into the Alabama construction license exam:
- NASCLA Business and Project Management, Alabama Builder Licensure Board
- International Residential Code
- Carpentry and Building Construction
- Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA)
- Contractors Guide to Quality Concrete Construction
- The Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing & Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses
- Pipe and Excavation Contracting
- Modern Masonry
If you forget the answer to a question during the builder’s license exam, having these reference books will allow you to quickly find the answer and complete the Alabama construction license exam within the time allowed. Going into the contractor’s license exam with your toolbox filled with all of the resources available will give you the greatest chance of success. In construction the saying, “Do it right the first time” is often heard. We believe it also applies to getting your Residential Builders License.
