Quick answer: In Washington, all construction contractors - general and specialty, including roofers, painters, carpenters and landscapers - must register with L&I (a $30,000 general or $15,000 specialty bond plus liability insurance); registration is not a competency exam. Electricians and plumbers must additionally hold an individual L&I certification earned by passing a state exam. Washington has no separate HVAC license - HVAC work is covered by contractor registration, with electrical certification required for the electrical portions.
Washington draws a sharp line between contractor registration (required of almost every trade) and individual trade certification (required only of specific licensed trades like electrical and plumbing).
Which trades need a license in Washington?
| Trade | State license required? | Licensing body |
|---|---|---|
| Plumber | Certification + registration | Plumbing is one of Washington's individually certified trades. To do plumbing work you must hold a plumber certificate issued by L&I - most commonly Journey Level (PL01, requiring about 8,000 hours as a plumber trainee) or Residential (PL02) - and certification requires passing a state exam administered by PSI. Separately, the plumbing business must register as a contractor with L&I (bond + insurance). |
| Electrician | Certification + contractor license | Electrical is a fully licensed trade in Washington. Individuals must hold an L&I electrician certificate - General Journey Level (01) requires roughly 8,000 hours of experience plus classroom instruction - and all must pass an exam administered through PSI. The business must hold an electrical contractor license from L&I, which requires a $4,000 electrical contractor surety bond and a designated certified electrical administrator or master electrician. |
| HVAC | Contractor registration (no separate license) | Washington has no standalone HVAC license. HVAC and refrigeration contractors operate under standard L&I contractor registration - typically as a specialty contractor with the required bond and liability insurance. However, any electrical work involved (wiring, controls, connections) must be performed by a certified electrician, and installing/servicing such systems can require an HVAC/refrigeration specialty electrician certificate. |
| General Contractor | Contractor registration required | General contractors must register with L&I before bidding or performing work. Registration requires a $30,000 continuous surety bond (or assignment of savings), general liability insurance ($200,000 public liability plus $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined single limit), a UBI number, and the application fee (about $150). Registration is not a skills exam - it is a bond-and-insurance registration. |
| Roofer | Contractor registration required | Roofing is treated as construction, so roofers must register with L&I - generally as a specialty contractor - carrying a $15,000 specialty bond (or a $30,000 bond if registering as a general contractor) plus the required liability insurance. There is no separate roofing competency exam. |
| Painter | Contractor registration required | Painting contractors must register with L&I. A painter registering as a specialty contractor posts a $15,000 bond and carries the required liability insurance. Washington does not issue a separate painting license or require a trade exam. |
| Carpenter | Contractor registration required | Carpentry is construction work, so carpenters contracting with the public must register with L&I - typically as a specialty contractor with a $15,000 bond and liability insurance. There is no separate carpentry license or state exam. |
| Landscaper | Contractor registration required | Landscape construction (hardscaping, grading, installing structures, irrigation, and similar improvements to real property) requires L&I contractor registration, generally as a specialty contractor with a $15,000 bond and liability insurance. Note that irrigation/pump work can also touch certified plumbing scopes. |
| Handyman | Registration (jobs $500+) | A handyman doing construction, repair or improvement work for others must register with L&I as a contractor. Washington's only relevant exemption is for work of a 'casual, minor, or inconsequential nature' where the aggregate contract price for labor, materials and all items is less than $500 (RCW 18.27.090). Jobs at or above $500 require registration with a bond and liability insurance. Splitting a project to stay under $500 is not allowed. |
| Cleaner | No state license required | General cleaning and janitorial services are not construction, so a house cleaner or janitorial business does not need L&I contractor registration or a state trade license to clean. A standard state business license/UBI and local requirements still apply. Registration would only be triggered if the business also performs construction, repair, or improvement work on real property. |
Registration means posting a bond and insurance with L&I (no skills exam); certification/license means passing a state exam - always confirm current requirements directly with L&I.
L&I contractor registration: the baseline for nearly every trade
Washington State requires all construction contractors to register with the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) before advertising, bidding, or performing work. This applies to both general contractors (who can perform most types of work and hire subcontractors) and specialty contractors (who work only within their registered specialty). To register, a contractor obtains a surety bond, buys general liability insurance, registers the business with the Department of Revenue for a UBI number, and pays the application fee (about $150).
The bond is $30,000 for general contractors and $15,000 for specialty contractors. Liability insurance must be at least $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined single limit. Critically, registration is not a competency exam - it is a bond-and-insurance registration that establishes financial responsibility.
Licensed and certified trades: electrical and plumbing
Two trades go beyond registration and require individuals to pass a state exam. Electricians must hold an L&I electrician certificate - the General Journey Level (01) certificate requires about 8,000 hours of experience plus classroom instruction - and every certificate requires passing an exam administered through PSI. The electrical business must separately hold an electrical contractor license, which requires a $4,000 electrical contractor bond and a designated certified electrical administrator or master electrician.
Plumbers must hold an L&I plumber certificate, such as Journey Level (PL01, about 8,000 hours as a trainee) or Residential (PL02), and passing the PSI-administered plumber exam is the final step to certification.
How Washington treats HVAC
Washington does not issue a dedicated HVAC or mechanical contractor license. HVAC and refrigeration businesses instead operate under standard L&I contractor registration, usually as specialty contractors with the applicable bond and liability insurance. The wrinkle is electrical: any electrical work associated with heating, cooling, or refrigeration equipment must be done by a certified electrician, and there are HVAC/refrigeration specialty electrician certificates for exactly this scope.
Handyman work and the $500 threshold
There is no separate 'handyman license' in Washington, and there is no blanket exemption for handymen. Anyone who contracts to build, repair, remodel, or improve real property is a contractor and must register with L&I. The one narrow exception is in RCW 18.27.090(9): work of a 'casual, minor, or inconsequential nature' where the aggregate contract price for labor, materials, and all other items is less than $500. Once a job reaches $500 - or if the work involves specialty trades like electrical or plumbing - registration (and any required trade certification) applies.
Local requirements still apply
State registration and certification are only part of the picture. Cities and counties in Washington impose their own business licenses, local trade endorsements, building permits, and inspections. Even trades that need no state license - such as general cleaning - typically need a Washington business license (UBI) and may need a local business license. Always confirm both state requirements with L&I and local requirements with the city or county where you work.
How to get licensed in Washington
- Register your business with the Washington Department of Revenue to obtain a UBI number (and set up a workers' compensation account with L&I if you will have employees).
- Obtain the required surety bond ($30,000 for a general contractor, $15,000 for a specialty contractor) or an assignment of savings.
- Purchase general liability insurance meeting L&I minimums ($200,000 public liability plus $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined single limit).
- File the Application for Contractor Registration with L&I and pay the application fee to receive your contractor registration number.
- If you work in electrical or plumbing, also earn the individual L&I trade certification by meeting the experience/education requirements and passing the PSI-administered exam - and obtain the electrical contractor license where applicable.
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Frequently asked questions
Is contractor registration the same as a contractor license in Washington?
No. Washington uses 'registration' for construction contractors, which requires a surety bond and liability insurance but no competency exam. Only certain trades - notably electricians and plumbers - hold true state 'licenses' or 'certifications' that require passing an exam. Registration proves financial responsibility; certification proves individual skill.
Does a handyman need to register as a contractor in Washington?
Usually yes. Anyone doing construction, repair, or improvement work for others is a contractor and must register with L&I. The only exemption is for casual, minor work where the total price for labor and materials is less than $500 (RCW 18.27.090). Splitting jobs to stay under $500 is not allowed.
Is there a separate HVAC license in Washington?
No. Washington has no standalone HVAC license. HVAC and refrigeration contractors register with L&I like other construction contractors (typically as specialty contractors with bond and insurance). Any electrical work must be performed by a certified electrician, so HVAC firms often also need electrical certification for the electrical parts of the job.
Do electricians and plumbers have to pass an exam?
Yes. Both are certified trades in Washington. Electricians must meet experience and education requirements (about 8,000 hours for General Journey Level) and pass an L&I electrician certification exam; plumbers must do the same and pass the plumber certification exam. Both exams are administered by PSI.
Sources: L&I - Register as a Contractor, RCW 18.27.090 - Contractor registration exemptions (under-$500 work), L&I - Electrician certification, L&I - Plumber Certification, 2025. Licensing rules change — always confirm current requirements with the relevant state board and your local city before you work.