How To Get A License In Washington

In some ways, becoming a full general contractor in Washington will look the same as other states. You will complete your registration and application process through the Washington Section of Labor and Industries, pay a registration fee, and wait to receive discussion that you lot can begin to perform contracting work. All the same, the state of Washington has boosted regulations and requirements that must be met during the process of becoming a full general contractor. Similar about states, Washington as well has dissever applications and requirements for both electricians and plumbers.

To go a general contractor in the land of Washington, yous must first determine the work you will be doing to register properly. You volition also need to sympathise and see all of the business requirements – determining your business structure and if you need to register with the Secretary of State, obtaining your IRS employee ID number if y'all plan on employing workers, and receiving bail insurance.

Furthermore, at that place are documents to exist notarized, also as additional fees across the whole process. As with any land, knowing the requirements in becoming a general contractor in Washington will make your process get smoothly while adhering to state, local county, or city regulations.

Washington State Contractor Registration Requirements

Washington country legislature, title 18, chapter 18.27 defines a contractor as:

"…any person, firm, corporation, or other entity who or which, in the pursuit of an independent business undertakes to, or offers to undertake, or submits a bid to, construct, modify, repair, add together to, decrease from, amend, develop, motility, wreck, or demolish any edifice, highway, road, railroad, excavation or other structure, project, development, or improvement attached to real estate…"

Washington separates contracting piece of work into two separate descriptions. While y'all will not be required to be licensed at the land level, you will accept to register every bit ane or the other through the Washington Land Department of Labor and Industries. Your registration will be as i of the two options beneath:

Full general Contractor: if you are performing or supervising multiple building trades or crafts.

Specialty Contractor: if you are performing only one building merchandise or arts and crafts. Visit the Washington State Legislature site for a list of specialty contracting trades.

There are specific trades in which Washington requires licensing and exams at the state level, such as electricians and plumbers. To make certain you are complying with regulations, bank check with your local county or city when determining to register or apply for licensing for a specific trade.

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What Do You Need To Become a Full general Contractor in Washington?

To register as a general contractor in the ii classifications above, yous will need to see several requirements before completing your awarding. Before you do anything, y'all must determine your business structure.

Corporations, express partnerships, express liability partnerships, and limited liability companies will need to register with the Secretary of State before standing with the application procedure. If you are going to perform work equally a sole proprietor, or general partnership, y'all volition demand to apply for a business concern license application. This volition provide yous with a Uniform Business Identifier number (UBI#).

Next, yous must become bonded and insured. You'll demand to obtain a Washington Continuous Contractor Surety Bond of $12,000 for general contracting and $half-dozen,000 for specialty contracting. Different bonding companies offering different rates depending on your credit history and coverage requirements.

If you program to have employees, you must larn your IRS Employer ID number. At this point, you can brainstorm to fill out your contractor registration application. Proof of a surety bail and liability insurance, along with your registration fee, will demand to be attached when y'all submit your application to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries.

The simplest way to submit your application is to walk into your local labor and industries part. However, you tin can mail service your application in, forth with all the necessary paperwork, to:

Department of Labor and Industries
Contractor Registration Section
PO Box 44450
Olympia, WA 98504–4450

Registration Fee Summary

Registering for either a general contractor or specialty contractor will price virtually the same — as it is the same process. The fees attached to your registration requirements will be:

Registering and licensing your business concern:
- If corporation or partnerships described in a higher place – $180+
- If sole proprietor – $19 – $24 for a regular business organization application
Registration Fee – $113.40 for two years.

Washington Contractors Exams

While registering to go a general or specialty contractor doesn't require you to accept and pass an examination, other trades such every bit electric piece of work will. To farther sympathise if you lot demand to be licensed or registered, if yous need to take exams, and further requirements of specific trades, visit the Washington State Department of Licensing and Registration trades and licensing folio.

Washington Contractors Registration Application

Registering to become both a full general or specialty contractor volition exist the same process, and will become through the same form. Your general or specialty registration process will expect similar to this:

Choose your business structure.
Corporate structures demand to register with the Secretary of State.
All business structures must fill out a business license application.
Obtain your employer identification number if you plan on hiring employees.
Complete application for general or specialty contractor.
Purchase bail and liability insurance.
Pay the registration fee.
Submit registration and required documents to your local licensing and registration office.

Washington State Business Licenses and Registration

The country of Washington volition crave you to obtain a business license before performing contractor work. For corporate structures, you will demand to annals with the Secretary of State. All other business concern entities will need to complete a business concern license application through the State of Washington Business concern Licensing Service website.

Washington Tax Identification Numbers and Registration

Businesses that operate inside Washington are required to annals for one or more than tax-specific identification numbers, licenses or permits, including income revenue enhancement withholding, sales and use revenue enhancement (seller's permit), and unemployment insurance tax. For more details, visit the Washington State Section of Acquirement website.

Washington Workers' Compensation Insurance Requirements and Forms

Businesses with employees are required to behave workers' bounty insurance coverage through a commercial carrier, on a cocky-insured basis, or through the state Workers' Compensation Insurance program. The Washington Country Department of Labor and Industries tin fill y'all in on more than data about Workers' Compensation requirements.

Washington Contractor Lookup and Verification

Reference the Washington Land Section of Labor and Industries to verify a contractor, tradesperson, or business concern operating in the state of Washington.

See General Contractor Licensing Information in Nearby States

Oregon contractors license
Alaska contractors license
Idaho contractors license
Montana contractors license

For More License and Career Guides

To find out how to become a General Contractor in another country, get-go here .

For data on other trades in Washington, click on a link below to larn more about the licensing requirements:

Washington Electrician License Requirements
How to Become a Plumber in Washington
Washington Handyman License Guide
Washington Welding Schools and Career Guide
How to Go an HVAC License in Washington