License path
Alabama Contractor License Exam Prep
Alabama contractors are licensed by the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors. Most classifications sit a trade paper plus Law & Business. Need only the business paper? It is sold standalone. If you buy a Alabama classification that sits that exam, that paper is 75% off where we offer it.
Confirm question count, time, open-book rules, and passing score on the live board bulletin before you sit. We do not publish a single Q-count for every classification on this page, and we do not guarantee a passing result.
Getting your Alabama contractor license? Contractor Pathway offers an original, exam-focused study guide and four full-length practice exams for every Alabama classification that requires a state board exam — currently 4 courses across Electrical, HVAC / Mechanical and Building / General Contractor. Choose your classification below and study with 30-, 60-, or 90-day access at $99, $129, and $169. Many Alabama classifications also require passing a separate Business & Law exam — and that course is 75% off with any trade course in your cart for the matching term.
Who licenses contractors in Alabama
These are the Alabama classifications we build exam prep for, each licensed by its responsible board:
| Trade area | Licensing authority | Exam basis |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical | Alabama Electrical Contractors Board | National Electrical Code (NEC) |
| HVAC / Mechanical | Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors | Mechanical & fuel-gas codes, EPA 608 |
| Building / General Contractor | Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors | Adopted building code (IBC / IRC) |
Always confirm the current code edition, experience requirements, fees, and passing score with the board and testing vendor before you schedule. Contractor Pathway is an independent exam-prep provider and is not affiliated with any Alabama board or testing vendor.
How to get licensed in Alabama
Alabama licenses through the Licensing Board for General Contractors under Ala. Code § 34-8, with the electrical and HVAC trades licensed by their own boards. Alabama weighs your accounts as heavily as your experience.
- Submit an accountant-prepared financial statement. Applicants file their last annual financial statement prepared by a CPA or an independent licensed public accountant approved by the Board, together with details of previous experience and equipment.
- Meet the $10,000 floor — twice over. Renewal applicants must show a minimum net worth and working capital of $10,000. A line of credit from a state or federally chartered bank or savings association may be used to raise working capital to the level of net worth, but only once working capital already meets the $10,000 minimum.
- The Board decides your classification from your experience. Alabama reviews the work experience section of your application to determine your level of experience within each classification requested — so the classifications you are granted follow the evidence you provide.
- Sit business and trade papers. Applicants take the Business and Project Management for Contractors examination and/or the trade examinations the Board determines are required.
- Renew on time — the penalty is severe. The renewal fee is $200. Miss renewal by more than a year from your expiration date and you must submit an entirely new application and retake both the trade examinations and the business and law examination. Few states penalise a lapse this hard.
Sources: Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors, its renewal information, Ala. Code § 34-8-2 and administrative code 230-X-1-.34. Contractor Pathway is an independent exam-preparation provider and is not affiliated with the Board.
Choose your Alabama classification
Each course includes a comprehensive study guide — often 10,000 words or more — worked calculations, code-section breakdowns, common exam traps, a glossary, and a 30/60/90-day study plan — plus four full-length practice exams matched to the topic weightings of the Alabama test.
Alabama contractor licensing — FAQ
Who licenses general contractors in Alabama?
The Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors. A general contractor license is legally required for any commercial, industrial, or public-works project where the total cost of labor and materials is $50,000 or more.
What exams does Alabama require?
Two exams administered by PSI: the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor exam (the trade exam) plus the Alabama Business and Law exam. Each requires a 70% score to pass.
What is on the Alabama exams?
The Business and Law exam is an open-book, multiple-choice timed test. The building trade portion runs 100 questions over four hours and covers the 2021 IRC, framing, concrete, and related construction topics. Both pass at 70%.
Are the Alabama exams open book?
Yes – the Business and Law and NASCLA exams are open book, so fast, well-indexed reference navigation is the decisive skill. Confirm current references and content outlines on the PSI candidate information bulletin before you test.
How long should I study for the Alabama exam?
Most candidates do well on a 30-, 60-, or 90-day plan depending on experience, which is why we offer access at all three terms ($99 / $129 / $169). Each guide includes a day-by-day study plan.