License path
Arkansas Contractor License Exam Prep
Arkansas contractors are licensed by the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board. Most classifications sit a trade paper plus Law & Business. Need only the business paper? It is sold standalone. If you buy a Arkansas 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 We do not publish a single Q-count for every classification on this page, and we do not guarantee a passing result.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 Arkansas contractor license? Contractor Pathway offers an original, exam-focused study guide and four full-length practice exams for every Arkansas 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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas
These are the Arkansas classifications we build exam prep for, each licensed by its responsible board:
| Trade area | Licensing authority | Exam basis |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical | Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners | National Electrical Code (NEC) |
| HVAC / Mechanical | Arkansas HVACR Licensing Board | Mechanical & fuel-gas codes, EPA 608 |
| Building / General Contractor | Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board | 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 Arkansas board or testing vendor.
How to get licensed in Arkansas
Arkansas licenses through the Contractors Licensing Board at the Department of Labor and Licensing, under Act 150 of 1965. Which licence you need is decided by the value of the job, not the trade.
- The threshold is the trigger. A commercial licence is required where a contractor performs work of $50,000 or more, including labour and materials, on a commercial project. A residential builders licence is required to build a single-family residence where the project cost exceeds $2,000, including labour and material, unless an exception applies.
- Pass the business and law test. Examinations are delivered by PSI. The business and law paper is required for the commercial licence.
- File a $10,000 surety bond. Arkansas requires a $10,000 contractors surety bond on file. Bonds are continuous until cancelled, so continuation certificates are not required.
- Show financial standing — or bond instead of it. Renewal requires a current reviewed or audited financial statement including a signed CPA opinion page on letterhead, a balance sheet prepared to GAAP or on an income-tax (accrual) basis, and footnotes. Alternatively a “Bond in Lieu of Financial” may be filed, with the amount set by classification — but this is in addition to the $10,000 surety bond, not a replacement for it.
- Renew, then finish the paperwork. Once the renewal application and filing fee arrive by the expiration date, the Board allows a grace period of four to six weeks to submit the financial statement. A current workers’ compensation certificate is required if you have employees.
Sources: Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, Contractors Licensing Board, its application and renewal pages, and the Commercial Rules and Regulations (January 2025). Contractor Pathway is an independent exam-preparation provider and is not affiliated with the Board.
Choose your Arkansas 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 Arkansas test.
Arkansas contractor licensing — FAQ
Who licenses contractors in Arkansas?
The Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board, within the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing. A license is required for commercial and residential construction of $20,000 or more – commercial applicants generally need five years of experience and an audited financial statement, while residential applicants need four years.
What exam does Arkansas require?
All first-time applicants must pass the Arkansas Business and Law exam (in addition to the trade exam for their classification). It is administered by Prometric, the passing score is 70%, and the exam fee is $84.
What is on the Arkansas Business and Law exam?
State and tax law, financial management, business math, estimating and bidding, liens, contracts, employment regulations, safety, and record-keeping – the part most applicants find hardest. The Board suggests the NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Arkansas Edition as the study reference.
How is the Arkansas exam administered?
The Business and Law exam is taken at a Prometric test center (register at prometric.com/arkansas). Confirm the current open-book/reference policy, question count, and content outline in the Arkansas candidate information bulletin before you test.
How long should I study for the Arkansas 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.