Minnesota Contractor License Requirements

Residential builders and renovation contractors are licensed by the Minnesota Department of Commerce.

Asbestos Abatement Licenses and Certificates

Any businesses have anything to do with asbestos in Minnesota requires:

• Licensing by the Minnesota Department of Health.
• Certification of all employees of such an asbestos business by the Department.
• Proof of workers' compensation insurance]
• Minnesota Business Identification Number.
• Department-certified site supervisor must be employed and be responsible for the asbestos work of that particular job.

Requirements

Worker

• 1,000 hours in the general commercial construction trades; or,
• 18-month vocational training program in construction; or,
• Two (2) years in an apprenticeship program

Site Supervisor (Any of the following)

• 2,000 hours in asbestos or general commercial construction trades; or,
• Bachelor's degree and 500 hours in asbestos or general commercial construction trades; or,
• Master's degree in environmental health, industrial hygiene or safety; or,
• Completion of an apprenticeship program

Inspector (Any of the following)

• 500 hours in building inspection, asbestos work, industrial hygiene, or hazardous materials control; or,
• Completion of an apprenticeship program; or,
• Minnesota building official license; or,
• Bachelor's degree and 40 hours on-site asbestos inspection experience with a Minnesota-certified asbestos inspector; or,
• Professional engineer, architect, certified industrial hygienist, or certified safety professional

Management planner (Any of the following)

• 1,000 hours in building inspection, asbestos work, industrial hygiene, or hazardous materials control; or,
• Minnesota building official license; or,
• Bachelor's degree and 500 hours in building inspection, asbestos work, industrial hygiene, or hazardous materials control; or,
• Registration as a professional engineer, architect, certified industrial hygienist, or certified safety professional; or,
• Master's degree in environmental health, industrial hygiene or safety and 250 hours in building inspection, asbestos work, industrial hygiene, or hazardous materials control

Project designer (Any of the following)

• 4,000 hours asbestos work or asbestos management; or,
• Professional engineer, architect, certified industrial hygienist, or certified safety professional

Lead License and Certifications

Any lead abatement work in Minnesota requires a business to be licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health.

Here are the designations:

Site supervisor (Any of the following)
One (1) year experience as a licensed lead worker;
One (1) year of experience in the childhood lead poisoning prevention program of a government agency; or
At least two (2) years of experience in other environmental remediation or general commercial construction trades

• High school diploma/GED and 3 years experience in regulated lead work, asbestos abatement, environmental remediation, general construction, or in childhood lead poisoning prevention program of a government agency;
• Bachelors degree and 1 year experience in regulated lead work, asbestos abatement, environmental remediation, general construction, or in childhood lead poisoning prevention program of a government agency;
• Associate's degree and 2 years of experience in regulated lead work, asbestos abatement, environmental remediation, general construction, or in childhood lead poisoning Designation as a certified industrial hygienist, registered professional engineer, registered architect, certified safety professional, or registered public health sanitary worker.

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, architecture, or an environmental or safety discipline and 1 year of experience in building construction, design, or a related field;
• Designation as a registered architect, registered professional engineer, certified industrial hygienist, certified safety professional, or a certified asbestos project designer;
• Two (2) years of work experience in regulated lead work, asbestos-related work, asbestos management activities, or other environmental remediation; OR
• Four (4) 4 years of experience in building construction, design, or a related field

Electrician's Licenses

Electrical work in Minnesota requires a license by the State Board of Electricity.

The State Board of Electricity issues four (4) types of contractor licenses. To get a contractor license:

• Bond for $5,000
• General liability insurance for $100,000 per occurrence, $300,000 aggregate
• Property damage insurance for $300,000 per occurrence, $300,000 aggregate.

There are also eight (8) types of electrician licenses. Let's look first at the contractor licenses.

Class A Electrical: 60 months work experience
Class B Electrical: 48 months work experience
Master elevator constructor: 60 months work experience
Elevator constructor: 36 months work experience
Class A installer: 12 months work experience
Class B installer: 12 months work experience
Lineman: 48 months work experience
Maintenance: 48 months work experience

Plumber's Licenses

For plumbing work in any city in Minnesota with a population over 5,000 a license from the Minnesota Department of Health is required.

The Department issues these licenses:
Master plumber
Journeyman plumber,
Water conditioning installer
Water conditioning contractor

First time applicants must include three notarized references with your application. As well all applicants must pass an exam. The master exam requires at least five years of Department-approved plumbing experience as well as a Minnesota journeyman plumber license. In addition, a master plumber license in a state with comparable requirements is acceptable.

Consumers are advised to also check for municipal license requirements as contractor laws can differ from county to county. It is also advisable to double check with the state's requirements before hiring a contractor.