Iowa Contractor License Classifications

The state of Iowa has it that all contractors, who complete construction contracting work, must obtain a license to practice as such. The term “construction” has a very broad sense here, encompassing plumbing, electrical work, cables, painting and more. Hence, any person, who carries out duties of a plumber, electrician, and other specialty trade duties, will need to go through the licensing process.

Whichever type of license you want or need to obtain, you will have to meet a number of requirements. Those requirements are set and administered through different licensing divisions and departments. They also classify contractor licenses based on the character of the work that the license includes.

The first step in obtaining your Iowa contractor license is to register with the Iowa Contractors Board, giving them your specific business and identity information such as an (EIN) Employer Identification Number.  In Iowa, maintaining a contractor license is essential when performing contracting work, which benefits the professional at least $2.000 per year. Therefore, it is quite important to learn the difference between a certain number of licenses in order to understand which one suits you best.

Electrical Contractor License

If a person wants to do electrical work as a licensed electrician, he/she will need to obtain an electrical journeyman license (Class A and B) or an electrical apprentice license. The scope of work includes installing and repairing cables, television cables, electronic control systems, highway lighting, and electrical signal construction.

Journeyman Class “A” License

This license, in short, is for persons, who have enrolled in an approved apprenticeship, training program and want to perform journeyman duties.

Journeyman Class “B” License

This license, in short, is for persons, who have completed an approved apprenticeship program and possess at least 16,000 hours of professional work experience. It allows the license holder to install electrical wiring, apparatus, or equipment under the direct supervision of a licensed professional.

Apprentice License

This license, in short, is for persons, who are new in the industry and want to learn everything about the job of an electrical contractor. For this purpose, there are lots of apprenticeship programs, which deliver the aforementioned information and give the opportunity to practice skills.

Plumbing License

If you are a plumber and want to perform work within the sphere of contracting, you must have a valid plumber license. Iowa offers the following types of plumber licenses:

• Master Plumber License
• Journeyman Plumber License
• Plumbing Apprentice

Master Plumber License

In brief, this license is the highest level and it gives the license holder the right to manage and lead plumbing projects.

Journeyman Plumber License

In brief, this license is a step above a master plumber, and it gives the license holder the right to install, repair, remodel or design plumbing equipment.

Plumbing Apprentice

In brief, a plumbing apprentice is someone, who engages in plumbing apprenticeship programs in order to learn and master the trade of plumbing. To get licensed, applicants will need to apply to the Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board.

Construction Contractor License Classifications

Iowa Contractor License Classifications : Painting and Wall Covering

To clarify, this license is for interior and exterior painting and wall covering. The scope of work includes painting bridges, traffic lanes, houses, buildings and ancillary structures.

Iowa Residential Building Contractor

To clarify, this license is for altering, building and repairing single-family residential buildings/structures. The scope of work includes home improvements, modular housing, single-family house construction and so on.

Iowa Nonresidential Building Contractor

To clarify, this license is for altering, building and repairing manufacturing and industrial buildings. The scope of work includes construction of commercial warehouse, industrial buildings, clean room, cold storage plant, Food products manufacturing/ packing plant and so on.

Iowa Carpentering Contractor

To clarify, this license is for maintaining and repairing carpentry work, framing and finishing work. It is also for installing linoleum, wood/resilient, parquet and hardwood flooring.

Iowa Roofing Contractor

To clarify, this license is for installing ceilings.

Concrete Contractor License

To clarify, this license is for building parking areas, foundations, structures, driving ways and private walks. It also includes culvert and curb construction, parking lot construction, patio construction and much more.

Highway, Street, Bridge and Tunnel Construction Contractor License

To clarify, this license is for building new streets, roads, airport runways, and sidewalks. It is also for building and repairing bridges, viaducts, and elevated highways.

Special Trade Contractor License Classifications

Structural Steel Erection Contractor License

To clarify, this license permits the licensee to erect metal, structural steel and alike products for the purpose of creating structural elements. It also allows to maintain, repair and alter steel work, storage tanks, metal furring, concrete products and so on.

Glass and Glazing Contractor License

To clarify, this license permits the licensee to install glass or tinting glass, as well as do glazing work.

Excavation Contractor License

To clarify, this license permits the licensee to prepare construction land by excavation work and digging.

Wrecking and Demolition Contractor License

To clarify, this license permits the licensee to wreck and knock down buildings/structures.

Building Equipment and Other Machinery Installation Contractor License

To clarify, this license permits the licensee to install and dismantle building equipment.

Iowa Contractor License Classifications : Contact Information

Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board office
321 E 12th Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075
Phone: 1-866-280-1521
FAX: 515-281-6114