« Back to store
Choose a state

Construction Work Regulated?

Who Regulates Construction?

Requirements?

State General Contractor Exams
Trade Exams
National Exams
State General Contractor Exams Trade Exams National Exams

Construction Work Regulated?

Prequalification is required for all highway work in the state.

Asbestos abatement contractors are regulated by the state.

Through examination, the state also licenses plumbing, electrical, hydronics, HVAC contractors and refrigeration contractors to perform commercial work. The state issues these licenses. This eliminates the need for multiple testing when one is applying for licensing in more than one city.

Who Regulates Construction?

Prequalification applications for highway work may be obtained from:

Ohio Department of Transportation Office of Contracts Qualification Section
1980 West Broad Street
Ma ii Stop 4110
Columbus, OH 43223
(614) 728-8498
https://www.dot.state.oh.us

For information regarding work types, call: (614) 728-8498

Licensing information may be obtained from:

Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board
Post Office Box 4009
6606 Tussing Road
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
(614) 644-3493/Fax (614) 728-1200
https://www.com.ohio.gov/dico/ocHb/default.aspx

Asbestos Hazard Abatement Contractor licensing and individual certification information may be obtained from:
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Division of Air Pollution Control Asbestos Program
50 West Town Street, Suite 700
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-0061/Fax (614) 564-2481
https://www.epa.ohio.gov/dapc/atu/asbestos

Lead abatement licensing information may be obtained from:

Ohio Department of Health Environmental Compliance Section
246 North High Street
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-1450/Fax (614) 564-2481
https://www.odh.ohio.gov

Information on public works projects (other than highway) may be obtained from:

Ohio Facilities Construction Commission
300 West Spring Street, 4th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-6290
https://www.ofcc.ohio.gov

Requirements?

Highway Prequalification: Contractors requesting to become qualified in an amount less than $5,000,000 must provide CPA prepared reviewed financial statement. All applications in an amount of $5,000,000 or more must include CPA prepared audited financial statements. All contractors must have work-type qualification. All subcontractors who will perform more than $800,000 of highway work in a calendar year must obtain a certificate of qualification. Prime contractors may employ subcontractors who do not hold a certificate of qualification, if the subcontractors' collective compensation does not exceed 15% of the bid amount, or $2,000,000 for a specific project. Annual limitations of $800,000 per subcontractor may not be exceeded. Certificates of qualification are issued for a duration of 1 year.

Public works contracts for the Department of Transportation require a performance and payment bond in the amount of 100% of the state's estimate of the job. Other public works contracts require a combined bond equal to the contract, or else a letter of credit, certified check, or cashier's check for 10% of the contract value.

The Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCI LB) issues State Licenses to Commercial Contractors for the following trades: Electrical, HVAC, Hydronics, Plumbing, and Refrigeration. Applicants must pass business law and trade examinations with a passing score of 70% or better, provide documentation of 5 years experience and have the required $500,000 liability insurance. The average application processing time is 90 days.

Initial Fee / Issue Fee / Annual Renewal
$25 / $25 / $60

To receive a state license, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

a. Be at least 18 years of age;

b. Be a United States citizen or a legal alien (must provide proof of being a legal alien);

c. Either have been a trades person in the type of licensed trade for which the application is filed for not less than 5 years immediately prior to the date the application is filed, currently be a registered engineer in Ohio with 3 years
of business experience in the construction industry in the trade for which the engineer is applying to take the examination, or have other experience acceptable to the appropriate section of the board;

d. Never have been convicted of a disqualifying offense as defined in S.B. 337;

e. Pass the examination in the trade;

f. Carry minimum $500,000 contractor liability coverage and

g. Pay the applicable fees.

Once you have been approved by the Board, you are required to complete a State of Ohio (BCI) and Federal (FBI) Background Check prior to sitting for the examination. OCILB approval is valid for 1 year. If you have not obtained a background check and/or taken the required exams after 1 year, you will need to reapply.

RECIPROCAL AGREEMENTS
OCILB will grant reciprocal licenses based on similar licenses or training from other states. Applicants must present a copy of the current license and training from their parent state and must take an Ohio refresher course in the second year of licensure in order to renew.

A reciprocal agreement exists for Master Contractors with Kentucky for Electrical; HVAC and Refrigeration; Louisiana for Electrical, HVAC, Refrigeration and Hydronics; North Carolina for Electrical only; West Virginia for Electrical only; Tennessee for Electrical, Plumbing, Hydronics, HVAC and Refrigeration; and South Carolina for HVAC (South Carolina Packaged Equipment), Electrical and Plumbing.

All states above, except Tennessee, will reciprocate with tested contractors only.


Abatement Contractors:
Applicants must comply with application requirements found in the Ohio EPA Asbestos Program rules at Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) 3745-22-04. Contractor Application Requirements, Criteria, and Standards of Conduct. The annual Asbestos Hazard Abatement Contractor licensing fee is $750.

Asbestos Certified Personnel:
Applicants are required to submit 4 different elements

to process the application:

a. Completed application with original signature;

b. Copy of initial and all refresher training course certificates relating to the applied discipline;

c. Check or money order in the amount of the fee listed on the application; and

d. 1 current, original and clear passport-style color photograph of the applicant or email a digital photo to asbestos@epa.ohio.gov. Save the photo in the JPEG format and name the file using the applicant's last name and last 4 digits of their social security number (i.e. jones1234).

Types of asbestos personal certifications and appropriate fees are as follows:

Type of License / Fee

Asbestos Hazard Abatement Worker / $50

Asbestos Hazard Abatement Specialist / $200
(Requires USEPA approved Contractor/Supervisor training)

Asbestos Hazard Evaluation Specialist / $200
(Requires USEPA Building Inspector and Management Planner training)

Asbestos Hazard Project Designer / $200
Asbestos Hazard Abatement Air Monitoring Technician / $100

Ohio has no reciprocal agreements with other states for asbestos hazard abatement contractor licenses or personal certifications. Business entities must apply for and receive an Ohio asbestos hazard abatement contractor license prior to performing any asbestos hazard abatement work in Ohio. Individua ls must apply for and receive the appropriate Ohio personal asbestos certification prior to performing any corresponding asbestos related work in Ohio.

The Ohio EPA Asbestos Program will accept asbestos training from other states provided the training meets the requirements of the USEPA Model Accreditation Plan and the training provider is a USEPA or state approved asbestos training provider. No additional in-state asbestos training is required prior to applying for certification.

Lead Hazard Abatement Work:
Lead abatement licenses are granted to individua ls, not business entities. All applicants must comply with the licensing application requirements found in the Ohio Department of Health Lead Poisoning Prevention Program Rules and Regulations at OAC 3701-32.

All lead training for Ohio licensing must be taken from an Ohio-approved lead training provider per OAC 3701-32-04 except for RRP training which must be taken from a USEPA/Ohio Department of Health approved training provider.

Lead Licensed Personnel:
All applicants for personal licenses are required to submit 4 different elements in order to process the application:

a. Completed application with original signature;

b. Copy of training course certificate relating to the applied discipline;

c. Check or money order in the amount of the fee listed on the application; and

d. 1 current, original and clear passport-style color photograph of the applicant or email a digital photo to lead@odh.ohio.gov. Save the photo in the JPEG format and name the file using the applicant's last name and last 4 digits of their social security number (i.e. jones1234 ).

Applications can now be submitted online at https://odhgateway.odh.ohio.gov/OdhElectronicForms. Select the link labeled "Online Application" and follow the on screen instructions. All necessary documents can be attached to the electronic application as PDF documents and digital photos can be attached as JPEG documents. Name the file using the applicant's last name and the last 4 digits of their social security number (i.e. jones1234). Payment is made by credit card at the completion of the application process.

In addition to the elements listed above, initial applicants for Lead Risk Assessor, Lead Abatement Contractor and Lead Project Designer must submit documentation of experience in the applicable discipline. Detailed information can be found in OAC 3701-32-04 and the Application for Lead Licensure.

Type of License / Biennial Fee
Lead Abatement Contractor / $500
Lead Abatement Project Designer / $500
Lead Inspector / $250
Lead Risk Assessor / $250
Clear a nee Technician / $250
Lead Abatement Worker / $50

Abatement contractors and personnel may submit initial and renewal license and certification applications electronically by going through the Ohio EPA e-Biz website: https://ebiz.epa.ohio.gov/. Fee payment can be made by credit card or e-Check.

RECIPROCAL AGREEMENTS
ODH does not accept any Lead Training courses from other states; however, there is a policy to allow for out of state lead licensed individuals to submit an application to receive a "reciprocity license". The individual must submit an application fort heir current license type including a current refresher certificate, a legible copy of their
current, valid out of state license, a separate col or photo and the appropriate fees. A "reciprocity I tense" will be granted a single time for a 2 year period. The individual's license shall not be renewed at the end of the 2 year period unless the individual completes an appropriate refresher course in Ohio and conducted by an ODH Approved Lead Training Provider.