Compare State Requirements
Select up to 5 states and a trade to compare licensing requirements side-by-side. Understand regulatory differences before planning your expansion.
Geographic Comparison — Click a state to add it
Florida
Georgia
Tennessee
Easiest Entry
Georgia
High difficulty · 6-10 Weeks
Lowest Cost
Tennessee
Est. $2325 total entry cost
Requirement
Florida
FLGeorgia
GATennessee
TNGeneral Contractor / Building Scope
CGC (General) / CBC (Building) / CRC (Residential)
Division I. 10-year endorsement available. NASCLA accepted.
Commercial GC (unlimited) / Limited Tier ($1M cap)
Chapter 14 trades must be separately licensed.
BC (Building Construction — full)
May bid any project; subcontract non-classified work $25k+. NASCLA accepted.
Trade Exam Required
Yes
Yes
Yes
NASCLA Accepted
Yes
Yes
Yes
Regulatory Model
State licensing board (CILB — Division I & II)
State licensing board (residential + commercial GC)
State licensing board (BC, HC, HRA, MU, CMC, CE)
Licensing Board
Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB)
State Licensing Board for Residential & Commercial General Contractors
TN Board for Licensing Contractors (TDCI)
Regulatory Difficulty
Very High
High
High
Estimated Timeline
8-14 Weeks
6-10 Weeks
6-10 Weeks
Reciprocity With
LA, MS, NC
LA, MS, NC, SC, TN
AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, OH, SC
Qualifier Ownership
Required (qualifier must be W2 employee or owner)
Required (qualifying agent employed or ownership)
Required (qualifying party must be employed)
Minimum Insurance
$300k GL / $50k PD minimum
$500k GL minimum
Varies by classification; WC required if employees
Registration / License Fee
$249
$200
$250
Estimated Entry Cost
License Fee:$249
Exam Fee:$75
Bond (est.):$3600
Insurance (est.):$4500
Total:$8424
License Fee:$200
Exam Fee:$75
Bond (est.):$6000
Insurance (est.):$7500
Total:$13775
License Fee:$250
Exam Fee:$75
Bond (est.):$500
Insurance (est.):$1500
Total:$2325
Key Notes
Division I (CGC, CBC, CRC) and Division II (trades). 10-year endorsement available. NASCLA accepted. HB 735 eliminated local licenses for unregulated trades.
Commercial GC unlimited; Limited Tier capped at $1M/contract. Chapter 14 trades (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) must be separately licensed. NASCLA accepted.
Every license carries a monetary limit. BC (Building Construction) may bid any project but must subcontract work not classified when portion is $25k+. Masonry prime $25k+, sub $100k+. NASCLA accepted. 34 Building Categories.
Best States for Expansion
Select your home state to see the top 5 recommended expansion targets, ranked by reciprocity, NASCLA acceptance, and ease of entry.
1
Mississippi
Score: 75Reciprocity with FL — exam waiver likelyAccepts NASCLA — reduces exam burdenModerate regulatory difficulty
Difficulty: MediumTimeline: 4-8 WeeksEst. Cost: $8375
2
North Carolina
Score: 65Reciprocity with FL — exam waiver likelyAccepts NASCLA — reduces exam burden
Difficulty: HighTimeline: 6-10 WeeksEst. Cost: $2175
3
South Carolina
Score: 65Reciprocity with FL — exam waiver likelyAccepts NASCLA — reduces exam burden
Difficulty: HighTimeline: 6-10 WeeksEst. Cost: $2275
4
Tennessee
Score: 65Reciprocity with FL — exam waiver likelyAccepts NASCLA — reduces exam burden
Difficulty: HighTimeline: 6-10 WeeksEst. Cost: $2325
View Tennessee Guide In comparison
5
Idaho
Score: 50Low regulatory difficultyNo trade exam required for GCNo qualifier/qualifying party requirementLow estimated entry cost (<$1,000)Fast licensing timeline (2-4 weeks)
Difficulty: LowTimeline: 2-4 WeeksEst. Cost: $830
