General Contractor / Minnesota
2026 data Minnesota board official source

Minnesota General Contractor License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Requirements, fees, and renewal timing for this license, sourced from state board records.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Oversees construction projects. Requirements vary significantly by state.

What the Minnesota data shows for General Contractors

To practice as a general contractor in Minnesota, the state licensing board requires board-approved training, a passing score on State Contractor License Exam, and 4 years of supervised work experience. A criminal history background check is also part of the application. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. The regulation sits under Minnesota's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Experience plus Exam".

Upfront cost is $155, with renewal running $100 on a 2-year cycle. Expect roughly 4 weeks of processing once a complete application is submitted. Renewal isn't the end of the cost: 14 hours of continuing education are due every 2-year cycle, a recurring time commitment worth planning for.

Reciprocity for this profession works like this: Usually not reciprocal — state-by-state basis.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
32/100
General Contractor · Minnesota

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training N/A
N/A
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$224
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$95/yr
$189 every 2 years
Continuing Education A+
None required
No continuing-education mandate
Experience Required F
4 years
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Minnesota

Education / Training Hours
Experience plus Exam
Not specified
Exam Requirement
State Contractor License Exam
Required
Initial License Fee
$224
Renewal Fee
$189
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Processing Time
After complete application submitted
4 wks
Continuing Education
Not required
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years
Work Experience Required
4 years
Compare fees across all states for General Contractor →

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for General Contractor All Minnesota licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Minnesota licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for General Contractor in Minnesota? ▼
Minnesota's requirements cover, the State Contractor License Exam exam, and an initial fee of $224. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a General Contractor in Minnesota? ▼
Certification as a general contractor in Minnesota means clearing the state's checklist plus 4 years of work experience, and a passing exam score. The Minnesota licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my General Contractor license to Minnesota from another state? ▼
General Contractor licenses generally reciprocate as follows: Usually not reciprocal — state-by-state basis. Interstate licensing compacts cover many professions and can further ease a move between states. The Minnesota licensing board can confirm the current rules for your credential.
Does Minnesota require a background check for General Contractor licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the general contractor licensing process in Minnesota. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.
How much does it cost to get a General Contractor license in Minnesota? ▼
The initial licensing fee in Minnesota is $155. The renewal fee is $100 every 2 years. Processing typically takes 4 weeks after submitting your complete application.
How long does General Contractor license processing take in Minnesota? ▼
In Minnesota, license processing for general contractors typically takes approximately 4 weeks after your complete application is submitted. Processing times may vary based on application volume and completeness of documentation.

Related Guides

What to do with this general contractor license

General Contractor in Minnesota, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a general contractor-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how Minnesota's general contractor requirements compare to every other state before relocating. General Contractor in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state general contractor license transfers under an interstate compact before starting a new application. Reciprocity guide
  • See how Minnesota's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Minnesota overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Minnesota licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.