Painter (Contractor) states
51
Below median
Occupational licensing · Construction · 51 state boards
Painter (Contractor) Licensing Requirements by State
Painter (Contractor) licensing rules differ by state. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) compilation and responsible state boards (current as of May 15, 2026), this registry compares education hours, initial and renewal fees, exams, background checks and reciprocity notes across 51 boards. Use the table to compare differences, then verify the current rule with the responsible board before applying.
Painter (Contractor) across 51 state boards. Nearest coverage peers (51-state band): Electrician, Elevator Installer, Fire Sprinkler Installer.
- States regulated
- 51
- Require an exam
- 100%
Board Pathway Strip
Painter (Contractor): 51 boards · exam on 100%. Same-lane boards: Electrician, Elevator Installer, Fire Sprinkler Installer.
Commercial and residential painting contractor.
Painter (Contractor): 51/51 boards require an exam (100%); unusually uniform for construction. Electrician is the usual same-lane contrast.
Board thresholds for Painter (Contractor) drift board-to-board; the same pattern shows up on Electrician and Elevator Installer in construction. Methodology notes live on our methods page.
Board gates for Painter (Contractor): exam on 51/51 (100%), background check on 0/51 (0%) , most boards skip mandated CE hours . Stack that against Electrician / Elevator Installer before calling this license soft or hard.
Training-hour peers beyond construction
Coverage band
- Security Alarm Installer · 51 states
- Amusement Ride Operator · 51 states
- Animal Breeder · 51 states
- Arborist / Tree Surgeon · 51 states
Painter (Contractor) boards vs Electrician / Elevator Installer - state table
51 statesWhat to do with this
Painter (Contractor) is regulated in 51 states -- here's how to use that before you act.
- Compare Painter (Contractor)'s requirements against every other tracked profession. Browse all professions
- #59 of 97 professions by number of states requiring a license -- see which states are strictest overall. State burden rankings
- Check whether your license transfers under an interstate compact before assuming you need to start over. Reciprocity guide
Requirements are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research and verified against state board sites where possible; always confirm current rules with the licensing board before relying on any single row.
Every figure on PlainCredential is rendered directly from NCSL and state occupational- licensing board data, no number is typed in by an editor. Painter (Contractor) requirements from NCSL and state board schedules: 51 rows, no hand-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.