Painter (Contractor) / New York
2026 data New York board official source

New York Painter (Contractor) License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

State-board requirements, fees, and renewal cycle drawn from official regulator records.

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Commercial and residential painting contractor.

What the New York data shows for Painter (Contractor)s

New York sets the entry bar for painter (contractor)s at board-approved training and a passing score on a state-approved exam. The credential is administered under New York's licensing regime, which classifies the training track as "Experience/Apprenticeship".

Budget $150 to get started on a 2-year cycle. Continuing education is not a listed requirement for this profession in New York, so the annualized maintenance burden is lower than in states that mandate ongoing hours.

There's no published reciprocity list here - New York reviews out-of-state credentials individually.

Licensing Ease Score

C+
Licensing Ease Score
62/100
Painter (Contractor) · New York

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 A+
None required
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$150
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden N/A
N/A
Renewal fee annualized over the renewal cycle
Continuing Education N/A
N/A
Continuing-education hours annualized over the renewal cycle
Experience Required N/A
N/A
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in New York

Education / Training Hours
Experience/Apprenticeship
Not specified
Exam Requirement
Required
Initial License Fee
$150
Renewal Fee
N/A
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
Not required
Criminal History Check
Not Required

Compare & Explore

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Painter (Contractor) in New York? ▼
New York's requirements cover, a state exam, and an initial fee of $150.
How do I get certified as a Painter (Contractor) in New York? ▼
New York licenses painter (contractor)s who complete its requirements and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the New York licensing board.
Can I transfer my Painter (Contractor) license to New York from another state? ▼
New York doesn't publish a standing reciprocity policy for painter (contractor)s; each out-of-state application is reviewed on its own merits. Some professions fall under interstate compacts that ease portability regardless. The New York licensing board can confirm what applies to your case.
Does New York require a background check for Painter (Contractor) licensing? ▼
New York doesn't condition painter (contractor) licensure on a criminal background check, though employers in the field may impose their own screening requirements.

Related Guides

What to do with this painter (contractor) license

Painter (Contractor) in New York is one requirement row in a painter (contractor)-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the New York 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.