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Quick answer
Alaska law bars a person from bidding or working as a contractor before the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development issues a certificate of registration as a contractor. A general contractor may not undertake or bid on the construction or alteration of a privately-owned residential structure of one to four units without a residential contractor endorsement, which requires an examination.
Alaska · Contractor licenseVerified 2026-10-07
State license
Certificate of registration as a contractor (residential and commercial)
A person may not submit a bid or work as a contractor until the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development has issued that person a certificate of registration as a contractor. A general contractor may not undertake, or bid to undertake, the construction or alteration of a privately-owned residential structure of one to four units without a residential contractor endorsement, which requires passing a residential contractor examination; in that subsection, alteration means changes that have a value greater than 25 percent of the value of the structure being altered.
Residential contractor endorsement, for a general contractor's work on privately-owned residential structures of one to four units: pass a residential contractor examination; the department's page says the endorsement may be obtained after completing a 16-hour cold climate course and passing the residential contractors endorsement exam
Certificate of registration as a contractor (residential and commercial). A person may not submit a bid or work as a contractor until the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development has issued that person a certificate of registration as a contractor. A general contractor may not undertake, or bid to undertake, the construction or alteration of a privately-owned residential structure of one to four units without a residential contractor endorsement, which requires passing a residential contractor examination; in that subsection, alteration means changes that have a value greater than 25 percent of the value of the structure being altered.
(a) A person may not submit a bid or work as a contractor until that person has been issued a certificate of registration as a contractor by the department.
AS 08.18.011(a) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-03
(a) A general contractor may not undertake the construction or alteration, or submit a bid to undertake the construction or alteration of a privately-owned residential structure of one to four units or advertise or publicly represent that the general contractor may undertake work of this type in the state without a residential contractor endorsement issued under this section.
AS 08.18.025(a) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-03
In this subsection, “alteration” means changes that have a value greater than 25 percent of the value of the structure being altered.
AS 08.18.025(a) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-07
(2) passes a residential contractor examination, which shall be offered by the department at least once each year in each judicial district;
AS 08.18.025(b)(2) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-03
License classes
Class
Scope
Source
General contractor
A contractor whose business operations require the use of more than three trades or the use of mechanical or specialty contractors and subcontractors who are under the supervision of the contractor
Held by a general contractor to undertake, or bid to undertake, the construction or alteration of a privately-owned residential structure of one to four units; alteration means changes that have a value greater than 25 percent of the value of the structure being altered
(7) “general contractor” means a contractor whose business operations require the use of more than three trades or the use of mechanical or specialty contractors and subcontractors who are under the supervision of the contractor;
AS 08.18.171(7) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-07
Specialty contractors may perform work that requires the use of not more than three trades.
Other. Residential contractor endorsement: within the two years before applying, completion of the Alaska craftsman home program sponsored by the department, or its equivalent, or a postsecondary course in arctic engineering, or its equivalent. Source: AS 08.18.025(b)(4)
Bond. Surety bond filed with the commissioner when applying for a certificate of registration, except as the statute provides; the amount is $25,000 for a general contractor, $20,000 for a general contractor with a residential contractor endorsement who performs exclusively residential work, $10,000 for a mechanical or specialty contractor, and $5,000 for a contractor whose work on one project has an aggregate contract price of $10,000 or less, when the work is not part of a larger or major operation or divided into contracts to evade a higher bonding requirement; in lieu of the surety bond, the applicant may file with the commissioner a cash deposit or other negotiable security acceptable to the commissioner in the amount specified for bonds. License bond in Alaska. Source: AS 08.18.071(a); AS 08.18.071(b)(1); AS 08.18.071(b)(2); AS 08.18.071(b)(3); AS 08.18.071(b)(4); AS 08.18.071(c)
Liability insurance. Public liability and property damage insurance covering the applicant's contracting operations in the state of not less than $20,000 for damage to property, $50,000 for injury, including death, to any one person, and $100,000 for injury, including death, to more than one person; this requirement does not apply to an applicant whose contracting operations are for work on projects where each project has an aggregate contract price, including all labor, materials, and other items, of $2,500 or less. Source: AS 08.18.101(a)(2)
Workers' compensation. To the extent required under AS 23.30, workers' compensation insurance purchased from a private insurer admitted to do business in the state, or a valid workers' compensation self-insurance certificate issued by the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board. Source: AS 08.18.101(a)(1)
This endorsement may be obtained after an individual has completed a 16-hour cold climate course and passed the residential contractors endorsement exam.
(4) within the two years preceding the date of application for the endorsement, has satisfactorily completed either the Alaska craftsman home program sponsored by the department, or its equivalent, or a postsecondary course in arctic engineering, or its equivalent;
AS 08.18.025(b)(4) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-03
(a) Except as provided in (d) and (e) of this section, each applicant shall, at the time of applying for a certificate of registration, file with the commissioner a surety bond running to the state conditioned upon the applicant's promise to pay all (1) taxes and contributions due the state and political subdivisions; (2) persons furnishing labor or material or renting or supplying equipment to the applicant; and (3) amounts that may be adjudged against the applicant by reason of negligent or improper work or breach of contract in the conduct of the contracting business or home inspection activity, as applicable, or by reason of damage to public facilities occurring in the course of a construction project.
AS 08.18.071(a) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-07
(1) general contractor shall be $25,000;
AS 08.18.071(b)(1) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-03
(2) general contractor with a residential contractor endorsement under AS 08.18.025 who performs exclusively residential work shall be $20,000;
AS 08.18.071(b)(2) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-03
(3) mechanical or specialty contractor or home inspector shall be $10,000;
AS 08.18.071(b)(3) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-07
(4) contractor whose work on one project with an aggregate contract price of $10,000 or less, including all labor, materials, and other items, when the work is not part of a larger or major operation or otherwise divided into contracts of less than $10,000 to evade a higher bonding requirement, shall be $5,000.
AS 08.18.071(b)(4) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-03
In lieu of the surety bond required by this section, the applicant may file with the commissioner a cash deposit or other negotiable security acceptable to the commissioner in the amount specified for bonds.
AS 08.18.071(c) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-07
(2) public liability and property damage insurance covering the applicant's contracting operations in this state in the sum of not less than $20,000 for damage to property, $50,000 for injury, including death, to any one person, and $100,000 for injury, including death, to more than one person; this requirement does not apply to an applicant whose contracting operations are for work on projects where each project has an aggregate contract price, including all labor, materials, and other items of $2,500 or less.
AS 08.18.101(a)(2) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-07
(1) to the extent required under AS 23.30, workers' compensation insurance that is purchased from a private insurer who is admitted to do business in the state and that shows coverage in this state, appropriate employee classifications, and rates applicable in this state, or a valid workers' compensation self-insurance certificate issued by the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board;
AS 08.18.101(a)(1) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-07
Fees
Fee
Amount
As of
Source
Nonrefundable application fee for initial registration or residential contractor endorsement
12 AAC 02.180(a)(8) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-03
Term and continuing education
Term and renewal. The fee rule sets the certificate of registration renewal fee and the residential contractor endorsement renewal fee per biennial period.
Continuing education. The department may not renew a residential contractor endorsement unless the applicant submits proof of continued competency relating to residential contracting that satisfies the department.
(c) The department may not renew an endorsement issued under this section unless the applicant submits proof of continued competency relating to residential contracting that satisfies the department.
AS 08.18.025(c) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-03
Contracting without a license
In an action by the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development or the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the superior court may enjoin a person from acting in the capacity of a contractor in violation of the chapter, and may also impose a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 for each violation; each day an unlawful act continues is a separate violation. The department may also impose an administrative fine of not more than $1,000 for the first violation and not more than $1,500 for a second or subsequent violation of AS 08.18.011 or 08.18.025, but not on a person acting as a contractor in an area with a population of 1,000 or less that is not connected by road or rail to Anchorage or Fairbanks. A person who knowingly violates AS 08.18.011 or 08.18.025 and has been previously convicted of violating either section, found guilty of a violation under AS 08.18.117 involving either section, or fined under AS 08.18.125 is guilty of a class B misdemeanor. A person acting in the capacity of a contractor may not bring an action in a court of the state to collect compensation for work, or for breach of a contract, for which registration is required without alleging and proving registration at the time of contracting.
In an action instituted in the superior court by the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development or the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the court may enjoin a person from acting in the capacity of a contractor in violation of this chapter.
In addition to other relief, the court may impose a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 for each violation. Each day that an unlawful act continues constitutes a separate violation.
(a) Notwithstanding any other remedy available under this chapter and except as provided in (e) of this section, the department may impose an administrative fine of not more than $1,000 for the first violation and not more than $1,500 for a second or subsequent violation of either AS 08.18.011 or 08.18.025.
AS 08.18.125(a) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-07
(e) The department may not impose an administrative fine on a person who is acting as a contractor or home inspector in an area with a population of 1,000 or less that is not connected by road or rail to Anchorage or Fairbanks.
AS 08.18.125(e) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-07
(a) A contractor, a home inspector, or a person acting in the capacity of a contractor or home inspector is guilty of a class B misdemeanor if the person (1) knowingly violates AS 08.18.011 or 08.18.025; and (2) has been previously (A) convicted of violating AS 08.18.011 or 08.18.025; (B) found guilty of a violation under AS 08.18.117 if the violation involved AS 08.18.011 or 08.18.025; or (C) fined under AS 08.18.125.
AS 08.18.141(a) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-07
A person acting in the capacity of a contractor or home inspector may not bring an action in a court of this state for the collection of compensation for the performance of work or for breach of a contract for which registration is required under this chapter without alleging and proving that the contractor or home inspector was a registered contractor or registered home inspector, as applicable, at the time of contracting for the performance of the work.
Alaska's credential is the certificate of registration as a contractor, and until the department issues one, the statute bars a person from bidding or working as a contractor [1]. The issuing office is the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing (Construction Contractors).
Homes add a second layer. A general contractor may not undertake or bid on the construction or alteration of a privately-owned residential structure of one to four units without a residential contractor endorsement [1]. In that subsection, alteration covers only changes worth more than 25 percent of the structure's value [1].
Contractor categories, the endorsement and the bond
The categories differ by trade count and project size. The statute defines a general contractor by business operations that require more than three trades, or mechanical or specialty contractors and subcontractors under its supervision [1], while the division's page lets specialty contractors take work requiring not more than three trades and handyman contractors take projects with an aggregate contract of $10,000 or less each [2]. The residential contractor endorsement is held by a general contractor [1].
The endorsement has its own exam. The statute requires a residential contractor examination [1], and the division's page says the endorsement may be obtained after a 16-hour cold climate course and the exam [2]. Within the two years before applying, the applicant also completes the Alaska craftsman home program or a postsecondary course in arctic engineering, or an equivalent of either [1].
For registration, the statute calls for a surety bond running to the state, filed with the commissioner when applying, except as the statute provides. Its amount varies by contractor type, from $25,000 for a general contractor down to $5,000 for a contractor whose work on one project has an aggregate contract price of $10,000 or less and is not part of a larger or major operation or divided to evade a higher bonding requirement [1]. A cash deposit or other negotiable security acceptable to the commissioner may be filed instead [1]. Public liability and property damage insurance is also required, unless each project's aggregate contract price is $2,500 or less [1]. Workers' compensation coverage applies to the extent AS 23.30 requires it [1].
Cost and the biennial cycle
As of October 3, 2026, the nonrefundable application fee for initial registration or residential contractor endorsement is $100 per application [3]. The other charges, for registration and the endorsement, run by biennial period, and renewal fees for both are set per biennial renewal [3].
Renewing the endorsement also turns on competency: the department may not renew it without proof of continued competency in residential contracting that satisfies the department [1].
Consequences in the statute
In a superior court action brought by the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development or the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the court may enjoin a person from acting as a contractor in violation of the chapter [1]. It may also impose a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 per violation, each day of a continuing unlawful act counting separately [1].
The Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development may separately impose an administrative fine for violating AS 08.18.011 or 08.18.025, up to $1,000 for a first violation and $1,500 for a later one [1]. It may not fine a person acting as a contractor in an area with a population of 1,000 or less that is not connected by road or rail to Anchorage or Fairbanks [1].
A knowing violation of either section is a class B misdemeanor when the person was previously convicted of violating either, found guilty under AS 08.18.117 of a violation involving either, or fined under AS 08.18.125 [1]. A contractor also may not sue in a state court for compensation or breach of contract for work requiring registration without alleging and proving registration at the time of contracting [1].
