Where ICC National Standard Contractor/Trade Exams Are Used for Licensing

Contractors frequently search for a simple list of states that accept ICC National Standard Contractor/Trade Exams. Unfortunately, contractor licensing in the United States is rarely that simple.

An ICC National Standard exam may be accepted by one city or county but not by the neighboring jurisdiction. Some states regulate certain trades statewide while allowing cities and counties to license general contractors locally. Other areas accept several versions of the same ICC contractor exam, such as the F-series, G-series or T-series exam.

The International Code Council’s Contractor/Trades examination program independently evaluates the knowledge of contractors and trade professionals. However, ICC is not a licensing agency. Passing an ICC National Standard Contractor/Trade Exam does not automatically give someone a contractor license. The city, county, regional building department or state licensing agency decides whether a particular examination satisfies its testing requirement. (ICC)

This guide identifies the states and local licensing areas that could be verified through official government and ICC materials as using or accepting ICC National Standard exams. Requirements can change, so every applicant should confirm the exact exam ID, code edition and application requirements before scheduling.

Quick List of Areas Using ICC National Standard Exams

Colorado Areas Using ICC National Standard Contractor Exams

Colorado has one of the largest concentrations of local governments using ICC National Standard building contractor exams. Colorado does not have a single statewide general contractor license. Instead, cities, counties and regional building departments establish their own contractor licensing rules.

Denver

Denver uses several of the best-known ICC National Standard contractor examinations for construction supervisor certificates:

• F11 National Standard General Building Contractor A for a Class A Supervisor Certificate
• F12 National Standard Building Contractor B for Class B and B-2 certificates
• F13 National Standard Residential Building Contractor C for residential contractor licensing

Applicants must also document the required construction experience and complete Denver’s certificate application process. Passing the F11, F12 or F13 exam alone is not sufficient. (denvergov.org)

Pikes Peak Regional Building Department

The Pikes Peak Regional Building Department administers contractor licensing for Colorado Springs and several surrounding communities. Its service area includes Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Fountain, Woodland Park, Manitou Springs, Monument, Green Mountain Falls, Palmer Lake and Calhan.

Accepted ICC National Standard examinations include:

• G11 General Building Contractor A
• G12 Building Contractor B
• G13 Residential Building Contractor C
• G14 Roofing Contractor
• G29 Master Mechanical
• F32 Residential Mechanical
• G33 Master Gas Pipe Fitter
• G31 Journeyman Mechanical

The department specifically warns that passing an ICC contractor exam is not itself a license and does not guarantee approval. (PPRBD)

Fort Collins

Fort Collins requires an ICC exam for its general contractor supervisor certificates and for several specialized trade contractor classifications.

The city accepts:

• G11 National Standard Building Contractor A
• G12 National Standard Building Contractor B
• G13 National Standard Building Contractor C
• G14 National Standard Roofing Contractor
• G29 National Standard Master Mechanical
• G33 National Standard Master Gas Pipe Fitter
• F46 National Standard Framing Contractor

Fort Collins adopted newer building codes in late 2025, but its January 2026 application materials continued to list these National Standard exam IDs. Applicants should confirm whether a newer exam version has been added before registering. (Fort Collins)

Thornton

Thornton accepts current ICC contractor certification as evidence of qualification for Class A General, Class B Building, Class C Residential, Class D Mechanical and Class D Roofing contractor licenses. The city’s licensing packet directs applicants to the ICC Contractor/Trades exam catalog and requires an exam based on Thornton’s currently adopted code. (City of Thornton)

Jefferson County

Jefferson County uses National Standard exams for several contractor license categories:

• G11 Class A Contractor
• G12 Class B Contractor
• G13 Class C Contractor
• G14 Roofing Contractor
• G29 Class A Mechanical Contractor
• G31 Class B Mechanical Contractor
• F32 Class C Residential Mechanical Contractor

Jefferson County’s published exam information identifies these as ICC National Standard exam categories and explains that an exam pass is only one part of the local licensing process. (Jefferson County)

Other Verified Colorado Licensing Areas

Additional Colorado jurisdictions with published requirements referencing ICC National Standard exams include:

Wheat Ridge uses G11, G12 and G13 for its building contractor classifications and accepts national mechanical and specialty examinations. (Wheat Ridge)

Frederick lists National Standard building, roofing and mechanical examinations for applicable contractor license classifications. (Frederick CO)

Louisville recognizes G11, G12 and G13 building contractor examinations and G31 for its journeyman mechanical classification. (Laserfiche)

Routt County Regional Building Department lists F11, F12, F13 and F14 examinations for applicable general, building, residential and roofing contractor credentials. (Routt County)

Because Colorado contractor licensing is highly localized, a contractor planning to work in several Colorado cities may need separate applications even when the same ICC G11, G12 or G13 exam is accepted by each city.

Illinois Areas Using ICC National Standard Electrical Exams

Illinois does not have one statewide electrical contractor license that replaces every municipal requirement. Certain cities establish their own electrical registration and examination rules.

Urbana

Urbana requires its supervising electrician applicants to pass the ICC National Standard Master Electrician Examination. The city also recognizes the:

• National Standard Residential Electrician Exam
• National Standard Maintenance Electrician Exam

The type of exam passed affects the scope of electrical work the registrant may supervise.

Springfield

Springfield’s published electrical licensing information identifies the W16 National Standard Master Electrician Exam as an examination pathway for its electrical contractor licensing process. Applicants should confirm whether Springfield has moved to a newer F-, G-, T- or R-series version before testing.

Indiana Areas Using ICC National Standard Trade Exams

Indiana regulates some construction trades at the state level, but mechanical, electrical and general contractor requirements can also be established locally.

Elkhart

Elkhart’s current mechanical licensing checklist allows an applicant to qualify by passing the:

• F29 National Standard Master Mechanical Exam

An applicant approved through the ICC mechanical examination can qualify for Elkhart’s mechanical license classes, subject to the city’s experience, bond, fee and application requirements.

Elkhart also states that certain out-of-state electrical applicants must pass the G16 Master Electrician Exam before becoming eligible for a city electrical license. (City of Elkhart)

Kansas Areas Using ICC National Standard Building Exams

Sedgwick County

Sedgwick County publishes an accepted ICC general contractor exam list containing both Kansas Standard exams and National Standard exams.

Accepted National Standard examinations include:

• F11 and G11 — General Building Contractor A
• F12 and G12 — Building Contractor B
• F13 and G13 — Residential Building Contractor C
• F14 and G14 — Roofing Contractor/Subcontractor

This gives applicants with certain older F-series exam results and newer G-series exam results possible licensing pathways, although the county must still approve the application.

Nebraska Areas Using ICC National Standard Contractor Exams

Lincoln

Lincoln requires mechanical master applicants to complete local testing and pass the G29 National Standard Master Mechanical Exam.

The National Standard portion covers the International Mechanical Code and International Fuel Gas Code, while Lincoln separately tests applicants on local gas code provisions, adopted amendments, duct sizing and load calculations.

Older ICC materials also stated that Omaha contractor examinations were transitioning to equivalent National Standard titles. Applicants in Omaha should verify the exact current exam directly with the city before relying on an older pass letter. (ICC)

New York Areas Using ICC National Standard Electrical Exams

New York contractor and trade licensing is frequently administered by counties and municipalities rather than through one statewide general contractor license.

Jamestown

Jamestown uses ICC to administer examinations for:

• National Standard Master Electrician for a Class I electrician
• National Standard Journeyman Electrician for a Class II electrician

Passing the appropriate examination does not eliminate the requirement to apply to and receive approval from the Jamestown Board of Electrical Examiners. (City of Jamestown, New York)

Putnam County

Putnam County’s contractor examination bulletin includes:

• C-National Standard Master Electrician
• C-National Standard Journeyman Electrician

The county also administers separate plumbing, HVAC, refrigeration and gas-fitting examinations. Applicants must receive approval through the appropriate Putnam County licensing board before scheduling. (Putnam County, New York)

Ohio Areas Using ICC National Standard Plumbing Exams

Columbus

Columbus requires applicants for its journeyperson plumber license to submit a passing score of at least 70% on the:

• F25 National Standard Journeyman Plumber Exam

The applicant must also satisfy the city’s experience requirement and obtain approval through the Skilled Trades Review Board. Columbus notes that an F25 passing score generally becomes invalid for licensing purposes after one year unless an application has been submitted. (Columbus Ohio)

This Columbus license should not be confused with an Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board plumbing contractor license. The city journeyperson credential and the state commercial plumbing contractor credential serve different purposes.

Pennsylvania Areas Using ICC National Standard Trade Exams

Pittsburgh Electrical Licensing

Pittsburgh accepts several code-year versions of the ICC National Standard Master Electrician Exam:

• F16, based on the 2014 NEC
• G16, based on the 2017 NEC
• T16, based on the 2020 NEC

The city advises applicants to select a version consistent with the most recent code edition adopted through Pennsylvania’s Uniform Construction Code. (City of Pittsburgh)

Pittsburgh Mechanical and HVAC Licensing

For mechanical and HVAC trade licensing, Pittsburgh recognizes:

• F29 National Standard Master Mechanical
• W29 National Standard Master Mechanical

These versions use different editions of the International Mechanical Code, International Fuel Gas Code and National Electrical Code. (City of Pittsburgh)

Tennessee Areas Using ICC National Standard Electrical Exams

Memphis and Shelby County

The Joint Electrical Code for Memphis and Shelby County requires a master electrician applicant to provide confirmation from ICC of a passing score on the National Standard Master Electrician Examination.

The code also provides an optional local journeyman electrician license pathway using the National Standard Journeyman Electrician Examination. The journeyman license is described as optional, while the master electrician credential is tied directly to the electrical licensing process. (Shelby County, TN)

Texas Areas Using ICC National Standard Contractor Exams

San Antonio

San Antonio requires a residential home builder contractor, or an approved certified agent associated with the company, to hold an approved residential credential unless an applicable grandfathering exemption applies.

Approved ICC credentials include:

• G13 National Residential Building Contractor
• F11 National Standard General Building Contractor
• F13 National Standard Residential Building Contractor

San Antonio also accepts certain ICC inspector and plans examiner certifications as alternative approved credentials. Its Information Bulletin 228 was revised again in July 2026, making it especially important to review the latest version before applying. (Docs Online)

Wyoming Areas Using ICC National Standard Contractor Exams

Jackson

Jackson states that it accepts ICC National Standard exams beginning with the letter G, indicating examinations based on the 2018 I-Codes.

That distinction matters because an older F-series pass letter may not satisfy Jackson’s current requirement, even when the older exam has a similar title. (Jackson WY)

Cody

Cody uses ICC National Standard examinations for several contractor license classifications, including:

• General Building Contractor Class A or B
• Residential Building Contractor Class C
• National Standard Master Mechanical
• National Standard Journeyman Mechanical
• National Standard Master Plumber with Gas
• National Standard Journeyman Plumber with Gas

Applicants must also provide the required amount of documented experience for their chosen license classification. (Cody, WY)

Common ICC National Standard Contractor Exam Codes

The National Standard exams most frequently appearing in local licensing requirements include:

ICC’s online exam catalog allows candidates to search by exam ID, exam title, program type and jurisdiction. Approved books, exam duration, number of questions and code editions should be checked in the current catalog before purchasing references or scheduling. (ICC)

Are ICC National Standard Exams Accepted in Every State?

No. The word “National” does not mean that every state, city or county is required to accept the examination.

“National Standard” describes the ICC examination program and exam content. Licensing authority remains with the applicable government agency. A jurisdiction may:

• Accept one or more National Standard exams
• Accept only a particular code-year version
• Require a separate state or local examination
• Require both a National Standard exam and a local law exam
• Accept an exam only when the passing score is less than a certain number of years old
• Require experience, insurance, bonding or board approval in addition to testing

An applicant should never register solely because an exam title sounds appropriate.

How to Confirm Which ICC Contractor Exam You Need

Before paying for an ICC contractor license exam, obtain written confirmation of the following from the licensing department:

1. Exact examination ID: Confirm whether the agency requires F11, G11, F29, G29 or another specific version.
2. Code-book edition: Verify the IBC, IRC, NEC, IPC, IMC or IFGC edition used on the examination.
3. Score validity period: Some jurisdictions will not accept an older passing score.
4. Preapproval requirement: Certain licensing agencies require application approval before the candidate can schedule.
5. Additional requirements: Ask about work experience, insurance, bonding, background checks, business registration and local exams.
6. Reciprocity: Passing the same ICC exam may help in more than one city, but it does not automatically transfer the license itself.

ICC specifically advises candidates to begin with the local jurisdiction or employer to determine which examination is required. (ICC)

Frequently Asked Questions

Start Preparing for Your ICC Contractor License Exam

ICC National Standard Contractor/Trade Exams are used for general building, residential construction, roofing, framing, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, HVAC and gas-fitting license requirements across numerous cities and counties.

The most important step is identifying the exact examination required by your licensing jurisdiction. Once you have confirmed the exam ID and approved references, begin practicing code-book navigation, timed questions and realistic contractor exam scenarios.

Review your state contractor license exam requirements and begin preparing with realistic contractor license practice exams.

Research note: This article identifies jurisdictions verified through publicly available government or ICC materials as of July 2026. It should not be interpreted as a guarantee that no additional city or county accepts these examinations. Local contractor licensing rules and accepted exam editions can change without notice.

Related ICC and contractor exam resources

• ICC National Standard Contractor Licensing Exam Details
• All state contractor license exams
• States that accept the NASCLA contractor exam
• PSI testing center contractor exam guide
• Contractor license exam registration checklist
• Open-book code book tabbing strategy
• How to prepare for your contractor license exam