Class A
Scope: Unlimited contract amounts statewide
Testing: North Dakota contractor exam on statutes, liens, and safety
North Dakota Contractor License Exam Guide (2026)
North Dakota jobs swing from Bakken well pads to Red River floodwalls and Minot missile silos. The Secretary of State licenses contractors in Classes A through D based on contract value, and every applicant must pass an open-book exam on state law, lien rules, and safety.
Last verified: May 2026 via North Dakota Secretary of State. Official source: North Dakota Secretary of State (contractor licensing—verify).
- Class A-DLicense tiers
- Open Book35-question exam
- $4K+Work requires license
How North Dakota licenses contractors
Any contractor performing more than $4,000 of work annually must hold a North Dakota license. The Secretary of State issues Class D (up to $100k) through Class A (unlimited) credentials after applicants pass the state law exam, submit financial statements, and provide liability insurance.
Contractors design for minus-thirty wind chill, 70-psf prairie snow, gumbo clay heave, and spring floods. Exams highlight frost-depth footings, grain-bin lightning protection, and oilfield safety programs.
Official source: North Dakota Secretary of State (contractor licensing—verify)
North Dakota licensing at a glance
- Class A-D — License tiers
- Open Book — 35-question exam
- Typical cost: $100 application/exam fee
- State-specific trade exam required (NASCLA not accepted for primary licensing path)
- Common license path: Class A
North Dakota contractor license types
Class B
Scope: Projects up to $500,000
Testing: Same state exam
Class C/D
Scope: Projects up to $300,000 / $100,000
Testing: Same exam; primarily small GC or specialty work
Applicants must provide a financial statement showing net worth that matches their desired class, carry liability insurance, and register for workers-comp through Workforce Safety & Insurance.
What's on the North Dakota contractor exam
The Secretary of State offers the exam online and at the Bismarck office; PSI centers in Fargo and Minot provide proctored versions for larger firms.
What North Dakota exam questions emphasize
- North Dakota Century Code 43-07 licensing requirements
- Lien law Chapter 35-27 and notice timelines
- Reporting and withholding rules for multi-county crews
- OSHA cold-weather safety, trenching, and confined-space rules
Exam-day logistics
- Schedule after submitting the application and fees
- Bring government ID and the Secretary of State law booklet
- Results post immediately; pay the license fee and submit insurance proof to activate the number
North Dakota contractor exam blueprint (verified July 2026)
| Licensing authority | North Dakota Secretary of State (contractor licensing) |
|---|---|
| When required | More than $4,000 of contracting work annually (confirm current statute/threshold) |
| Exams | North Dakota state law/contractor exam (NASCLA does not waive it) |
| NASCLA | Not a substitute for the North Dakota law exam |
| Money | ~$100 application/exam fee; annual license fees roughly $90–$450 by class |
| Key gotcha | Class and fee tier matter for oilfield vs municipal work—pick the correct class up front |
What trips North Dakota applicants up
Any contractor doing more than $4,000 of work annually generally needs a North Dakota license and the state law exam—even if you already hold NASCLA elsewhere.
Verified sources: North Dakota Secretary of State (contractor licensing—verify) · North Dakota official licensing page.
Who needs a North Dakota contractor license (and who does not)
Contractors above the annual work threshold generally need a Secretary of State license and the state law exam—even with out-of-state credentials.
| Class A / B / C/D contractor | Covers: Contracting within the monetary/class limits of that license Authority: North Dakota Secretary of State — application + state law exam |
|---|---|
| Under-threshold / exempt assumptions | Covers: Assuming no license is needed for all small jobs Authority: Confirm current dollar threshold and local permit rules before bidding |
| NASCLA substitution | Covers: Using NASCLA instead of the North Dakota law exam Authority: Not accepted — ND still requires its own exam |
Most-missed North Dakota contractor exam topics
Century Code licensing duties and multi-county withholding/lien notices trip candidates who only drill code books.
- North Dakota Century Code 43-07 licensing requirements
- Lien law Chapter 35-27 notice timelines
- Reporting and withholding rules for multi-county crews
- Choosing the correct class before the fee tier and bid limit lock in
- State law exam content that is statute-heavy rather than code-lookup heavy
Trade-specific exam guides
If you're licensing in a single trade rather than the North Dakota general contractor classification, the dedicated trade hub will get you to the right code book and exam structure faster.
- General contractor exam guide — IBC/IRC, NASCLA acceptance, and Business & Law.
- Electrical contractor exam guide — NEC (NFPA 70) calculations and grounding/bonding.
- Plumbing contractor exam guide — IPC/UPC drainage sizing, venting, and backflow.
- HVAC contractor exam guide — IMC ventilation, refrigerant management, and load calcs.
North Dakota code books & approved references (2026)
Always confirm the exact editions and tab rules in your candidate bulletin before exam day. Editions can change between license cycles.
- North Dakota Century Code 43-07 (Contractors)
- North Dakota Mechanics Lien Law (Chapter 35-27)
- North Dakota energy code (IECC 2018 base)
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926
- Workforce Safety & Insurance rules
Fees & timeline for the North Dakota contractor license
- $100 application/exam fee
- $90-$450 annual license fee depending on class
- Liability insurance and workers-comp premiums
- City business licenses (Fargo, Bismarck, Minot) if required
- Continuing education costs for electricians/plumbers holding state trade credentials
Use the All States hub for budgeting; confirm current fees with the Secretary of State.
North Dakota Business & Law focus
The open-book exam covers North Dakota statutes, lien law, payroll taxes, unemployment insurance, and OSHA basics.
- Understand the definition of contracting under NDCC 43-07
- Know mechanics lien procedures, prelien notice, and foreclosure timelines
- Register with the Tax Commissioner for withholding, sales, and contractor certificates
- Maintain records for Workforce Safety & Insurance audits
Practice with our North Dakota law & exam prep and the national Business & Law exam hub for cross-state baseline rules.
NASCLA acceptance in North Dakota
North Dakota requires its own state law/contractor exam even if you hold NASCLA elsewhere. Contractors above the annual work threshold still file with the Secretary of State and pass the North Dakota exam for their class. Confirm the current candidate bulletin for your classification, then use timed state-specific practice instead of assuming an out-of-state NASCLA letter will transfer.
More: National NASCLA exam guide and our in-depth NASCLA Accredited Exam study walkthrough.
A focused 4-week study plan for the North Dakota exam
Because Contractors design for minus-thirty wind chill, 70-psf prairie snow, gumbo clay heave, and spring floods, this four-week outline targets what North Dakota field inspectors and your licensing board exam items actually test—not generic national prep.
- Week 1 — Map the exam. Pull your current candidate bulletin, list every reference, and confirm the modules you have to pass. Start a one-page error log. Spend extra time on: North Dakota Century Code 43-07 licensing requirements.
- Week 2 — Code book navigation. Drill open-book lookups (or memorisation drills if your module is closed-book) until you can find any answer in under 60 seconds. Anchor practice around: Lien law Chapter 35-27 and notice timelines.
- Week 3 — Business & Law. The open-book exam covers North Dakota statutes, lien law, payroll taxes, unemployment insurance, and OSHA basics. Layer in scenario-based questions on contracts, lien notice, payroll, and insurance.
- Week 4 — Full simulations. The Secretary of State offers the exam online and at the Bismarck office; PSI centers in Fargo and Minot provide proctored versions for larger firms. Run two full-length timed simulations. Review every miss with a one-sentence rule statement.
FAQs - North Dakota contractor exam
Who needs a North Dakota contractor license?
Any firm performing $4,000 or more of work in a year.
How are classes determined?
By the size of contracts and the applicant's financial statement.
Is the exam open book?
Yes, using the provided ND law excerpts.
Does North Dakota accept NASCLA?
No; the state law exam is mandatory.
What insurance is required?
General liability and Workforce Safety & Insurance coverage.
How often do I renew?
Annually, with updated insurance certificates and fees.
Where are exams offered?
Online through the Secretary of State and at PSI centers.
More North Dakota contractor exam prep resources
Core resources
Exam-day reading
Recommended for North Dakota candidates
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