Transfer Your Contractor License to North Dakota: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
North Dakota issues no general contractor license: it requires only a state registration, so there is no license to transfer by reciprocity or endorsement. Register with the North Dakota Secretary of State. Not applicable — the North Dakota contractor license is a Secretary of State registration with no qualifying examination; nonresident contractors register on the same basis as residents.
Moving to North Dakota from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
No state license — registration only
The structural fact first: North Dakota issues no general contractor license — contractors only register, so a general contractor moving here has no state license to transfer; what it needs is the state registration. The work is to identify the registration the North Dakota Secretary of State requires and meet its rules. Trade licenses are a separate question: check your trade and class in the checker before you assume anything carries over.
North Dakota's contractor 'license' is a REGISTRATION with the Secretary of State (NDCC ch. 43-07), required when the value of a job exceeds $4,000 and applying to general contractors, subcontractors, public, and nonresident contractors. There is no qualifying exam or experience test — the applicant signs a statement of experience — so reciprocity/exam-transfer is not applicable. The license class (A-D) is chosen by the maximum job value; applicant supplies liability insurance and a WSI workers'-comp certificate and applies via the FirstStop portal. Electrical trades are separately licensed by the North Dakota State Electrical Board (a NERA electrical-reciprocity member), which is distinct from this SoS registration.
North Dakota requirements at a glance
| Exam | Not applicable — the North Dakota contractor license is a Secretary of State registration with no qualifying examination; nonresident contractors register on the same basis as residents |
|---|---|
| General contractor registration |
|
| Registration fee | $100–$450 (Initial license fee by class: Class D (up to $100,000/job) $100, Class C (up to $300,000) $225, Class B (up to $500,000) $300, Class A (over $500,000) $450; renewals $30-$90) |
| Registration processing | Board does not publish a stated processing time |
Step by step
- Register with the North Dakota Secretary of State: North Dakota issues no general contractor license, so there is no license to transfer by reciprocity.
- Check the North Dakota Secretary of State (linked on this page) for its current registration requirements and fee — rules change.
- Register your business entity or trade name with the Secretary of State.
- Submit the Contractor License Application through the FirstStop portal with a signed statement of experience and qualifications.
- Provide a certificate of liability insurance in the license name.
- Provide a Workforce Safety & Insurance (WSI) certificate of payment for workers' compensation coverage.
- Pay the registration fee ($100–$450 (Initial license fee by class: Class D (up to $100,000/job) $100, Class C (up to $300,000) $225, Class B (up to $500,000) $300, Class A (over $500,000) $450; renewals $30-$90)). Processing time: Board does not publish a stated processing time.
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into North Dakota:
Nearby states
Contractor license transfer into the states bordering North Dakota:
North Dakota for other professions
- Nursing in North Dakota
- Cosmetology / Barber in North Dakota
- Real Estate in North Dakota
- Teaching in North Dakota
- CPA / Accounting in North Dakota
- Electrician in North Dakota
- Plumber in North Dakota
- Engineering in North Dakota
- Pharmacy in North Dakota
- Physical Therapy in North Dakota
- Psychology in North Dakota
- Counseling in North Dakota
- Social Work in North Dakota
- Occupational Therapy in North Dakota
Frequently asked questions
Does my contractor license transfer to North Dakota?
North Dakota issues no general contractor license: contractors register with the North Dakota Secretary of State instead, so there is no license to transfer by reciprocity. Not applicable — the North Dakota contractor license is a Secretary of State registration with no qualifying examination; nonresident contractors register on the same basis as residents.
Does reciprocity waive all of North Dakota's requirements?
There is no state general contractor license in North Dakota for reciprocity to apply to; any trade license that does reciprocate waives the trade exam only, not the business/law exam, bond, or insurance.
What fees apply in North Dakota, and how long does processing take?
Registration fee $100–$450 (Initial license fee by class: Class D (up to $100,000/job) $100, Class C (up to $300,000) $225, Class B (up to $500,000) $300, Class A (over $500,000) $450; renewals $30-$90). Registration processing: Board does not publish a stated processing time.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]