State-by-state, always cited
Know exactly what your state requires — before you start.
LicenScout checks professional license requirements against official regulators and state law, then explains cost, exam, experience, and renewal in plain English, with sources on every guide.
Browse by license type
CNA Certification Requirements by StateTraining hours, exam format, and the path from CNA toward RN.Contractor License Requirements by StateCalifornia, Texas, Florida, and more — what every state actually requires, cost to bond to renewal.Cosmetology License Requirements by StateRequired school hours and board exam details, state by state.Electrical Contractor License Requirements by StateLicense Hub Electrical Contractor License Requirements by State Electrical work is licensed separately from general contracting in almost every state…HVAC License Requirements by StateLicense Hub HVAC License Requirements by State HVAC contracting is regulated at the state level almost everywhere, and it carries…Notary Public Requirements by StateBond amounts, exam formats, and commission terms compared state by state.
What we cover today
| License type | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Contractor | 8 state guides: CA, FL, GA, IL, NY, OH, PA, TX |
| Notary public | 14 state guides, plus a comparison table |
| Electrical | 5 state guides: CA, FL, IL, NY, TX |
| HVAC | 5 state guides, plus an EPA Section 608 explainer |
| Cosmetology and CNA | Overview pages only for now |
Why the rules are harder than they look
The same job can mean very different things across state lines. A few examples from our guides:
- Texas has no statewide general contractor license.
- Ohio licenses five commercial trades at the state level, not general contractors.
- Pennsylvania requires home improvement contractors to register, with no exam or bond.
- New York leaves licensing to places like New York City, where the home improvement salesperson license was repealed in 2020.
- Texas HVAC exams are tough: state-published pass rates ranged from about 26% to about 50% by exam.
How we check a guide
We start with the regulator’s own pages and the law itself, and we say so when a source can’t be confirmed. Guides we’ve rechecked show a “Last reviewed” date, and our methodology page includes a public log of corrections. Requirements change, so always confirm with the regulator before you pay a fee or sign a contract.