Wyoming contractor license requirements

This guide summarizes what Wyoming requires to run a contracting business, with a link to the state's own source for every requirement. Licenses for individual electricians, plumbers and HVAC technicians are separate; see the trade guides linked below. Rules change; check the linked source before you apply.

License classes

Wyoming's chief electrical inspector (Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety) issues three electrical contractor licenses. These are the electrical contractor license; the low voltage electrical contractor license, for systems under ninety (90) volts such as alarm, communication, sound, control and lawn sprinkler systems; and the limited electrical contractor license, for load-side wiring of HVAC, elevator, sign, and water well and irrigation systems, and routine light fixture repair or maintenance limited to replacing ballasts and fixture parts. No Wyoming statute creates general, building or residential contractor classes. (source)

Experience and exams

No Wyoming statute sets an experience requirement for general contractors. A Wyoming electrical contractor must have a Wyoming-licensed master electrician working full time as its master of record, and a master of record can serve only one company. Master electrician applicants need 8 years (16,000 hours) of electrical work experience, 4 years (8,000 hours) of it as a licensed journeyman, plus 576 hours of electrically related classroom instruction; low voltage and limited electrical contractors instead need a Wyoming-licensed technician, journeyman or master electrician as technician of record. (source)

No Wyoming statute sets a state exam for general contractors. To have a local contractor license recognized by another Wyoming county, city or town, a contractor must show proof of passing the International Code Council exam for contractor, plumbing or mechanical work, another appropriate exam, or an equivalent. With that proof, the accepting jurisdiction cannot require more testing just to recognize the license. (source)

Bond and insurance

No Wyoming statute requires a state contractor license bond. Nonresident prime contractors (not bona fide Wyoming residents for at least one year before bidding) must file a surety bond or legal security with the Department of Revenue to secure sales taxes. It must equal three percent (3%) of the payments due under the contract (plus the increased rate under W.S. 39-15-104(b) if that tax is in effect) or an amount the department sets, or the contractor may instead keep a $1,000,000.00 surety bond or legal security on file covering all its contracts. This bond is not required if the contractor has furnished a surety bond for the faithful performance of the contract, because that surety then also guarantees the sales taxes. (source)

Wyoming's workers' compensation law covers all workers employed in construction (NAICS sector 23) as extrahazardous employment. An employer covered by the law may not start business or work in Wyoming without applying for coverage and receiving a statement of coverage from the Department of Workforce Services' workers' compensation division. Nonresident employers that expect to pay more than $4,000.00 in Wyoming wages in any month must file a surety bond or other security of $8,000.00 plus $2,000.00 for each $1,000.00 (or fraction) of expected monthly wages over $4,000.00, up to $20,000.00 in wages, and $1,000.00 more for each additional $1,000.00 above that. Before starting work, such an employer must either pay an advance premium deposit or file that bond or security for workers' compensation, unless it provides a certificate of coverage from a home state that has reciprocity with Wyoming. Corporations, LLCs, partnerships and sole proprietorships may elect coverage for their officers, members, partners or sole proprietor. (source)

Fees and renewal

Wyoming has no state general contractor license fee. For electrical contractors, Wyoming's Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety charges $400.00 for an electrical contractor license and $200.00 for a low voltage or limited electrical contractor license, for both new licenses and renewals. (source)

Wyoming electrical, low voltage electrical and limited electrical contractor licenses expire on July 1 following the date of issue. They are renewed each year by paying the license fee on or before the expiration date. No Wyoming statute sets a renewal cycle for general contractor licenses. (source)