Job Skill Superbook #18 Book 4. Building Construction-Home Contractor Job-Business Guide

A contractor is a guy or girl in the building construction business whom a business or home owner hires to either a build a building as in building a home or a repair/ improvement job.

The contractor is usually a carpenter who knows how to do the basic woodwork but you hired them for the whole job so they hire subcontractors to do the other stuff like plumbing, electrical, etc. but they’re the project manager for hire. You pay them. They’re supposed to be responsible for everything.

It’s a shoddy field. Many unlicensed people start contractor businesses.

It’s a regulated field. A licensed contractor has to pass tests to get a contractor’s license with the local or state government which has to be renewed every year or so.

If you want to be a contractor, you have to start with a skill, do small jobs and build up a reputation.

You’re running a business.

You also do sub-contracting for bigger contractors.

It’s best to start by working for someone else to learn the field.

You can see ads in the newspaper, on craigslist, kijiji, in the phone book on angieslist.com

If you want to be a contractor, read the reviews at angieslist.com to see what people want.

You have to get licensed to officially be a licensed contractor. Lots of unlicensed handymen run home improvement companies without a contractor's license. To buy insurance and have professional credibility, you have study, take the state test and pass it.

There are different license requirements for each state. Some states do not recognize other state licenses.

If you do contracting work without a license, you could be fined.

An unlicensed contractor may not have the right to sue in civil court or small claims court on a violated construction contract.

The written examination is on topics like construction law, business organization and skills.

The basic requirements to get a license are:

At least 18 years old with a high school diploma or the equivalent.

Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency.

Documentation on any other occupational license the person holds.

Two passport-size photos.

Explanation of citations, violations or liens resulting from construction work.

In order to be a contractor, you have to start a company which is a subject for my business book.

bidclerk.com, database of bidding projects across the u.s.

getyourlicense.com
contractors-license.org

American Contractor's Exam Services
5000 Linbar Dr., Suite 250
Nashville, TN 37211
(615) 832-4550
examprep.org

Contractors Bookstore
2424-A North Congress Ave.
West Palm Beach, FL 33409
(800) 327-EXAM
contractorsbookstore.com

Construction Organizations/ Building Organizations

aem.org, association of equipment manufacturers.
aspenational.com/, american society of professional estimators.
cmaanet.org, construction management association of america.
floorbiz.com, national wood flooring association.
hbi.org/, home builders institute (hbi).
iami.org/aci.html, association of construction inspectors.
iccsafe.org, international code council.
nawic.org, national association of women in construction.
ncma.org, national concrete and masonry association.
nrca.net, national roofing contractors association.
smacna.org, sheet metal and air conditioning contractor's association.
steel.org, american iron and steel institute.
tile-assn.com, national tile contractors association.
abc.org, associated builders and contractors.

American Council for Construction Education
1300 Hudson Ln.
#3
Monroe, La 71201-6054
318-323-2816
Fax: 318-323-2413
acce@iamerica.net
acce.org
acce-hq.org

American Assn. of Cost Engineers
209 Prairie Ave.
#100
Morgantown, Wv 26505
aaceo.org
Estimating the cost of construction projects.

American Institute of Constructors
466 94th Ave. N.
St. Petersburg, Fl 33702
aicnet.org

American Society Of
Professional Estimators
#412
11141 Georgia Ave.
Wheaton, Md 20902
301-929-8848
Quart