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Indiana requires state licensure only for plumbing. Highway contractors must prequalify with INDOT, and public works contractors and subcontractors over $150,000 must certify through the Public Works Certification Board. All other construction trades are unregulated at the state level.
Always verify statutes, fees, and application details with the live regulator before making bidding, licensing, or legal decisions.

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At a glance

The fastest way to orient yourself in Indiana is to recognize that state-level licensing is narrow. These signals cover the three regulated gates.
SignalValue
General contractor licenseNot required at state level
Plumbing licenseState licensure required (exam + 4 years experience)
Highway prequalificationINDOT, 5% bid bond + performance bond
Public works certification triggerContracts over $150,000
Highway subcontractor prequalificationOver $300,000
Plumbing exam minimum score70%
License cycleBiennial, expires December 31 of odd years
Reciprocity modelNone

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Frequently asked questions

Pick the tab that matches your situation. Each FAQ gives a direct answer and points you to the full detail below.
No. Indiana does not require a general contractor license at the state level. State regulation covers only three lanes: plumbing licensure, highway prequalification (INDOT), and public works certification for contracts over $150,000. All other construction trades are unregulated by the state. See Construction work regulated.
Apply through the Indiana Plumbing Commission. You must pass a written exam with a 70% minimum score (available six days per week) and document four years of verifiable experience. All members of a plumbing firm must be individually licensed, and a corporation must have at least one officer or employee with a valid license. See Requirements.
INDOT prequalification requires a 5% bid bond and a performance bond at least equal to the bid amount. Financial statements are required, and bid limits are set by financial capacity with an experience reduction factor. Applications take about 30 days to process, and new applications must be received 21 days before a letting. See Requirements.
Indiana has 3 separate agencies: INDOT for highway prequalification, the Indiana Plumbing Commission for plumbing licensure, and the Public Works Certification Board for public works contracts over $150,000. There is no central licensing office. See Who regulates construction.
Fees use a biennial cycle tied to odd/even years. Journeyman Plumber exam fee is $30 with issuance at $15 (odd year) or $30 (even year) and $30 biennial renewal. Plumbing Contractor exam fee is $50 with issuance at $50 (odd year) or $100 (even year) and $100 biennial renewal. See Requirements.
No. Indiana does not have reciprocity agreements with any other state. If you hold an out-of-state plumbing credential, you must still pass the Indiana written exam and meet the four-year experience requirement. See Reciprocal agreements.
Subcontractors exceeding $300,000 on INDOT highway work must also prequalify with INDOT. The same financial statement and experience requirements apply as for prime contractors. See Construction work regulated.
Contractors and subcontractors on public works contracts over $150,000 must certify through the Public Works Certification Board. This is separate from INDOT highway prequalification — do not conflate the two paths. See Requirements.
Not at the state level. Indiana does not license residential contractors or builders through any state agency. Check local municipality requirements for any residential construction permits or licenses. See Construction work regulated.
Indiana maintains a consumer recovery fund for plumbing claims: $20,000 per judgment and $50,000 lifetime aggregate per plumber. This fund provides protection for consumers against licensed plumbers who fail to meet their obligations. See Requirements.

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Start with your goal

Pick the card that matches what you need right now. Each one links to the relevant section on this page.

Is licensure triggered?

Most construction is not state-regulated. Check whether your project falls into a regulated lane.

Find the right regulator

Use the regulator directory to route your question to INDOT, the Plumbing Commission, or the Public Works Division.

Application and renewal details

Prequalification inputs, plumbing exam and fee schedules, and biennial renewal cycles.

Reciprocity direction

Indiana does not have reciprocity agreements with any other state.

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Special considerations

Different roles need different things from an Indiana page. Use the tab that matches your situation to see what matters most before you read the full detail below.
Start by asking whether your work lane is even regulated at the state level. In Indiana, only plumbing, highway, and public works are.
  • Indiana has no general contractor license at the state level.
  • Plumbing requires a state license through the Indiana Plumbing Commission — written exam (70% minimum) plus four years of verifiable experience.
  • Highway work requires INDOT prequalification with a 5% bid bond and a performance bond.
  • Public works contracts and subcontracts over $150,000 require certification through the Public Works Certification Board.
  • Subcontractors exceeding $300,000 on highway work must also prequalify with INDOT.
  • All members of a plumbing firm must be individually licensed; corporations need at least one licensed officer or employee.

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Readiness checklist

Four things you need to confirm before you can treat Indiana as “ready” for a bid or an application. If any of these are unclear, you are not ready yet.

Classify the project lane

Determine whether the work is highway construction, public works, plumbing, or general construction. Only the first three are regulated at the state level.

Apply the right threshold test

Highway subcontractors trigger at $300,000. Public works certification triggers at $150,000. Plumbing requires licensure regardless of contract value.

Route to the correct regulator

INDOT handles highway prequalification, the Public Works Division handles state building certification, and the Plumbing Commission handles plumbing licensure. General construction has no state regulator.

Confirm the requirement set

For highway work, confirm bid bond and financial statement requirements. For plumbing, confirm exam eligibility, experience, and biennial fee cycle. For public works, confirm the application review timeline.
If you can identify lane, threshold, regulator, and requirement set, you have the minimum package needed for an Indiana readiness check.
Use these links to jump to related cross-state comparisons and workflows.

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Construction work regulated

Indiana regulates a narrow set of construction lanes at the state level. Most trades do not require a state license. Look for the lane that matches your project.
Work laneWhat triggers regulation
Highway construction (prime contractor)INDOT prequalification required
Highway construction (subcontractor)Prequalification required over $300,000
Public worksCertification required for contracts over $150,000
PlumbingState license required (journeyman or contractor)
General constructionNot regulated at state level
All members of a plumbing firm, co-partnership, or association must be individually licensed. A corporation must have at least one officer or employee with a valid plumbing license.

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Common determination scenarios

If you are trying to figure out where to start, expand the scenario that is closest to your situation.
Prequalify with INDOT by submitting financial statements and experience information. A 5% bid bond and a performance bond at least equal to the bid amount are required. Most applications are processed within 30 days. New applications must be received 21 days before a letting.
Subcontractors exceeding $300,000 on INDOT highway work must also prequalify. The same financial statement and experience requirements apply.
Contractors and subcontractors on public works contracts over $150,000 must certify through the Public Works Certification Board. Submit an application for review through the Department of Administration.
Apply for a Journeyman Plumber or Plumbing Contractor license through the Indiana Plumbing Commission. A written exam is required (70% minimum, available six days per week), along with four years of verifiable experience.
No state license is needed. Check the municipality where work will be performed for local requirements.

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Who regulates construction

Indiana splits its limited construction regulation across 3 agencies. Each handles a distinct lane. Use this directory to find the one that applies to your work.
100 North Senate Avenue, IGCN 725, Indianapolis, IN 46204-2219Phone: (317) 232-5094Website: in.gov/indot/doing-business-with-indot/contractorsconstruction/contractors-prequalification/
402 West Washington Street, Room W072, Indianapolis, IN 46204Phone: (317) 234-8800 | Fax: (317) 233-4236Website: in.gov/pla/professions/plumbing-home/
402 West Washington Street, Room W467, Indianapolis, IN 46204Phone: (317) 232-3001 | Fax: (317) 233-4613Website: in.gov/idoa/state-property-and-facilities/public-works/

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Requirements

Each regulated lane in Indiana has its own inputs, thresholds, and fee structures. Expand the category that applies to your situation.

Highway Prequalification

RequirementDetail
Bid bond5% of bid amount
Performance bondAt least equal to the bid amount
Financial statementsRequired; bid limits set by financial capacity
Experience reduction factorApplied to bid limits based on experience
Processing timeApproximately 30 days
New application deadline21 days before a letting
FeesNone specified
RequirementDetail
TriggerContracts and subcontracts over $150,000
ApplicationSubmit for review through the Public Works Certification Board
RequirementDetail
ExamWritten exam required, 70% minimum score
Exam availabilitySix days per week
ExperienceFour years of verifiable experience
Firm licensingAll members of a firm must be individually licensed
Corporation requirementAt least one officer or employee must hold a valid license
License cycleBiennial, expires December 31 of odd years
Recovery fund$20,000 per judgment, $50,000 aggregate lifetime per plumber
CategoryExam feeIssuance (odd year)Issuance (even year)Renewal (biennial)
Journeyman Plumber$30$15$30$30
Plumbing Contractor$50$50$100$100
Plumbing Contractor CorporationN/A$50$50$100
Apprentice Plumber RegistrationN/A$10$10$10
Temporary Plumbing ContractorN/A$25$25N/A

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Reciprocal agreements

Indiana does not have reciprocity agreements with any other state. Out-of-state credentials are not automatically recognized.
If you hold an out-of-state plumbing credential, you must still pass the Indiana written exam and meet the experience requirement.

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Types of licenses

Indiana offers a narrow set of state-level credentials. Only plumbing is licensed at the state level.
  • Plumbing Contractor
  • Journeyman Plumber
  • Plumbing Contractor Corporation
  • Apprentice Plumber Registration
  • Temporary Plumbing Contractor
  • INDOT Highway Prequalification
  • Public Works Certification

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See also

Midwest region guide

Browse all Midwest jurisdictions for comparison.

Contractors guide

Cross-state guidance for contractors evaluating new jurisdictions.

Regulators guide

Cross-state guidance for comparing regulatory models and agency structures.