Where the data comes from
Content is sourced from NASCLA (National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies) and supplemented with direct review of state regulator websites, statutes, and administrative codes.| Source type | What it provides |
|---|---|
| NASCLA data | Baseline licensing thresholds, board structures, reciprocity arrangements, and credential catalogs across jurisdictions. |
| State regulator websites | Current contact information, fee schedules, application procedures, and board-specific rules. |
| Statutes and administrative codes | Authority citations, threshold definitions, and exemption language. |
NASCLA data provides the structural backbone. The CSLID restructures, normalizes, and supplements that data — it does not independently audit or verify it.
How current is it?
Content reflects a point-in-time snapshot. Regulatory requirements change as legislatures amend statutes, boards update fees, and agencies revise application procedures.| Dimension | Current status |
|---|---|
| Content baseline | Source data as of Q1 2026 |
| Update frequency | Pages are updated as changes are identified; there is no fixed update cycle |
| Verification | Users should verify against live regulator websites before relying on any data point |
- Fee schedules — boards adjust fees annually or with budget cycles.
- Reciprocity agreements — added, modified, or terminated by individual boards.
- Exam requirements — testing providers, pass rates, and content areas evolve.
- Contact information — phone numbers, addresses, and staff change regularly.
- Dollar thresholds — set by statute and require legislative action to change.
- Board structures — agency reorganizations are infrequent.
- Work-lane classifications — the categories of regulated work are relatively stable.
How we present the data
Source material is rewritten in plain English — you should not need to interpret statutory language to find what you need. Every state page follows the same 12-section layout so you can learn it once and apply it everywhere. Factual data — thresholds, fees, board names, reciprocity lists — is never altered. The presentation is restructured for clarity: tables replace paragraphs, accordions replace long lists, and role-specific tabs surface what matters to contractors and regulators before the detail sections.Limitations
| Limitation | Detail |
|---|---|
| Point-in-time data | Content may lag behind recent legislative or regulatory changes. |
| NASCLA as baseline | Where NASCLA data is incomplete or ambiguous, the CSLID may reflect those gaps. |
| No independent audit | The CSLID does not independently verify every data point against primary statutes. |
| Local licensing gaps | States with local-first models (e.g., Illinois) may have limited statewide data because licensing is administered at the city or county level. |
| ”Not specified” fields | When a data point is missing, the page says “Not specified” — this means the source did not clearly state it, not that it does not exist. |
Verification guidance
Before relying on any data point in the CSLID for a decision:Check the live regulator website
Every jurisdiction page includes regulator contact information in the Who regulates construction section. Visit the linked website to confirm current requirements.
Confirm fee schedules
Fees change frequently. Check the regulator’s current fee schedule, not the snapshot in the CSLID.
Verify reciprocity status
Contact the target board directly to confirm that a reciprocal agreement is still active and that your credential qualifies.