The professional success of a certified handyman will depend primarily on the handyman’s skill level, professional ethics, and reputation as a service provider. Regardless of whether a state has specific license requirements for handymen, the following is typically true of USA handyman contractors:
A high school diploma is typically required to become a professional handyman.
Expected are fundamental handyman skills; experience and a higher level of handyman skills are preferred.
Handyman expertise is necessary for the type of work to be performed. For example, if a handyman’s services will include heating and landscape design, he or she must obtain training in these areas. For more general tasks, such as mowing the lawn, hanging doors, cleaning the gutters, and painting, handyman skills can be acquired through direct experience.
Typically, formal training for the handyman skills required in a specialty area is followed by an examination, which must be passed prior to the issuance of a license for that particular handyman contractor.
Even after passing required examinations, fees for examinations and formal professional handyman training courses must be paid before a handyman license can be issued.
In states where becoming a handyman contractor does not require a license, services are restricted and a handyman business license may still be required. In certain states, both a handyman contractor license and a business license are required. Alternatively, a county occupational license
Regardless of the requirements for a handyman’s license, insurance or bonding is generally expected, if not mandated. A private individual who provides professional handyman services and earns less than a state-determined annual dollar amount may be exempt. Typically, handyman contractors in the United States with a work crew are required to carry additional insurance, such as Worker’s Compensation.
Obtaining the necessary professional handyman training through hands-on experience and/or participation in a handyman training program prior to testing.
Exams for handyman contractor licenses typically cover material that exceeds professional handyman license requirements. This may include legal and business-related inquiries. Numerous states offer seminar preparation for the Handyman Contractors USA examination.
Since professional handyman services are so diverse, even states that do not require formal handyman skills training place restrictions on the types of services that can be provided. Typically limited to minor household tasks requiring only fundamental handyman skills. For more complex tasks requiring a higher level of handyman expertise, licensing is required for each specialized service area.
State of Texas handyman license requirements, for example, mandate professional training and certification in areas such as structural renovation, commercial pesticide application, electrical work, and landscape architecture. For jobs exceeding $20,000, a license as a construction handyman contractor is also required.
The Florida requirements for handyman licenses restrict extended services such as plumbing/electrical repairs and cosmetic structure maintenance to basic handyman skills. A handyman business license is required and can be obtained by registering the business’s name with the county or city. The business must be registered with the state if it is to be incorporated.
A Florida occupational handyman business license is required whether or not the business is operated from a residence. Employer Identification Number (EIN) requirements apply to USA handyman contractors with employees. Even if you meet these Florida handyman license requirements, you may still need a seller’s permit for sales tax purposes. This is the case if the professional services of a handyman include the sale of items, building materials, or other products.
Commercial or residential, each class of specialized handyman services in Arizona requires a valid contractor’s license. For example, Arizona has separate contractor license requirements for general engineering, landscaping, and remodeling. Before obtaining a license, handyman contractors in the United States must pass an examination in business management.
Depending on the type of contractor license sought in Arizona, professional handyman training and a separate trade exam may also be required. The license requirements for handymen in Arizona may include obtaining a Transaction Privilege Tax License number or vendor license. handyman