Do you need a license to be a carpenter in Arkansas?
No. Arkansas doesn't license carpenters as a trade. Contractors need a license from Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board.
State license · By ChiselJobs Team · Updated
In short
Carpenters in Arkansas do not hold a trade license, but contractors need one from the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board above certain job sizes. Commercial work of $50,000 or more needs a commercial license, which also requires a financial statement. Residential work over $2,000 needs a Residential Builder license, and remodeling falls under the Home Improvement or Residential Remodeler license. Applicants pass a business and law exam plus a trade exam, and licenses renew every year. Cities do not add a separate license. The state builds under the 2021 IRC and IBC as adopted in the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code. Apprenticeships register through the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship.
Key facts
| Carpenter license | No |
| Licensing level | State |
| General contractor license | Commercial license |
| Residential contractor license | Residential Builder |
| Home improvement registration | Home Improvement / Residential Remodeler |
| When a license is needed | Commercial $50,000+; residential over $2,000 |
| Carpentry classification | None |
| Exam | Business & law + trade |
| Bond / insurance | Financial statement (commercial) |
| Renewal | Annual |
| Local license | No (state license covers) |
| Board | Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board |
Exam
| Exam provider | Prometric (for Contractors Licensing Board) |
| Format | Open book |
| Questions | Business and Law: 50 |
| Time | Business and Law: 2 hours |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Bulletin date | 2017 (copyright) |
- Source: prometric.com · checked November 6, 2026
Apprenticeship
| Registering agency | U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship (no state agency) |
Programs register through the Office of Apprenticeship; use the Partner Finder for local sponsors.
- Source: apprenticeship.gov · checked November 6, 2026
Building code
| Code in force | IRC 2021; IBC 2021 (in Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, with state amendments) |
2021 Arkansas Fire Prevention Code includes fire, building and residential volumes (State Fire Marshal).
- Source: sas.arkansas.gov · checked November 5, 2026