Do you need a license to be a carpenter in New Hampshire?
No. New Hampshire doesn't license carpenters as a trade. There is no state contractor license or registration, though cities may have their own rules.
No state requirement · By ChiselJobs Team · Updated
In short
New Hampshire does not license carpenters or contractors at the state level. There is no general, residential or home improvement contractor license and no exam. Businesses register with the New Hampshire Secretary of State, and contractors need workers' compensation coverage. Local rules vary, so check with the town or city where the work is before starting. New Hampshire uses the 2024 IRC and IBC with state amendments as its building code. Apprenticeships register through the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship.
Key facts
| Carpenter license | No |
| General contractor license | No |
| Residential contractor license | No |
| Home improvement registration | No |
| Carpentry classification | None |
| Exam | No |
| Experience | None |
| Bond / insurance | Workers comp |
| Local license | Varies by city |
| Board | NH Secretary of State (business registration) |
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 2024; IBC 2024 (with state amendments) |
RSA 155-A:1 IV state building code, with amendments approved as of Oct 10, 2025 and ratified by the legislature.
- Source: gencourt.state.nh.us · checked November 5, 2026