Do you need a license to be a carpenter in Pennsylvania?
No. Pennsylvania doesn't license carpenters as a trade. Contractors must register with PA Office of Attorney General.
State registration · By ChiselJobs Team · Updated
In short
Pennsylvania does not license carpenters or general contractors statewide, but contractors doing $5,000 or more a year in home improvement must register with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. Registration costs $100 every two years and has no exam. It requires liability insurance of at least $50,000 for injury and $50,000 for property damage. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh license contractors locally, so work there needs a city license too. Pennsylvania follows the 2021 IRC and IBC with state amendments. The Department of Labor and Industry's Apprenticeship and Training Office registers apprenticeship programs.
Key facts
| Carpenter license | No |
| Licensing level | State registration |
| General contractor license | No (local) |
| Residential contractor license | No |
| Home improvement registration | Home Improvement Contractor registration |
| When a license is needed | $5,000+/yr in home improvement |
| Carpentry classification | None |
| Exam | No |
| Experience | None |
| Fees | $100 per 2 yrs |
| Bond / insurance | $50k injury + $50k property damage |
| Renewal | 2 years |
| Local license | No (state license covers) |
| Board | PA Office of Attorney General |
Apprenticeship
| Registering agency | State Apprenticeship Agency (Pennsylvania L&I Apprenticeship and Training Office) |
- Source: apprenticeship.gov · checked November 6, 2026
- Source: pa.gov · checked November 6, 2026