Your Cart

Article Index

Page 2 of 4

Department of Consumer Protection (DCP)

The CT Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) administers and regulates matters related to contractors, oversees licensing examinations, and issues licenses. It makes all necessary regulations, establishes the amount and type of experience and training required to qualify for a license, and determines the specific area of trade. The Department also investigates licensees for incompetence or failure to perform work and takes appropriate disciplinary action. In addition, the DCP administers professional boards. Each has yearly scheduled meetings and is responsible for reviewing, establishing, and maintaining the educational training and examination standards, which each applicant must demonstrate before a license issuance. There is a total of six DCP construction boards:

The Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) offers all contractors the possibility to make a career in building trades. Therefore, it provides apprenticeship programs in conjunction with the Department of Labor (DOL).

In Connecticut, there are three main types of licenses: Major (major construction, structural repair, alteration, or demolition projects), Home Improvement (permanent change to residential property), and New Home Construction (new home building before occupancy), also the trades in the DCP Board are divided into different categories.

Connecticut Contractor DCP Licensing Categories

  • Crane and Conveyor
    • Limited Conveyor Journeyperson (R-8)
    • Limited Conveyor (R-7)
    • Limited Hoists, Cranes, and Lifts Journeyperson (R-10)
    • Limited Hoists, Cranes, and Lifts (R-9)
  • Electrical
    • Electrical Lines (L-1)
    • Electrical Lines Journeyperson (L-2)
    • Limited Electrical (C-5)
    • Limited Electrical Journeyperson (C-6)
    • Limited Electrical Journeyperson (L-6)
    • Limited Electrical Journeyperson (T-2)
    • Limited Electrical (L-5)
    • Limited Electrical (T-1)
    • Unlimited Electrical (E-1)
    • Unlimited Electrical Journeyperson (E-2)
  • Elevator Work
    • Accessibility Journeyperson (R-6)
    • Accessibility (R-5)
    • Unlimited Elevator (R-1)
    • Unlimited Journeyperson Elevator (R-2)
  • Fire Protection
    • Limited F-3
    • Limited Journeyperson (F-4)
    • Limited Multipurpose Residential Sprinkler (F-5)
    • Limited Multipurpose Residential Sprinkler Journeyperson (F-6)
    • Unlimited (Fire Sprinkler) (F-1)
    • Unlimited Journeyperson (Fire Sprinkler) (F-2)
  • Flat Glass and Automotive Glass Work
    • Glazier (Flat) (FG-1)
    • Glazier Journeyperson (Flat) (FG-2)
  • Hearth Product Work
    • Hearth Product Gas Limited (HPG-1)
    • Hearth Product Limited Journeyperson (HPG-2)
  • Heating Cooling and Sheet Metal Work
    • Boiler Maker (BM-1)
    • Boiler Maker Journeyperson (BM-2)
    • Limited Gas and Oil (B-3)
    • Limited Gas and Oil Burner (B-1)
    • Limited Gas and Oil Burner Journeyperson (B-2)
    • Limited Gas and Oil Journeyperson (B-4)
    • Limited Heating Cooling Journeyperson (S-10)
    • Limited Heating Cooling (S-9)
    • Limited Heating-Cooling (D-3)
    • Limited Heating-Cooling Journeyperson (D-4)
    • Limited Heating, Cooling and Piping (S-3)
    • Limited Heating, Cooling, and Piping Journeyperson (S-4)
    • Limited Heating, Piping, and Cooling (G-1)
    • Limited Heating, Piping, and Cooling Journeyperson (G-2)
    • Limited Journeyperson (S-8)
    • Limited Operating Engineer Journeyperson (OE-2)
    • Limited (S-7)
    • Limited Warm Air, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration System (D-1)
    • Limited Warm Air, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration System Journeyperson (D-2)
    • Unlimited Heating, Piping, and Cooling Journeyperson (S-2)
    • Unlimited Heating, Piping, and Cooling (S-1)
  • Home Inspection
    • Home Inspector (H-1)
  • Irrigation
    • Limited Lawn Sprinkler (J-3)
    • Limited Lawn Sprinkler Journeyperson J-4
  • Plumbing and Pipefitting
    • Limited Gasoline Tank, Piping, and Pump Journeyperson (P-8)
    • Limited Gasoline Tank, Piping, and Pump (P-9)
    • Limited (J-1)
    • Limited Sewer, Storm, and Water Journeyperson (P-6)
    • Limited Sewer, Storm, and Water (P-7)
    • Limited Well Pumps and Piping Journeyperson (J-2)
    • Unlimited Journeyperson Plumber (P-2)
    • Unlimited Plumbing (P-1)
  • Process Piping
    • Limited Process Piping Journeyperson (PP-2)
    • Limited Process Piping (PP-1)
  • Sign And Outline Lighting
    • Limited Electrical Sign (C-7)
    • Limited Electrical Sign Journeyperson (C-8)
  • Sheet Metal
    • Limited Sheet Metal Hood Systems (SM-5)
    • Limited Sheet Metal Journeyperson Hood Systems (SM-6)
    • Limited Sheet Metal Journeyperson SM-2
    • Limited Sheet Metal Residential/Light Commercial Journeyperson (SM-4)
    • Limited Sheet Metal Residential/Light Commercial (SM-3)
    • Limited Sheet Metal (SM-1)
  • Solar Energy Work
    • Limited Solar Electric Journeyperson (PV-2)
    • Limited Solar Electric (PV-1)
    • Solar Thermal Limited Journeyperson (ST-2)
    • Solar Thermal Limited Journeyperson (STC-2)
    • Solar Thermal (ST-1)
    • Solar Thermal (STC-1)
  • Swimming Pool and Spa
    • Limited Spa and Pool Journeyperson (SP-2)
    • Limited Spa and Pool (SP-1)
    • Swimming Pool Builder (SPB)
  • Television and Radio Work
    • Antenna Installation and Repair Technician (V-6)
    • Certified Electronic Technician, Unrestricted (V-2)
    • Limited Antenna Dish Technician (V-4)
    • Limited Antenna Dish (V-5)
    • Master Antenna Installation and Repair Dealer (V-7)
    • Radio Certified Electronic Technician (R-2)
    • Radio Service Dealer, Certified Electronic Technician, Owner (R-1)
    • Service Dealer, Certified Electronic Technician Owner, Unrestricted (V-1)
  • Welding Valves and Machinist
    • Limited Heating and Cooling (Valves) (VT-1)
    • Limited Heating and Cooling Journeyperson (Valves) (VT-2)
    • Limited Heating Cooling Journeyperson (MT-2)
    • Limited Heating Cooling (MT-1)
    • Limited Welding (G-9)
    • Limited Welding Journeyperson (G-8)
  • Well Drilling
    • Driller Trainee
    • Limited Direct Exchange Geothermal Driller (W-10)
    • Limited Direct Exchange Geothermal (W-9)
    • Limited Geothermal Driller (W-8)
    • Limited Geothermal (W-7)
    • Unlimited Well Driller (W-1)
    • Unlimited Well Driller (W-2)
    • Limited Non-Water-Supply Driller (W-4)
    • Limited Non-Water-Supply (W-3)
    • Limited Well Casing Extension Journeyperson (W-6)
    • Limited Well Casing Extension (W-5)
  • Other

Steps on the Licensing Process for CT Apprentices and Contractors

For the State of Connecticut, it is required to have an apprenticeship course certificate provided by the Department of Labor (DOL), or a certified study at a Connecticut Technical high school or other approved institution with a diploma in construction or occupational trades to apply for contractor licenses. Without a certificate of completion of that apprenticeship course, a Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) license may NOT be acquired. Each trade has its specific apprenticeship course and certification.The Connecticut Informational Guide is used for applicants who are interested in an apprenticeship and contractor license.

Connecticut Apprenticeship Course Certificate Application Process

  1. Find an apprenticeship opportunity and a suitable Connecticut Sponsor through the CT Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship Training
  2. Verify with the CT sponsor (employer or union) if there is an opportunity to become an apprentice BEFORE applying
  3. Once approved, the applicant must ensure that the sponsor (employer or union) register the applicant as an apprentice with the DOL Office of Apprenticeship Training Program before being sent to a jobsite. If the employer does not register the apprentice with the DOL, the apprentice will NOT be counted for the hours needed to earn the apprenticeship certificate. There are three required documents that the sponsor must submit along with the fees:
  4. Complete technical education and obtain on-the-job training. Generally, a two (2) years program is required for a limited license and four (4) years for an unlimited license. Each apprentice license type has different requirements for:
    • On-the-job and related instruction hours
    • Type of training
    • License type subject areas:
      • Electrical
      • Electrical Solar
      • Conveyor Hoists Cranes & Lifts
      • Elevator
      • Residential Stair Lift
      • Fire Protection Systems
      • Automotive Glass Repair
      • Flat Glass
      • Heating, Piping & Cooling
      • Plumbing & Piping
      • Limited Sheet Metal
      • Swimming Pool Builder - In Ground
      • Tv & Radio Electronics
      • Dish Antenna Installation and Repair
      • Limited Geothermal Driller
      • Non-Water Supply Driller
      • Water Supply Driller
  5. Take the professional licensing exam and apply for a license from the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP)
  6. Await the apprenticeship card issued by the DOL
    • The applicant must carry the DOL apprenticeship card while working, and produce it upon request to appropriate parties (usually a DCP licensing inspector, DOL wage and workplace standards agent, OSHA agent, or the town building official).
    • A Temporary card can be issued until your permanent one is prepared

How to Get a Contractor License in the Department of Consumer Protection?

  1. Meet the necessary education requirements requested by the DCP
  2. Send the application:
    • Fill in and submit the application form corresponding to the type of license you are applying for
    • Send a record of your instructional and training hours
    • Fill and attach the Criminal Conviction Application Worksheet if it is required
    • The receipt for payment of the application fee must also be submitted with the application form
  3. Register for the exam administered by PSI©:
    • You will receive an examination approval and available testing locations and times if the application is approved. The exam must be taken within one year from the date of approval
    • Register at the desired location and time to take the examination
    • Pay the examination fee and take the exam
  4. Upon taking the exam, you will obtain an initial license from the DCP
    • If the exam is passed, you must submit the license fee along with the exam passing score results to obtain the official contractor license
  5. Await the official contractor license issued by the Department of Consumer Protection
Details