Access to Ohio Contractor Licensure Exam Expands

COLUMBUS, Ohio – New rule changes proposed by the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board take effect Friday, creating a new pathway for contractors to become licensed with the state.

The licensing board is within the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Industrial Compliance and is responsible for issuing licenses to qualified electrical, HVAC, plumbing, hydronics and refrigeration contractors who successfully pass the PSI licensing examination.

The new changes broaden the acceptable categories of experience and documentation that individuals must provide to sit for trade contractor licensing exams.

“These increased options will provide current contractors new opportunities to grow their businesses and expand the scope and types of jobs they can pursue,” said Michael Baisden, contractor administrator with the OCILB. “In addition, these changes mean individuals who previously did not qualify to take the exam will now have the opportunity to do so, and Ohioans and Ohio businesses will have access to a larger talent pool of available Ohio-licensed commercial contractors from which they may choose to hire.”

Since 2000, applicants who wanted to sit for the licensure exam have had to provide W-2 forms and copies of permits pulled for commercial projects to satisfy the experience requirements. Starting Friday, applicants will be able to meet the minimum experience requirements by submitting W-2 or IRS Schedule Cs showing they worked for at least five years in the licensed trade for which they are applying, and one of the following four items:

• Five years of building permits issued by a building department showing the applicant has worked on permittable work in the licensed trade for which the individual is applying and for the same contracting company reflected on the tax documents.

• A journeyman’s card in the licensed trade for which the individual is applying.

• A Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship from an apprentice program in the licensed trade for which the individual is applying, which is approved by the state or U.S. Department of Labor.

• Certificates from an OCILB-approved training agency showing completion of 40 hours of continuing education in code in the licensed trade for which the individual is applying.

“This rule change does not in any way diminish or depreciate current licensees’ accomplishments or licenses since applicants must now meet multiple qualifications, not just the experience requirement, and must still pass the licensing exam in order to become licensed,” Baisden said. “What this change does do is open doors to give more individuals with sufficient background and knowledge the opportunity to become a licensed specialty trade contractor in Ohio.”

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.