What are the General Contractor Requirements?

If you’re looking to hire a general contractor, or want to be one yourself, it’s a good idea to know what the general contractor requirements are. Not all general contractors out there are legit, and when it comes to work as serious as construction, fulfilling the requirements goes a long way. You can look at a contractor’s requirements as insurance – they tell you that this is a guy who definitely knows what he’s doing.

The Requirements

There aren’t many requirements to be a general contractor, but each one is important. Here are the five things you should look for in a contractor:

• Bachelor’s Degree

  While specific degrees aren’t necessarily required to work as a general contractor, those with degrees in construction management and/or civil engineering are heavily preferred. Most quality contractors are serious enough about their work to pursue higher education in it, and so hiring a general contractor with a degree helps ensure his expertise.

  You can also look for certification in drafting or building sciences. After all, not everyone can go to college, but they can still get a good education elsewhere. This is a decent alternative should degree-holders be sparse in your area.

• Internship

  Like most jobs, the best education is earned through experience. If you’re looking to hire a general contractor, try to learn if he participated in an internship or apprenticeship program in a related field. In fact, depending on where your contractor got an education, the internship might be required. Again, this adds to the expertise of the contractor in a field where experience is invaluable.

• Trade Experience

  Speaking of experience, it’ll be good to hire a contractor who’s worked in the various trades involved in construction – plumbing, masonry, carpentry, and even electrical. A general contractor needs to know about these things if he’s to provide quality services. It’ll also give him experience in working in fast-paced, goal-oriented construction environments. That way, he’ll be used to working under pressure, which is a definite edge when it comes to managing projects as a general contractor.

• Supervisory Work

  A good general contractor should also be a good leader. If he’s to lead a team of workers on your construction project, he’d better have sound decision-making skills and strategies. He’d also better be able to get the most out of his workers so that he can deliver you the best results in the shortest amount of time.

  Like with everything else, leadership is a skill best developed through experience. When looking for a contractor, try to find one who’s had some time working as a supervisor.

• License

  Last but certainly not the least, every general contractor needs a license to operate in the states where he intends to do business. It’s not just an added credential – it’s the law. Your general contractor must obtain a license to legally work on any project in your area. While you can research them online, any honest licensed general contractor will gladly show you his license. If it checks out, then you and your contractor can get right to work.