Download Basic License Application

Apply Online! Review requirements and click the link at the bottom of the page to submit your application.

To apply for a Certificate of Authority to collect sales tax, visit www.businessexpress.ny.gov.

Submit a copy of ONE of the following documents in the name of either the business or an individual listed on the license application:

• Utility bill, dated within the last 90 days (e.g., telephone, gas, electric, cable, or water) OR
• Current lease or deed OR
• Current rent or mortgage bill OR
• Insurance document or insurance bill that shows your business address OR
• Correspondence from any government agency that shows your business address OR
• Current (active) license or permit or certificate issued by a City/State/Federal government agency that shows your business address OR
• Bank or credit card statement, dated within the last 90 days
  *Please redact account information.*

Each individual listed on the license application must provide a copy of ONE of the following documents in the individual's name:

• Utility bill, dated within the last 90 days (e.g., telephone, gas, electric, cable, or water) OR
• Correspondence from any government agency that shows home address OR
• Current lease or deed OR
• Insurance document or insurance bill that shows home address OR
• Current (active) license or permit or certificate issued by a City/State/Federal government agency that shows home address OR
• College or school correspondence that shows home address OR
• Current rent or mortgage bill OR
• Driver's license OR
• Municipal ID card OR
• Bank or credit card statement, dated within the last 90 days
  *Please redact account information.*

For an individual who lives at another person’s address, provide:

• ONE Proof of Home Address (see above) with the leaseholder’s or homeowner’s name AND
• A letter signed by the homeowner or leaseholder stating that the individual lives at the address

Provide a copy of ONE of the following documents as proof of workers’ compensation insurance information:

• An Insurance Certificate for workers’ compensation insurance from a private insurance carrier or the New York State Insurance Fund Office. The Insurance Certificate must name the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection as the certificate holder and include the Department’s address:
  42 Broadway, New York, NY 10004. OR


• A Certificate of Attestation of Exemption from the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board (if you claimed exemption from the requirement to hold workers’ compensation insurance). List under Business Applying For: Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. For more information, visit New York State Workers’ Compensation Board at wcb.ny.gov.

Important:

• You must provide DCWP with proof of Workers’ Compensation Insurance if your business no longer qualifies for Workers’ Compensation Exemption.
• ACORD Forms are not acceptable proof of New York State workers’ compensation coverage.

You must submit the requirements in 1 OR 2 OR 3 depending on the type of work your business performs:

1. Copies of EPA Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) certification AND EPA Lead-Based Paint Activities certification (also known as Lead Abatement certification). Certifications must include name, EPA certificate number, and EPA certificate expiration date.

OR

2. Copy of either EPA RRP certification or EPA Lead Abatement certification AND signed Home Improvement Contractor Affirmation indicating that the other EPA certification is not required for any home improvement work performed by the applicant.

OR

3. Signed Home Improvement Contractor Affirmation indicating that both EPA certifications (RRP; Lead Abatement) are not required for any home improvement work performed by the applicant.

For more information about the EPA certificates, visit epa.gov/lead.

• If you want to enroll your business in the Trust Fund, complete the Trust Fund Enrollment Form. The fee for joining the Trust Fund is $200.

Note: If the Trust Fund contains a total balance of more than $2,000,000, then participants will not need to pay again to be a part of the Trust Fund at the time they renew their license.

OR

• If you do not enroll your business in the Trust Fund, you must submit a copy of a $20,000 Surety Bond (or Third Party Bond), properly signed. The copy of the bond must name the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection as the Certificate Holder. Your corporate name, Doing-Business-As (DBA) name (if any), and premises address must be exactly the same on all documents. You must also submit a copy of the bond receipt showing that the bond has been paid in full and does not expire before the end of the licensing period.

Download a list of bonding companies. The list is not exhaustive, and DCWP does not endorse or recommend any particular bonding company.

Download the Contractual Compliance Agreement.

Review the Contractual Compliance Checklist and model Home Improvement Estimate and Final Contract to make sure your contracts meet the legal requirements.

A sole proprietor, general partner, corporate officer, principal, director, member, or shareholder owning 10% or more of company stock must schedule an appointment with ExamBuilder to take the Home Improvement Exam.

IMPORTANT:

• Only ONE of the following persons needs to pass the Home Improvement Exam: sole proprietor, general partner, corporate officer, principal, director, member, or shareholder owning 10% or more of company stock. You must confirm with DCWP who will take the exam.
• You can schedule the exam 24 hours after DCWP has processed your completed license application, which includes required documents and fees. You cannot schedule the exam until DCWP has received and processed required documents and payments. Once DCWP has processed your application, it takes 24 hours for your information to appear in ExamBuilder’s system.
• You have 60 days to take and pass the exam from the time your information appears in ExamBuilder’s system.
• Test Centers are open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. seven days a week in multiple locations citywide. ExamBuilder can confirm available locations when you schedule your exam.
• You can schedule the exam in ONE of two ways:
  1. Online at dcaschedule.exambuilder.com. Enter your Application Number, then click Continue.
     • You can find Application Number on your License Application Confirmation Page or payment receipt.
  2. By phone: (646) 974-8244
     
     • Customer service is available from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. seven days a week.

The exam consists of 30 questions. You must answer a minimum of 21 questions correctly to pass. The fee is $50. The exam fee is separate from the license fee and is nonrefundable. If you fail the exam twice, you must pay the exam fee again in order to retake the exam.

Download the Frequently Asked Questions: Exams.

Download the Home Improvement Examination Guide to help prepare for the exam in:
English | Español (Spanish) | عربي (Arabic) | বাংলা (Bengali) | 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified) | 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional) | Français (French) | Kreyòl Ayisyen (Haitian Creole) | 한국어 (Korean) | Język Polski (Polish) | Русский (Russian) | ردو (Urdu)

All sole proprietors, general partners, corporate officers, principals, directors, members, and all shareholders owning more than 10% of company stock must schedule an appointment with IdentoGO to be fingerprinted:

• Visit https://uenroll.identogo.com
• Enter:
  • Service Code. Enter 1585BH
  • Agency ID. Enter numbers only from Application Number. Application Number is on your receipt or confirmation letter when you apply online.
    Example: For Application Number 1234567-2023-AHIC, enter only 12345672023 as Agency ID.
• Follow the instructions and pay the required fee(s).

IMPORTANT:

• • Anyone required to be fingerprinted should schedule an appointment as soon as possible to complete this requirement.

Required if someone other than the license applicant will prepare and submit this application. The applicant must sign the license application and all related forms. Download Granting Authority to Act Affirmation.

License Period: 2 years

Expiration Date: February 28 in Odd Years

If You File Your Application Between These Dates:

• From March 1 in an odd year to August 31 in an odd year: 
  • Pay $100 for a license expiring February 28 of the next odd year. (Valid for at most 24 months.)
• From September 1 in an odd year to February 28 or 29 in an even year:
  • Pay $75 for a license expiring February 28 of the soonest odd year. (Valid for at most 18 months.)
• From March 1 in an even year to August 31 in an even year:
  • Pay $50 for a license expiring February 28 of the soonest odd year. (Valid for at most 12 months.)
• From September 1 in an even year to February 28 in an odd year:
  • Option 1: Pay $25 for a license expiring February 28 of the soonest odd year. (Valid for at most 6 months.)
  • Option 2: Pay $125 for a license expiring February 28 of the next odd year. (Valid for at most 30 months.)

Pay by:

• Credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover Card only) (Online or in person)
  You will be charged a nonrefundable 2% Convenience Fee.
• eCheck (Online)
• Check or money order payable to DCWP (In person or by mail)