Home Improvement Contractor (HICPA — statewide) HICPA✓ Verified
Issuing authority: PA Office of the Attorney General — Bureau of Consumer Protection
Renewal cycleEvery 2 years
CE requiredNone
Bond / suretyNone — HICPA requires no surety bond.
Insurance$50,000 personal injury + $50,000 property damage (73 P.S. § 517.4).
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Renewal details, what you'll need & where to file
About the CE rule: No CE under HICPA.
If you miss the deadline
Expired registration = unregistered practice: UTPCPL civil exposure plus possible criminal misdemeanor charges for continuing to perform $5,000+/year of work unregistered.
What you'll typically need
- Your HICPA license / registration number
- Current general-liability insurance certificate
- Bond / surety on file
- The renewal fee (confirm the current amount with the authority)
General guidance — always confirm the exact requirements with the issuing authority before paying or submitting.
Philadelphia Contractor License (city, annual) Philly HIC✓ Verified
Issuing authority: Philadelphia Department of Licenses & Inspections (L&I)
Renewal cycleAnnually
CE requiredBoard-pending
Renewal details, what you'll need & where to file
About the CE rule: Philadelphia may require current safety credentials at renewal — board-pending.
If you miss the deadline
Expired registration = unregistered practice: UTPCPL civil exposure plus possible criminal misdemeanor charges for continuing to perform $5,000+/year of work unregistered.
What you'll typically need
- Your Philly HIC license / registration number
- The renewal fee (confirm the current amount with the authority)
General guidance — always confirm the exact requirements with the issuing authority before paying or submitting.
Pennsylvania Small Business certification (DGS self-certification) PA SBBoard-pending
Issuing authority: PA Department of General Services, Bureau of Diversity, Inclusion and Small Business Opportunities (BDISBO; also styled Business Inclusion and Supplier Development)
Renewal cycleEvery 2 years
CE requiredNone
Bond / suretyNot applicable — a business certification or registration, not a contractor license.
InsuranceNot applicable.
Renewal details, what you'll need & where to file
About the CE rule: Not CE. Certifications must be renewed every two years (DGS extended the period from one year). Self-certification is immediate; DGS may ask for more information on review. Size standard: 100 or fewer employees and under $47 million average gross revenue over three years. DGS announced Micro and Midsize certifications piloting from July 1, 2025, so the tier names may change. Source: pa.gov DGS 'Apply for Business Certification', 2026-10-15. Research: docs/research/renew-business-certs-2026-10-15/pa.md
If you miss the deadline
Expired registration = unregistered practice: UTPCPL civil exposure plus possible criminal misdemeanor charges for continuing to perform $5,000+/year of work unregistered.
What you'll typically need
- Your PA SB license / registration number
- Current general-liability insurance certificate
- Bond / surety on file
- The renewal fee (confirm the current amount with the authority)
Where to file
General guidance — always confirm the exact requirements with the issuing authority before paying or submitting.
Pennsylvania Small Diverse Business / Veteran Business Enterprise verification (DGS) PA SDB / VBEBoard-pending
Issuing authority: PA Department of General Services, BDISBO
Renewal cycleEvery 2 years
CE requiredNone
Bond / suretyNot applicable — a business certification or registration, not a contractor license.
InsuranceNot applicable.
Renewal details, what you'll need & where to file
About the CE rule: Not CE. Rides on the Small Business certification: renew every two years, and show an active third-party certification (a DGS-recognized certifier) at each recertification. Verification review takes about 10 business days after a complete submission. Source: pa.gov DGS application page and BDISBO policy directive 2020-1 (revised 2022), 2026-10-15. Research: docs/research/renew-business-certs-2026-10-15/pa.md
If you miss the deadline
Expired registration = unregistered practice: UTPCPL civil exposure plus possible criminal misdemeanor charges for continuing to perform $5,000+/year of work unregistered.
What you'll typically need
- Your PA SDB / VBE license / registration number
- Current general-liability insurance certificate
- Bond / surety on file
- The renewal fee (confirm the current amount with the authority)
Where to file
General guidance — always confirm the exact requirements with the issuing authority before paying or submitting.
Philadelphia Master Plumber License (local) MPBoard-pending
Issuing authority: City of Philadelphia Dept. of Licenses and Inspections
Renewal cycleAnnually
CE requiredNone
Renewal details, what you'll need & where to file
About the CE rule: Local license — Philadelphia only. Renewed annually ($253) via eCLIPSE; must be current on City taxes. Expiry date rule not confirmed.
If you miss the deadline
Expired registration = unregistered practice: UTPCPL civil exposure plus possible criminal misdemeanor charges for continuing to perform $5,000+/year of work unregistered.
What you'll typically need
- Your MP license / registration number
- The renewal fee (confirm the current amount with the authority)
Where to file
General guidance — always confirm the exact requirements with the issuing authority before paying or submitting.
Philadelphia Journeyman Plumber License (local) JPBoard-pending
Issuing authority: City of Philadelphia Dept. of Licenses and Inspections
Renewal cycleAnnually
CE requiredNone
Renewal details, what you'll need & where to file
About the CE rule: Local license. Annual, $126.
If you miss the deadline
Expired registration = unregistered practice: UTPCPL civil exposure plus possible criminal misdemeanor charges for continuing to perform $5,000+/year of work unregistered.
What you'll typically need
- Your JP license / registration number
- The renewal fee (confirm the current amount with the authority)
Where to file
General guidance — always confirm the exact requirements with the issuing authority before paying or submitting.
Allegheny County Master Plumber License (local, incl. Pittsburgh) RMPBoard-pending
Issuing authority: Allegheny County Health Department
Renewal cycleAnnually
CE requiredNone
Renewal details, what you'll need & where to file
About the CE rule: Local license. Renew annually within 30 days of the plumber’s birth date; $375.
If you miss the deadline
Expired registration = unregistered practice: UTPCPL civil exposure plus possible criminal misdemeanor charges for continuing to perform $5,000+/year of work unregistered.
What you'll typically need
- Your RMP license / registration number
- The renewal fee (confirm the current amount with the authority)
Where to file
General guidance — always confirm the exact requirements with the issuing authority before paying or submitting.
Pittsburgh Electrical Trade License (local) ETLBoard-pending
Issuing authority: City of Pittsburgh Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections (PLI)
Renewal cycleAnnually
CE requiredYes — 8 hrs/cycle
Renewal details, what you'll need & where to file
About the CE rule: Local license, issued to the individual. Expires one year after the issue date, so set the date to the license's own anniversary. 8 CE units with each annual renewal, earned within the 365 days before expiry and relevant to the trade; PLI may offer renewal courses (pli-training@pittsburghpa.gov). $90 initial and each annual renewal, $50 late fee per license (2026 PLI fee schedule). Renew online at OneStopPGH or in person at 412 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, Monday to Friday 9 am to 3 pm.
If you miss the deadline
Expired registration = unregistered practice: UTPCPL civil exposure plus possible criminal misdemeanor charges for continuing to perform $5,000+/year of work unregistered.
What you'll typically need
- Your ETL license / registration number
- Proof of completed continuing-education hours
- The renewal fee (confirm the current amount with the authority)
Where to file
General guidance — always confirm the exact requirements with the issuing authority before paying or submitting.
Allentown Master Plumber license (local) MPBoard-pending
Issuing authority: City of Allentown Building Standards & Safety
Renewal cycleAnnually
CE requiredNone
Renewal details, what you'll need & where to file
About the CE rule: Local license. Yearly fee $90 due January 1, renewable through January 31.
If you miss the deadline
Expired registration = unregistered practice: UTPCPL civil exposure plus possible criminal misdemeanor charges for continuing to perform $5,000+/year of work unregistered.
What you'll typically need
- Your MP license / registration number
- The renewal fee (confirm the current amount with the authority)
Where to file
General guidance — always confirm the exact requirements with the issuing authority before paying or submitting.
What GC Prep knows about Pennsylvania — honestly
✔The rules on this page (cycle, CE, bond/insurance). Researched + maintained by us; updated as the boards change them. Free for everyone.
✔Renewal-deadline reminders if you track a license here (by email 6 months, 90, 30, 7 and 2 days out, and in the app as the date nears).
○Auto-import of your CE — partial. Pennsylvania doesn't expose a public per-contractor CE feed. Pro can read your uploaded certificates and pull from select providers; coverage rolls out provider-by-provider.
○Bond / insurance carrier sync — not in v1. Pro will read an uploaded COI or bond PDF and watch its expiry.
○Filing on your behalf — not in v1. We pre-fill what the renewal needs; you submit it.