Vermont Registrations and Trade License Classes
Vermont's state credential surface has three families: the OPR Residential Contractor registration (26 V.S.A. ch. 106 — a registration, not a license: § 5503(a) says it is "not intended to establish standards for professional qualifications or workmanship"), the DFS plumber classes (26 V.S.A. ch. 39) and the DFS electrician license (26 V.S.A. ch. 15). There is no general-contractor class: no contractor board exists in the OPR routing or the DFS program list.
01 Three families, no contractor class
- No general-contractor license — verified absence — the OPR professions routing and the DFS program list contain no contractor board. (Rule VT-NO-GC-LICENSE.) S-VT-FS-LICENSING
- The registration is a fraud shield, not a competency credential — § 5501(a) sets the $10,000 homeowner threshold; § 5503(a) disclaims workmanship standards. (Rule VT-RC-REGISTRATION.) S-VT-26-5501
- Plumbing classes carry official experience paths — P1/P2 and P3 specialists, journeyman and master, each with amounts and paths from the official application PDF. (Rule VT-PLUMB-FEES.) S-VT-PLUMB-APP
- The S.220 Vermont Energy Goals module — required for new DFS licenses/certifications and renewals after July 1, 2021. (Rule VT-ENERGY-MODULE.) S-VT-FS-ELECTRICAL
- The plumber scope exclusion — owner-occupied single-family residences not on public water or sewage systems are not covered by the plumbing rules. (Rule VT-PLUMB-LICENSE.) S-VT-FS-PLUMBING
02 Residential Contractor registration — OPR, 26 V.S.A. ch. 106
OPR verbatim: 'A person shall register with the Office of Professional Regulation prior to contracting with a homeowner to perform residential construction in exchange for consideration of more than $10,000.00, including labor and materials.' § 5501(b) defines residential construction as building, demolishing or altering a dwelling unit or a building with four or fewer dwelling units — including interior/exterior construction, renovation and repair; painting; paving; roofing; weatherization; and installation or repair of heating, plumbing, solar, electrical, water or wastewater systems. Registration required as of April 1, 2023.
03 Plumber licenses — DFS, 26 V.S.A. ch. 39
Application PDF verbatim: 'Journeyman - Application Fee - $90.00' with a State Apprenticeship Council completion certificate OR an out-of-state equal license with certified letter + 8,000 hours + a 2-hour Vermont code course OR 12,000 hours of on-the-job training OR a military DD-214 path (honorable discharge within 2 years) with 8,000 hours.
Application PDF verbatim: 'Master - Application Fee - $120.00' with a Vermont journeyman licence held for at least 12 months OR an out-of-state master equal licence with schooling and experience.
Application PDF verbatim: 'Limited Licensure; Specialists (P1 and P2) - Application Fee - $50.00 per Specialty Field' with either a registered apprenticeship + 2,000 hours documented by a Vermont Department of Labor completion certificate OR 4,000 on-the-job hours documented by affidavits from a P1/P2 Specialist or Master Plumber plus formal instruction of at least 144 hours (1 year of school).
Application PDF verbatim: 'Limited Licensure; Specialists (P3) - Application Fee - $50.00 per Specialty Field' with 4,000 hours documented by affidavits from a P3 Specialist or Master Plumber plus a board-certified water-treatment course.
04 Electrician license — DFS, 26 V.S.A. ch. 15
Division of Fire Safety verbatim: the rules 'are adopted by the Commissioner of Public Safety and the Electricians' Licensing Board pursuant to 26 U.S.A. [V.S.A.] Chapter 15, to license people doing electrical work and to adopt and enforce nationally recognized safety codes.' Adopted codes: NFPA 70 (NEC), NFPA 73, NFPA 780 and ANSI C2. The Vermont Energy Goals education module is required for a new license or certification, or a renewal, after July 1, 2021.