Contractor education and training helps people understand the ins and outs of the contracting business. Contracting can be a great career for those that are interested in the construction business, but you should make sure that you have all the contractor training necessary to properly

You may not want to stop once you've received your contractor's license. It's also a good idea to take contractor continuing education classes so that you can stay up to date.

If you are looking into contractor education, you should know:

1. You must have a license to be a practicing contractor. Fortunately, there are many different types of contractor classes you can take to prepare you for the licensing exam.

2. Contractor laws vary by state. If you receive an education for contractors for one state, not all of the information you learn will transfer to another state. Of course, many things do apply to all states, but you may need to retake the license exam and take additional classes if you move out of state.

3. It's important that you train all of your workers. Your employees may not need contractor courses, but you should definitely invest in workplace safety courses.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find a contractor education school that teaches what you need to learn

It's important to find a school that offers the courses that you need to advance your career. You will need this training to work effectively and within the bounds of the law.

I recommend: Check out the Contractor's Institute, which gives live lessons to help you pass, the exams. If you're not in Florida, or don't have the time to attend classes, you may want to look into online education. Contractor School Online may be right for you. They offer contractor classes online for each state.

Look for contractor education and training classes that prepare you to pass the exam

All states require you to pass an exam before you can become a working contractor. You need to find classes that help you prepare for the exam so that you can begin work once you finish the class.

I recommend: American Contractors Exam Services offers courses that focus on the exams. Check out the convenient video tours that they offer to determine if this is right for you. ContractorExam.com offers a four-part study system that will definitely help you pass the exam.

Take continuing education for contractor courses to stay fresh

Rules and techniques change over time and it's important for you to know about these changes. Continuing education courses help prepare you for anything that may come up.

I recommend: RedVector offers continuing education courses for contractors in every state. Gray Systems allows you to fulfill any continuing education course requirements in just two days.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you are not sure what type of contractor classes you should take to meet your state's requirements, check with Associated General Contractors of America to learn more.