# NJ Home Improvement License

> Independent, privately operated education website planning online pre-licensing and exam prep, plus continuing education (CE) for license renewal (at least 6 hours every two-year renewal), for New Jersey home improvement contractors under the Home Improvement and Home Elevation Contractor Licensing Act (P.L.2023, c.237; N.J.S.A. 45:5AAA). Not affiliated with the State of New Jersey, the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs, or the New Jersey State Board of Home Improvement and Home Elevation Contractors. No course exists yet; planned courses will be submitted for board approval once rules are adopted. Last updated October 23, 2026.

## Key facts (with sources)

- New Jersey home improvement contractors currently register their business (N.J.S.A. 56:8-136 et seq.). P.L.2023, c.237, approved January 8, 2024, adds an individual license issued by the State Board of Home Improvement and Home Elevation Contractors. Business registration continues; the license does not replace it.
- Licensing becomes mandatory on the first day of the sixth month after the board adopts rules (N.J.S.A. 45:5AAA-5). As of October 23, 2026, we found no proposed rules. The board held public meetings on May 27 and July 22, 2026 (per its public notices); whether rule drafting is under way is unconfirmed. There is no official start date; any date on this site is our estimate (rules proposed about 2027; license required about late 2028 or later, an estimate).
- Applicants: age 18+; a registered apprenticeship, accredited trade-school program, or 2 years of supervised experience; board-set education; a state exam; a disclosure statement; fees (N.J.S.A. 45:5AAA-7).
- Individuals registered 5+ years as of January 8, 2024 (the Act's effective date) are exempt from the experience, education and exam requirements, but NOT from the application, the fee or CE (N.J.S.A. 45:5AAA-13).
- Continuing education is a license renewal requirement, not part of getting the license. See the Continuing education section below.
- Handymen earning up to $1,500 per contract and $25,000 a year are exempt from licensing education, exam and CE but must keep registering.
- As amended by P.L.2025, c.323 (approved January 20, 2026), a person may work if licensed or under the direction or supervision of a licensee.
- Businesses carry $500,000 per-occurrence general liability insurance, workers' comp unless exempt, and an additional security of $10,000–$50,000 (home elevation contractors: $1,000,000 liability).
- No course on this site is board-approved. No home improvement course can be approved until the board adopts rules.

## Continuing education (CE) for license renewal

- Hours: at least 6 hours every two-year license renewal (N.J.S.A. 45:5AAA-18(a); licenses renew biennially, 45:5AAA-6(d)). The board may set more. 1 hour of instruction = 1 credit (45:5AAA-21(b)).
- Topics: at least half of required CE must be core topics (home improvement or home elevation contracting, workforce safety, running the business); the board cannot require more than 60% core (45:5AAA-21(a)). The official topic list is not published.
- Due date: on or before license expiration; the board may charge a processing fee of up to $200 for late completion (45:5AAA-20). Waivers or extensions for illness, emergency, hardship or military duty (45:5AAA-18(b)(6)).
- Online: all CE may be completed online, by video or in person (45:5AAA-19(b)); progress assessments allowed, no comprehensive final exam (45:5AAA-19(a)). Providers report completions to the board (45:5AAA-22).
- Who: every licensee. Grandfathered (5-year) licensees are NOT exempt from CE (45:5AAA-13 waives only experience, education and exam). Handymen under the $1,500 per contract / $25,000 a year limits are exempt (45:5AAA-13). Unlicensed workers under a licensee's supervision (P.L.2025, c.323) are not licensees and likely need no CE; not yet confirmed by the board.
- Approved courses: none. No CE course can be approved until the board adopts rules. First CE deadline: unknown; about 2030 is our estimate, not an official date.
- Not yet decided by the board: whether more than 6 hours will be required, the official topic list, first-term deadline and proration, rules for home elevation and limited specialty licensees, Spanish-language CE, and the provider approval process and fees.
- Full page: see the continuing education page in the Pages list below.

## Pages

- [Home and full guide](https://www.njhomeimprovementlicense.com/): what's changing, who needs a license, timeline, requirements, the exam, CE for license renewal, the planned CE course outline, FAQ, sources. Last updated 2026-10-23.
- [NJ Home Improvement Continuing Education](https://www.njhomeimprovementlicense.com/continuing-education/): NJ home improvement licensees need 6+ CE hours per 2-year renewal, at least half in core topics, all allowed online. No CE course is board-approved yet. Last updated 2026-10-23.
- [NJ Contractor License Grandfather Clause: The 5-Year Rule](https://www.njhomeimprovementlicense.com/grandfather-clause-5-years/): Registered as a NJ home improvement contractor since about Jan 2019? The 5-year grandfather clause skips the exam, but not the application, fee or CE. Last updated 2026-10-23.
- [Is a Contractor License Required in NJ?](https://www.njhomeimprovementlicense.com/is-a-contractor-license-required-in-nj/): Not yet for home improvement work. NJ requires business registration today. A new individual license starts 6 months after the state board adopts rules. Last updated 2026-10-23.
- [NJ HIC Registration vs. License: What's the Difference?](https://www.njhomeimprovementlicense.com/nj-hic-registration-vs-license/): The NJ Contractors' Registration Act covers your business today. The new license will cover individuals. Both will exist. See the side-by-side comparison. Last updated 2026-10-23.
- [FAQ](https://www.njhomeimprovementlicense.com/#faq)
- [Sources](https://www.njhomeimprovementlicense.com/#sources)

## Primary sources

- [P.L.2023, c.237](https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2022/PL23/237_.HTM)
- [P.L.2025, c.323](https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2024/PL25/323_.HTM)
- [State board](https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/HIHEC)
- [DCA 2025 registration renewal notice](https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/regulated/Documents/HICB-Renewal-02062025.pdf)