DC General Contractor
DC General Contractor License
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Cheat sheet
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Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
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ExploreAbout this exam
The DC General Contractor credential is a District of Columbia occupational/professional license administered by the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), the agency whose site states: "Welcome to the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection." It is intended for construction professionals who want to hold themselves out as general contractors on projects in the District, and for the businesses that employ them. Candidates typically reach it through DLCP's Professional Licensing (OPL) channel, which handles professional license applications, renewals, and verification.
This study page organizes preparation around two content domains: Business and Law, and Trade Knowledge and Construction Practices. Business and Law covers the regulatory and commercial side of contracting - licensing obligations, business structure and registration, contracts, estimating and bidding, employment and safety responsibilities, lien and payment issues, and consumer protection. Trade Knowledge covers sitework, concrete, masonry, carpentry, structural steel, roofing, thermal and moisture protection, finishes, and the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing coordination a general contractor must supervise. Expect heavy emphasis on reading plans and specifications, sequencing, inspection checkpoints, and jobsite safety.
Preparation works best in passes: build the business and law vocabulary first, then work trade systems topic by topic, then drill scenario questions that combine schedule, cost, and code decisions. Confirm all administrative details - application steps, fees, renewal timing, and exam scheduling - directly with DLCP before you book, because the agency's dedicated general contractor page was not reachable when this page was compiled.
What you'll study
About DC General Contractor preparation
Which agency issues the DC General Contractor license?
The Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP). Its site lists Business Licensing, Corporate Registration, and Professional Licensing (OPL) as separate service areas, and provides apply, renew, and verify tools for professional licenses. Contact DLCP at 1100 4th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024, (202) 671-4500, or [email protected] to confirm which channel handles your application.
How is the exam structured?
This page organizes content into two domains: Business and Law, and Trade Knowledge and Construction Practices. The number of questions, time limit, and whether the exam is computer-based were not confirmed from DLCP's site, so verify the current format with the agency before scheduling. Plan on a mix of definition, calculation, and jobsite scenario items.
What score do I need to pass?
The passing score is not published on the DLCP pages reviewed here, so treat any specific number you hear as unverified until DLCP or the testing vendor confirms it. Aim well above the minimum on practice sets - consistently scoring in the high range on mixed-topic questions is the safest preparation target when the cut score is unknown.
How much does the license cost, and how long is it valid?
DLCP maintains a License & Corporate Filing Fees page, which is the authoritative place to check the current fee for your category. Fee amounts and license validity periods were not confirmed from the source material for this page, so confirm both with DLCP before you budget. Do not rely on figures quoted in forums or older study guides.
Can I retake the exam if I fail?
Retake rules, waiting periods, and any additional fees are set by DLCP and were not confirmed here. Before your first attempt, ask DLCP what the retake process is so a failure does not stall your application. In the meantime, review your score report by domain - weakness is usually concentrated in one area rather than spread evenly.
Should I study Business and Law or trade topics first?
Start with Business and Law. It supplies vocabulary - licensing, contracts, liens, estimating, safety responsibility - that makes trade scenarios easier to read. Then work trade systems in construction sequence: sitework, concrete, masonry, steel, carpentry, envelope, finishes, and MEP coordination. Finish with mixed sets that force you to switch domains under time pressure.
What trips candidates up most often?
Three patterns: memorizing numbers without understanding the underlying rule, skipping plan-reading practice, and ignoring scheduling and cost-control questions because they feel like office work rather than construction. A fourth is failing to read the whole question - many items hinge on a qualifier such as "except" or "before the inspection." Practice explaining why each wrong answer is wrong.
How do I apply, renew, or verify a license?
DLCP links an online professional license application, a renewal portal, and a verification portal for occupational and professional licenses. It also offers business license verification through SCOUT and business entity filings through its corporate online system. Use the links from the DLCP site rather than saved bookmarks, since agency URLs and platforms change.
Is there a new licensing platform I should know about?
Yes. DLCP describes its Business One Stop Solution (BOSS) as a unified platform for licensing and registration tasks, and states it is launching August 2026. Because that date is in the future, the current process still applies today. Check DLCP's site before filing so you use whichever system is live when you apply.