Many states make continuing education a condition of renewing a contractor or trade license, and no two do it the same way. The examples below come from our state records, checked against the boards' own rules in October 2026. Each one links to the full CE page for that state and trade. Confirm the details with the board before you sign up for courses.
Per year or per renewal cycle
The first thing to check is what the hours are counted against.
- Florida CILB contractors (HVAC, plumbing, roofing, general and others): 14 hours per two-year cycle. Florida HVAC CE
- Texas air conditioning contractors: 8 hours for each annual renewal. Texas HVAC CE
- North Carolina electrical contractors: 8 hours a year for every qualified individual listed on the license. North Carolina electrical CE
- Washington master electricians and electrical administrators: 24 hours per three-year cycle. Washington electrical CE
- Minnesota Class A master electricians: 16 hours within the two-year license term. Minnesota electrical CE
Eight hours a year and 24 hours every three years add up to the same total, but they are due at very different times. Write down the due date, not just the number.
Required topics
Most states do not accept just any course.
- Florida CILB licenses need one hour each of the advanced Florida Building Code module, workplace safety, business practices, workers' compensation, and laws and rules.
- Texas air conditioning contractors need 1 hour on Texas law and rules within their 8 hours.
- Texas master plumbers need 6 hours a year, and at least 3 of them must cover health protection, energy conservation and water conservation. Texas plumbing CE
- Washington electricians need 8 hours of code update and 4 hours on the state electrical law and rules within their 24.
- Minnesota master electricians need at least 12 of their 16 hours related to the National Electrical Code.
Approved providers and how hours are reported
Hours only count when the course comes from a provider the board has approved. Who tells the board you finished differs:
- In Florida the provider reports completions to DBPR, and a CILB licensee cannot renew until the hours are posted.
- In Texas the CE provider reports hours to TDLR, and you keep your certificates for a year.
- In North Carolina CE sponsors report credits to the board's portal, and at least half the hours must be taken in a classroom or an approved live online class.
- In Minnesota course sponsors report attendance to the Department of Labor and Industry. Keep your certificates anyway.
- In Washington the hours must show on L&I's Verify lookup before you renew.
Wherever the provider reports, keep your own copy of every certificate. If a report goes missing, the certificate is your proof.
Carryover and first renewals
- Minnesota does not let extra hours carry over to the next term.
- Minnesota requires no CE in the first year of a license, and Florida requires none for a first renewal when you were licensed less than 12 months before the deadline.
- North Carolina's new qualified individuals take a 4-hour laws and rules course, which counts toward their first renewal.
Check these before you sign up for courses. Hours taken too early, or more than you need, may not count.
Plan backwards from the renewal date
Hours have to be finished, and in many states reported, before you can renew. Count back from the renewal deadline: leave time for the course, the provider's report and a margin for mistakes. Then put the CE due date next to the license date in whatever you use to track renewals.
The continuing education pages list every state and trade where our records have CE rules, with the hours, the topics, who approves courses and the sources.
Sources
- Florida: Rule 61G4-18.001
- Texas: TDLR A/C continuing education
- North Carolina: NC Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors
- Washington: L&I electrician licensing
- Minnesota: DLI electrical continuing education
Informational, not legal advice. CE rules change; verify with the issuing board.