Construction Certificates

Scope of Work

To erect, add to, alter, demolish, or repair any building or structure.

Minimum Experience Required to Apply

1. Seven (7) years notarized experience building commercial buildings. Must include some ground up experience of new high-rise building(s) over 75 feet.
   • High-rise buildings are buildings with an occupied floor more than 75 feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.
2. Each project must list the full project address, type of project building built / work supervised, project construction timeline.
   • List exact start and end dates (month and year) of construction work only and height of building. List only projects completed within the last 15 years.
3. On the notarized letter(s), the applicant must have been the General Superintendent and/or Lead Superintendent, or Project Engineer supervising the project.
   • Project Engineers must provide either a diploma in Structural Engineering or Architecture.
4. Notarized letters must be signed by the owner or controlling officer of company worked for or by customers.
5. Previous or present employers must list their position in the company, or that they were a customer that hired you, after their signature on the notarized letter.
6. Project manager or construction manager experience, or a project management diploma can qualify for one (1) year of the required seven (7) years of experience, OR a bachelor's degree in Structural Engineering or Architecture from an accredited college may be substituted for up to two (2) years of the required field work. A copy of the diploma must be provided.

Testing

ICC Exam #F11 National Standard General Building Contractor A.
Learn how to schedule your test

Additional Requirement

Licenses issued by the Denver Fire Department (DFD) are required for the design, installation, modification, inspection, and testing of all life safety and conveyance systems and equipment.

Apply for a DFD license

Scope of Work

To erect, add to, alter, or repair any building or structure classified as less than a high rise, as defined by the International Building Code (IBC). The demolition of any building or structure classified as less than a high rise is permitted. 

Minimum Experience Required to Apply

1. Four (4) years notarized experience building commercial buildings. Must include some ground up new build experience of building(s) between 55 and 75 feet high.
2. Each project must list the full project address, type of project / building built, trades supervised, project construction timeline, and height of building.
   • List exact start and end dates (month and year) of construction work only and height of building. List only projects completed within the last 15 years.
3. On the notarized letter(s), the applicant must be listed as the General Superintendent and/or Lead Superintendent, or Project Engineer supervising the trades on the project.
   • Project Engineers must provide either a diploma in Structural Engineering or Architecture.
4. Notarized letters must be signed by the owner or controlling officer of company worked for or by customers.
5. Previous or present employers must list their position in the company, or that they were a customer that hired you, after their signature on the notarized letter.
6. Project manager or construction manager experience, or a project management diploma can qualify for one (1) year of the required four (4) years of experience, OR a bachelor's degree in Structural Engineering or Architecture from an accredited college may be substituted for one (1) year of the required field work. A copy of the diploma must be provided.

Testing

ICC Exam #F12 National Standard Building (B).
Learn how to schedule your test

Additional Requirement

Licenses issued by the Denver Fire Department (DFD) are required for the design, installation, modification, inspection, and testing of all life safety and conveyance systems and equipment. 

Apply for a DFD license

Scope of Work

To erect, add to, alter, or repair any building or structure with the highest floor level or occupiable roof at a height of 30 feet or fewer above the lowest level of fire department access. The demolition of any building or structure with the highest floor level or occupiable roof at a height of 30 feet or fewer above the lowest level of fire department access. 

Minimum Experience Required to Apply

1. Four (4) years notarized experience building commercial buildings. Must include some ground up new build experience of building(s) up to 40 feet high.
2. Each project must list the full project address, type of project / building built, trades supervised, project construction timeline, and height of building.
   • List exact start and end dates (month and year) of construction work only and height of building. List only projects completed within the last 15 years.
3. On the notarized letter(s), the applicant must be listed as the General Superintendent and/or Lead Superintendent, or Project Engineer supervising the trades on the project.
   • Project Engineers must provide either a diploma in Structural Engineering or Architecture.
4. Notarized letters must be signed by the owner or controlling officer of company worked for or by customers.
5. Previous or present employers must list their position in the company, or that they were a customer that hired you, after their signature on the notarized letter.
6. Project manager or construction manager experience, or a project management diploma can qualify for one (1) year of the required four (4) years of experience, OR a bachelor's degree in Structural Engineering or Architecture from an accredited college may be substituted for one (1) year of the required field work. A copy of the diploma must be provided.

Testing

ICC Exam #F12 National Standard Building (B).
Learn how to schedule your test

Scope of Work

To erect, add to, alter, or repair one- and two-family dwellings, U Occupancy buildings and attached single-unit dwellings (IRC townhouses). The demolition of any one- and two-dwelling building or U Occupancy building or structure is permitted.

Minimum Experience Required to Apply

• Two (2) years of building construction field work as a journeyman carpenter or construction foreman showing hands-on experience in construction of single-family or two-family dwellings (duplex/IRC townhomes) in all three of the following areas:
  • Foundation
  • Framing
  • Roofing
• Up to one (1) year of building construction design work may be submitted for an equal amount of fieldwork. Such design work shall be documented on notarized letters.
• Notarized letter(s) must show WHAT, WHEN AND WHERE you gained the necessary experience performing ground-up builds on one- or two-family dwellings.
  • List exact duties, projects performed, and equipment operated.
  • Give exact start and end dates (month and year) and addresses for each project. Projects should have been completed within the last ten (10) years.
  • List the address for each project mentioned.
  • List as many projects needed in order to cover the required amount of experience.

Testing  

ICC Exam #F13 National Standard Residential Building Contractor C.
Learn how to schedule your test

The online certificate application will require you to upload notarized letters of experience that document how you meet the minimum experience needed for that certificate type. These letters must come from owners or officers of current or previous employers, or clients that have hired you to do work. If you are the owner of the company, you must go to previous employers or clients that you have done work for as you cannot be your own reference.

Notarized letters should be in the following format:

• Original notarized letters. These can be scanned and uploaded if applying online.

• If a company is verifying your experience, the letter should be typed on company letterhead.

• List exact duties, projects performed, and equipment operated.

• List exact start and end dates (month and year) of construction work only for each project. Projects should have been completed within the last fifteen (15) years. Use the following format:
  Start Date:  MM/YY, End Date:  MM/YY.

• List the address for each project mentioned. 

• Include letters from previous or present employers or customers who have hired you to do the type of work covered by that certificate. 

• Do not submit letters from other officers / members of your company or subcontractors.

• Submit as many notarized letters as needed to document the minimum experience requirements for the certificate you are applying for.

• Retain copies of your application and notarized letters. The Contractor Licensing office will not be able to make additional copies for you.

If your certificate application is approved, you will have 90 days to procure your certificate by submitting the official ICC pass letter. This is only necessary for certificates that require proof of passing an ICC examination. 

Once your application is submitted online or in person, it will take approximately 14-20 business days to be reviewed. You will receive an approval or denial email once the application has been reviewed, and you will then be able to return to the online application to pay for the certificate.

Mail-in applications will take approximately 14-20 business days to be reviewed once we receive your application. Do not submit payment with your application. You will be notified by telephone of application approval or rejection. (Please note that the Contractor License office can only give application status to the actual applicant.)

If your online or mail-in application is approved, you will have 90 days to procure your certificate by paying the appropriate fee amount. Supervisor certificates must be renewed every three years.

• View certificate/license fee amounts

• Please return to your online certificate application to pay fees.

If your application is not approved you will have the opportunity to apply a second time. Additional documentation is required. 

If the application is not approved the second time, there is a six-month waiting period before applicants can re-apply for the same certificate type.